Under Texas law, people can become administrator of an estate through several ways. Perhaps the most familiar is a situation in which an executor is appointed in the text of the will. In other cases, the court must appoint an administrator. In most of these...
Year: 2019
If you own guns, you may need this estate-planning tool
Owning firearms is a right given to you by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Even so, you remain responsible for following the laws, rules and regulations that come with that ownership. In fact, in order to own some weapons, you need to receive permission...
Report on artist’s business reveals risk of undue influence
Peter Max is one of the best-known visual artists in the world. His brightly colored artwork symbolized the pop art and psychedelic art movements of the 1960s and '70s, and has only grown more popular since then. He has been named the official artist for numerous...
Handwritten wills create problems in probate court
At the heart of all probate litigation is the quest to uncover the intentions of the deceased. That person is no longer around to answer any questions or clear up any confusion, and so probate courts rely on a written will. This is why courts are so strict about...
Transfer-on-death deeds for real estate
Estate plans often use complex trusts to avoid probate, but avoiding probate doesn't always have to be complicated. For example, one way to have real estate avoid probate is sometimes to simply name a beneficiary to a transfer-on-death deed.A transfer-on-death deed...
Duties of an estate administrator
When people pass away, all their assets and liabilities become known as the person's estate. Someone has to be in charge of settling the estate's affairs and transferring assets to the heirs and beneficiaries. Under Texas law, this person is known as the executor or...
Divorce means it’s time to update your estate plan
Before your divorce got fully underway, you likely knew that you would need to make many changes in life. You undoubtedly considered the arrangements you would need to make for the children, what you should fight for during property division and numerous other factors...
Mother, son dispute ownership of classic art collection
Disputes over inheritance can be very ugly. These fights can turn sibling against sibling, or even children against a parent.A long-running case of probate litigation is unusual both for its ugliness and the beauty of the disputed assets, a collection of fine art. The...
How often should I update my estate plan?
Your will is meant to be the last statement of your intentions about how to distribute your property after you are gone. However, a lot can happen in your life after you sign your name on your finished will. If you don't update your will to reflect these changes, you...
Trusts are easily adaptable and powerful tools
The recent overhaul of the federal tax code has led to many unforeseen changes. One has been a change in the uses of revocable trusts, also known as living trusts in divorce.One of the most popular reasons people set up a trust is to avoid probate. Assets held in...