FAQs About Trusts

Can a Settlor Revoke or Modify a Trust?

Whether a Settlor, the person who creates a trust, can revoke or modify it depends on if the trust is irrevocable or revocable. According to Section 112.051…

Planning for Special Circumstances

Beyond Taxes: 10 Reasons Why Americans Without Taxable Estates Need an Estate Plan

NB: Rocket Lawyer Press invited me to contribute another guest post on an estate planning issue. Below is an excerpt of the article I wrote, as well…

How Property Distributed When Someone Dies Without A Will

What are the Inheritance Rights of Adopted Children?

If you are a parent of an adopted child in Texas and you die without a will, your adopted child will be entitled to the same inheritance…

FAQs About Trusts, Questions About Estate Tax

Does Portability Make Bypass Trusts Obsolete?

Before this year, bypass trusts were necessary to preserve a deceased spouse’s federal estate tax exemption. This is no longer the case. Under the new estate…

Questions About Estate Tax

A Temporary Fix: The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010

  NB: This article was published on January 10, 2011 and contains information that may be outdated. For current information regarding the estate tax, read: Estate Tax Certainty…For Now.

Planning for Special Circumstances

If You Eat A Frog First Thing In The Morning, The Rest of Your Day Will Be Wonderful – Mark Twain

Whether it’s doing the laundry, cleaning out the garage, or getting that long overdue check-up, all of us face tasks each week that we dread. We…

Planning for Special Circumstances

5 Priceless Presents You Should Give Your Family

I’m delighted to welcome my friend and colleague, Candice Aiston, an Oregon estate planning attorney, as a guest blogger today and appreciate her willingness…

Planning for Special Circumstances

The Greatest Gift

It used to be that the Christmas season didn’t start until the day after Thanksgiving. But now, retailers bring out their holiday decorations the day after…

Questions About Estate Tax

It’s a Done Deal!

NB: This article was published on December 17, 2010 and contains information that may be outdated. For current information regarding the estate tax, read: Estate Tax Certainty…For Now. Last…

Questions About Estate Tax

Deal or No Deal: The Estate Tax Debate Continues

NB: This article was published on December 13, 2010 and contains information that may be outdated. For current information regarding the estate tax, read: Estate Tax Certainty…For…