Estate Planning Resources

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

Can A Spouse Access Health Care Information Without A HIPAA Authorization?

A few weeks ago, my husband received a bill from a medical provider for some routine blood tests his physician had recommended. We had already received a bill for the same service, which was a

Sign A Durable Power of Attorney Before It’s Too Late

I got a message recently from a woman with questions about getting a power of attorney to handle her ailing father’s financial affairs. Her father was in a nursing home. He was suffering from dementia

Does My College Student Need Estate Planning?

A couple of years ago, I wrote blog post titled “Three Estate Planning Documents Every College Student Needs.” The post was prompted by a Facebook page I came across, which was started by an irate

If You Don’t Have a Will, Texas Makes One For You

I received a phone call this week from a woman I’ll call Ellen, whose grandfather had succumbed to pancreatic cancer. His own children were unwilling to care for him while he was ill, so Ellen

Defining “Handwriting” for Purposes of a Holographic Will

What Is a Holographic Will? A holographic will is a handwritten will that is entirely in the testator’s own handwriting and signed by them. Unlike traditional wills, it does not require witnesses to be valid

How Many Witnesses Need to Sign A Will In Texas?

Texas recognizes two types of written wills and the witness requirements are different for both. Holographic Wills are Wills that are completely in the handwriting of the Testator and signed by him or her. The

IRS Recognizes Same-Sex Marriages For Federal Tax Purposes

A couple of months ago, after the Supreme Court ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional, I explained that there was still uncertainty about the impact the decision would have

What is the Difference Between Medical and Durable Power of Attorney?

A durable power of attorney is a written document that creates an agency relationship between the person granting authority and an agent, or attorney-in-fact, the person to whom authority is granted. By signing a durable

Will My Wife Inherit All My Separate Property If I Die Without A Will?

Most people may assume that if they are married and die without a Will in Texas, their surviving spouse will inherit their entire estate. This is not always the case. The way property is characterized

Would You Like A Will With That Special Needs Trust?

Several parents have contacted me recently about setting up stand-alone special needs trust for their children. Unlike a supplemental needs trust that is created in a Will and funded at death, a stand-alone special needs

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