The end of the year is a hectic time for most Texas residents, as they complete their holiday shopping and get ready to ring in the New Year with their family members. While many think to cook lavish meals and get extravagant gifts for family members to express their...
Year: 2018
Living wills are an important estate planning document
While many are advised to create a will to ensure their assets are distributed according to their wishes after they pass away, Houston residents may not be aware that there are different categories of wills. Living wills are one of those types and it might be an...
The mystery of the missing last will and testament
We hear it all too often... "The original signed will is missing. I know it was in that box. I saw it. It had been there for years!" Usually by the time a last will and testament has been determined to be missing, every possible heir to the estate is in an uproar, and...
What is a fiduciary’s primary role?
Many estate arrangements involve the relationship of a trustee and a beneficiary and the creation of a fiduciary duty. The individual who has been named as the estate trustee is likely to be the fiduciary and the beneficiary is the principal. Before going down this...
No need to contest a validly created will with our help
The death of a loved one sends a Texas resident on an emotional and stressful journey. Family members have to go through the decedent's belongings and plan their funeral all while coming to terms with their own grief. If the decedent had not outlined their own wishes...
What are the legal requirements to contest a will?
When someone creates a will, it is assumed that it is valid and should be legally binding, as it is supposed to contain the wishes of the decedent. This is why legal challenges to the validity of the will, known as a will contest, are often thrown out of the court...
How would an estate become depleted by nursing care?
Millenials are the butt of many jokes, but credit must be given where credit is due-according to the AARP, they are spending an average of 21 hours a week taking care of older adults. Currently, around 10 million millenials are already serving as the caretaker for an...
Timely trust modifications can avoid family disputes
Houston residents who have created their estate plans might think they have their ducks lined up, but simply creating an estate plan is not the end of the matter. It is very important to periodically review the plan to ensure that it is up to date. A lot might have...
When your estate contains complex assets
One reason why many people postpone making an estate plan is that it often involves many complex components. Few Texas families are fortunate enough to have all their members getting along, and creating an estate plan may mean taking into consideration the special...
Do my college going kids need an estate plan?
Many Houston residents may have sent off their children to college this fall and in between wondering how quickly time passes and how they are going to change the extra bedroom into a gym, they neglect to think about essential updates to their estate plan. When a...