When considering creating an estate plan, many in Texas and elsewhere work hard to ensure that the assets they own at the time of their deaths go to the heirs and beneficiaries of their choice. Using estate planning documents and tools, people can detail their...
Year: 2012
How failing to update a will nearly cost a cat its life
Once an estate plan is created in Texas and elsewhere, often people forget about making changes to it as their lives change. Estate planning documents can quickly become outdated if a person does not act to make changes for life situations such as marriage, asset...
How to handle a large inheritance
Many in Texas who work to create an estate plan understandably do so with their heirs in mind. Typically hoping to make a difference in the lives of their beneficiaries, estate planners create documents that often arrange for the transfer of large sums of money to...
Estate planning in Texas merits periodic review
Updating an estate plan can assist Texas residents in making sure that their wishes for property distribution are followed after their deaths. A periodic review may benefit heirs as well as the individual engaged in estate planning. Additionally, making sure that an...
The importance of choosing the right trustee in Texas
As many Texas residents know, trusts and wills are just two of the many estate planning tools available today. These documents, however, can control the distribution of assets after death and may be the only instructions available to your family and the court. When...
How can you avoid trust issues before they arise?
When Texas residents undertake the task of estate planning, the creation of trusts may become a vital part of the process. However, a successful trust may be more difficult to create than one may think. Avoiding the pitfalls of estate planning can come with some...
Beneficiaries: early estate planning in blended families
Blended families are now part of the landscape here in Texas and across the country. In fact, a recent report suggests that more than 40 percent of American adults have a step-relative of some sort. As folks live longer and more marriages end in divorce, the list of...
Mega gift may limit taxes for beneficiaries
Texas residents may be unaware that there are many strategies in estate planning designed to limit the amount of tax due at the time of death. These strategies can include trusts, wills and mega gifts. Early estate planning can help a person maximize the potential for...
Estate planning is important for all Texas residents
A large number of the residents of Texas, along with other Americans, do not have proper estate planning documents, a new report says. The numbers are surprising, showing that up to 92 percent of those under the age of 35 do not even have a basic will, let alone full...
Take advantage of estate tax laws before they change
With so many changes to estate taxes and how they are structured, it may be difficult for many Texas residents to keep it all straight. That is where estate planning comes in. By working with a dedicated professional, it may be possible to create a plan that maximizes...