Estate Planning Resources

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

Will a Joint Account Pass to the Surviving Owner Outside of Probate?

A Texas appellate case held that checking a joint account’s survivorship box did not create survivorship rights because the signature card lacked language required by the Texas Estates Code.

How Can I Protect My Disabled Sister From Neglectful Family Members?

The article explains how to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult to Texas Adult Protective Services and what an investigation may involve.

Is an Attorney Absolutely Required for Estate Planning?

An attorney is generally required to establish a valid Will or power of attorney when a person is incapacitated because the person must have the mental capacity to sign these documents.

How Will My Property Be Distributed If I Die Without A Will Before My Divorce is Final?

The article explains how Texas intestacy laws distribute community and separate property when a married person dies without a Will before a divorce is final.

Should I Name My Executor As The Beneficiary of My Financial Accounts?

Beneficiary designations on retirement plans, insurance policies, and financial accounts can override a Will, so they should be coordinated with its instructions.

What Rights to Beneficiaries of Transfer on Death Deeds Have During the Homeowner’s Life?

A Texas transfer on death deed gives a beneficiary no legal or equitable interest during the homeowner’s life, while the owner may sell, encumber, revoke, or change it.

Should I Name My Estate as the Beneficiary of my IRA?

Naming an estate instead of an individual or qualifying trust as an IRA beneficiary can accelerate distributions and increase income taxes on inherited traditional IRA funds.

Will The State Get My Property If I Die Without A Will?

The article explains how Texas intestacy statutes distribute property when someone dies without a Will and why property escheats to the state only when no living heirs exist.

Five Reasons Why Parents of Young Children Need Estate Planning

Estate planning helps parents of minor children choose a guardian, control asset distribution, create a trust, select an asset manager, and determine when children receive inheritances.

If I Write My Own Will, Do I Need A Lawyer To File It For Me At The Courts?

Texas law does not require a Will to be filed with a court, but the article explains why do-it-yourself estate planning can create costly mistakes.

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