Estate Planning Resources

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

What is a Self-Proving Affidavit?

A self-proving affidavit confirms that a testator properly signed a Will before two witnesses and can eliminate the need for witness testimony during probate.

If Lawyers Aren’t Perfect, Why Aren’t DIY Wills Good Enough?

The article explains why DIY Will and document preparation services differ from attorneys, focusing on legal advice, professional oversight, accountability, and ways to evaluate a lawyer.

Why Do People Use Lawyers To Prepare Their Wills?

The article explains why individualized legal advice is important when preparing a Will and why DIY forms may fail to address blended families, minor children, or special-needs beneficiaries.

Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning Mistake Disinherits Child

A father’s hastily prepared holographic Will left his wife as the sole beneficiary, allowing her to exclude his daughter from his estate.

Texas Extends Rule Against Perpetuities to 300 Years

The article explains Texas’s 2021 extension of the rule against perpetuities from the traditional period to 300 years for most trusts and discusses a potential conflict with the Texas Constitution.

Intestacy Can Be A Nightmare In Blended Families

This article explains how Texas intestacy laws affect blended-family homes and the constitutional homestead protections available to surviving spouses.

To Spring or Not to Spring a Durable Power of Attorney

This article explains Texas durable powers of attorney, compares immediate and springing authority, and discusses agent selection and safeguards against abuse.

Should I Name my Minor Children as Beneficiaries of my Insurance Policy?

The article explains why naming minor children directly as life insurance beneficiaries can lead to guardianship and discusses UTMA custodial accounts and testamentary trusts as alternatives.

Consent for Treatment of Minors by Non-Parent

This article explains when minors in Texas may consent to their own medical care, when non-parent caregivers may authorize treatment, what written authorization should include, and how life-threatening emergencies are handled.

Should I Put My Guns to My Revocable Trust?

The article explains why transferring guns to a Revocable Trust can create legal risks involving NFA firearms, prohibited beneficiaries, and interstate transfers, and describes how a specialized gun trust may help.

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