Resources

The First Step is the Hardest Part

Last Monday, I took the whole day off work. I turned off my computer after making just a couple of phone calls that couldn’t wait, and didn’t…

Is It Possible To Probate A Lost Will?

Probate is the legal process of proving the validity of a will. It is also commonly understood to refer to the legal process in which the estate of…

Is Real Property Purchased with an Inheritance during Marriage Separate or Community Property?

 When someone receives an inheritance during marriage, one of the most common questions that follows is whether that inheritance, or anything bought with it, belongs to them alone…

Where Are Your Important Documents?

I got a call yesterday from a woman, who I’ll call Sue, whose mother suffered a stroke. Sue’s mom was only 67 years old. The stroke left…

Will My Surviving Sibling Inherit My Entire Estate If I Die Without A Will?

I was contacted recently by a man I’ll call Jack, whose uncle had just passed away. Jack’s uncle was single, his parents had predeceased him, and he…

Does A Durable Power Of Attorney Need To Be Notarized?

To be effective in Texas, a durable power of attorney must: be in writing signed by an adult name an agent or attorney in fact expressly provide that…

What Are The Duties of An Executor?

When a person dies and probate is necessary, a court will appoint a personal representative, called an executor or administrator, to oversee the winding up of the…

Independent Administration Simplifies the Probate Process

Probate has gotten a bad reputation as being expensive and causing delays. As a result, many people try to avoid it at all cost. In many states,…