Newsworthy
As Americans live longer, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is on the rise. I read recently that the incidence of people with Alzheimer’s doubles for every…
Questions About Estate Tax
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 sets the estate tax rate at 40 percent for individual estates valued at over $5 million, indexed for inflation. Additionally, can…
Wacky Wills
NB: This post is part of a series highlighting wills that contain some interesting, and sometimes bizarre, bequests and stipulations. You can see all these posts here.
Special Needs Trusts
A letter of intent is not a legally-binding document. Rather, it provides detailed information about a child with special needs. This letter guides caregivers, guardians, and trustees responsible…
Probate
Section 256.205 of the Texas Estates Code provides that “After a will has been admitted to probate, any interested person may commence a suit to contest…
Choosing a Guardian
The thing that worries most parents about dying is typically not what will happen to their stuff. It’s who will take care of their kids. And…
Requirements of a Valid Will
Texas recognizes two types of written wills: An attested will is the most common type of Last Will and Testament. To be valid, it must be…
FAQs About Wills
Per stirpes and per capita are commonly used terms in wills, trusts, and intestate distribution statutes to describe how a deceased person’s estate is to be…
The short answer to the question is no. Before 1995, Texas collected a separate inheritance tax, called a “pick-up tax.” The tax did not increase the…
Planning for Special Circumstances
A few years ago, I read an article that reminded me of the extraordinary lengths parents will go to protect and provide for their children. It…