Estate Planning Resources

Articles and guides to help you understand your options for protecting your family and your assets in Texas and North Carolina.

Is It Always Necessary to Probate a Will in Texas?

It is necessary to probate a Will in Texas when the estate includes assets titled in the decedent’s name. A person who dies typically has two classes of assets: probate assets and non-probate assets. Why

Beware the Rise of Voice Cloning Scams

Cybercriminals are using AI to mimic the voices of our family members. Learn how to protect yourself from voice-cloning scams.

Frequently Asked Questions About Texas ABLE Accounts

Barack Obama signed the Achieving a Better Life Experience “(ABLE”) Act into on December 19, 2014. The Act authorized the creation of ABLE Accounts, tax-advantaged savings accounts designed to help eligible individuals with disabilities maintain

Who Can Apply for Probate in Texas?

Usually, a person a testator nominates as executor in a Will applies for probate, but not always. The Texas Estates Code provides that any interested person can file an application for probate. Who is an

What Is an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT)?

An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust, or “ILIT” is an irrevocable trust that own life insurance.  Historically, Americans have used ILITs as a vehicle to make gifts to beneficiaries that take advantage of the annual gift

Can Physicians in Texas Withhold Life Support Against Patient’s Wishes?

Most of the time, Directive to Physicians are signed by patients who do not want their lives prolonged by life-sustaining treatments; however, sometimes the situation is reversed. For example, a Texas Tribune article in 2019

Who Will Raise My Children if I Die Without Naming Guardians?

The thing that drives most young parents to plan to make a will is not their stuff, but who will take care of our minor children if the unthinkable happens. Naturally, we all want our

Even Ancient Egyptians Wrote Wills!

Last July, I stumbled upon an ancient Will while visiting the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. As an estate planning lawyer, I was delighted.  The Will, written in hieratic script on papyrus, was made by Naunakhte, an

How to Name a Guardian For Your Children

The part of estate planning that most parents struggle with is naming a guardian for their children. For some parents, the process of selecting a guardian is easy. They have close relationships with certain family

Can An Incapacitated Person Make or Revoke a Durable Power of Attorney?

Generally, you can amend your durable power of attorney by signing a new durable power of attorney. You also have the right to revoke or terminate your durable power of attorney. But is it possible

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