Resources

Probate Just Got More Private In Texas

One factor that often motivates people to choose revocable trust-based plans as opposed to will-based plans is the privacy trusts afford. Assets within a trust pass…

Who is an Incapacitated Person?

The Texas Estates Code specifically defines who is an incapacitated person. According to the Code, an incapacitated person is: A minor; An adult individual who, because of a…

The Price of Not Having a Simple Will

I read an article by Don McNay recently, which highlights the complexities, expense and unwanted results that can arise in cases of intestacy. McNay is a…

Incapacity Can Happen At Any Age…Be Prepared

I recently received a heart-wrenching note from a parent, whose 22 year-old son had been involved in an accident. He was knocked unconscious with multiple dislocations…

Can I Make a Testamentary Gift to Someone Who Witnesses My Will?

A testamentary gift to a beneficiary who is also a witness is presumed void. The reasoning behind this rule is that a witness who will benefit…

Strategies For Lawsuit-Proofing Your Estate

Forbes Associate Editor, Ashlea Ebeling, wrote a great article last week about estate planning strategies that can discourage a protracted legal battle after your death.

Traditions That Keep Families Connected

My kids and I play a Volkswagen Beetle game. It’s not Punch Buggy, but rather a unique game that my family created. New Beetles (I hear…

A Durable Power of Attorney Does Not Authorize An Agent to Settle An Estate (And Other Lessons)

A man (who I’ll call “Jack”), recently called me in a bit of a panic. His fiancé (“Jill”), with whom he had lived for many years in…