Setting up a trust is one thing. Choosing the person who will be in charge of investing the assets within the trust is another. That person must be skilled at maintaining records, handling taxes and staying on top of payments to the beneficiaries of the trust. That...
Year: 2014
What is estate administration?
When a Texas resident passes away, his or her estate must be distributed among heirs and beneficiaries. The estate administration process refers to the action of gathering the decedent's assets, paying off the decedent's debts and ultimately distributing what is...
Texas estate planning in the digital age
Thinking about the day our lives will come to an end is frightening, and most Texas residents put it off for as long as possible. What that means is that they put off estate planning too. In fact, as unbelievable as it may sound, over half of Americans who have...
Wills and estates: Questions for dividing assets among heirs
One of the mot difficult aspects of estate planning is trying to figure out who will get what. It is likely one of the biggest reasons why Texas residents tend to put off completing the task. Indeed, a lot of consideration is needed on an emotional and financial...
Estate planning at its finest in Texas
Estate planning is all about preparing for the future. However, it can be difficult for Texas residents to get the ball rolling. Indeed, the end of your life and estate planning are rarely easy things to think about.Many individuals falsely believe that...
Will changes to Roth IRA affect heirs and beneficiaries?
Roth individual retirement accounts appear to offer a lot of great benefits for Texas investors and their heirs. This is because the money placed inside the Roth IRA can be left to grow without tax liabilities over an investor and his or her beneficiaries' lifetimes....
What is the probate process?
Probate is a term that most people are familiar with, and most Texas residents know that it has to do with inheritance. Beyond that, though, many Texas do not know what is involved in probate proceedings or what exactly happens when an estate goes into probate....
Are you obligated to pay debts owed by deceased relatives?
When a family member dies and it is time to administer his or her estate, most people think about the distribution of assets. However, it is also necessary to pay debts owed by the decedent. Most debts are paid out of the estate prior to distribution of the remaining...
Estate planning for parents with special needs children
It can be nerve-wracking for parents to send their adult children out into the world to fend for themselves. However, when parents have special needs children, sometimes they never let them go in this fashion because the children are unable to live independently on...
Important estate planning steps for Texas residents
Unfortunately, death is one of the few certainties in life. For that reason, wise Texas residents will get their estate plans in order as early as possible. By getting one's estate planning completed now as opposed to later, if an unexpected death occurs, family...