Resources

When Can a Financial Institution Reject a Durable Power of Attorney in Texas?

Effective September 1, 2017, a person to whom a durable power of attorney is presented must accept a durable power of attorney except unless: The person is…

Recent Changes to Durable Power of Attorney Statute

The legislature made several beneficial changes to the Durable Powers of Attorney statute that went into effect on September 1, 2017. Below are a few of the…

Is A Financial Institution Required To Accept A Durable Power Of Attorney?

Before September 1, 2017, financial institutions routinely rejected durable powers of attorney for a multitude of reasons. A colleague once told me that a bank rejected her client’s…

What are the Requirements of a Valid Durable Power of Attorney in Texas

A durable power of attorney is a document that will allow you, the principal, to appoint someone you trust (an agent) to engage in specified business, financial…

Planning for the Unexpected

I went on a trip last month without knowing where I was going. My husband wanted to plan a surprise vacation for the family to celebrate his 50th…

The Consequences of an Outright Distribution to a Spouse in Blended Families

Estate planning can be complicated in blended families. If you have children from a prior relationship, making an outright distribution of your estate to your spouse may…

Will Former Spouse Inherit Bank Account if Named as P.O.D. Beneficiary?

I received a note recently from someone whose brother had recently passed away. Her brother was divorced and had no children. He was survived by four siblings.

Can an Agent Under a Power of Attorney Revoke a Transfer on Death Deed?

The Texas Transfer on Death Deed allows homeowners to name a beneficiary who will inherit their property after they die. It works like a beneficiary designation on a…