Planning for the future of a disabled child is an essential aspect of estate planning that requires careful consideration and strategic decision-making. If you are a parent or guardian of a disabled child, you need to ensure your child's needs are met, during your...
Estate Administration
How to ask your parents whether they have a will
Discussing the existence of a will can be a sensitive topic for many families. In fact, estate planning is often a topic that many people do not want to address because it brings up the idea of death. However, one of the best things any adult can do for their family...
Protecting financial assets when facing nursing home care need
Many people have medical issues that result in the constant need for monitoring and treatment, possibly leading to nursing home confinement. The primary problem that most individuals face is one of insurance and funding of that care, which is a very expensive...
When a will provision is unworkable and invalid
As we know, a will is an essential element of estate planning. When a person creates a will, he or she usually assumes that their estate planning needs are completed. Peace of mind along with a smooth transition is on the way, or so you think. However, just because...
What happens if a beneficiary dies during the probate process?
If you've been appointed as the executor of someone's estate, then you've likely already been advised by the testator, their attorney or a judge just how long it can take to adjudicate a case. The probate process can take anywhere from weeks to years to see it through...
How estates are valued
When someone passes away, for legal purposes, all their property is considered to be their estate. The estate is made up of assets such as: homes and other real property; checking and saving accounts; stocks and other investments; retirement accounts; vehicles;...
Initiating lawsuits on behalf of an estate
A will is meant to give instructions on how to distribute an estate, but someone must be in charge of carrying out those instructions. This is a big part of the process known as estate administration. The individual responsible for doing administering the estate is...
Debts and settling an estate
Many people who become executors are unpleasantly surprised to learn that creditors can continue to seek repayment after a person's death. It is not quite as bad as it might, however. Some debts will simply go unpaid after the debtor dies. Any outstanding debts that...
Understanding intestate succession in Texas
Most Texans die without leaving a valid will that instructs the probate court how to distribute their assets. In such cases, the decedent's property must be distributed according to rules that have been adopted in the state's statutes. These rules are known as the...
What is estate administration in Texas?
Texas estates come in all shapes and sizes. Some are large, involving thousands perhaps millions of dollars in assets, some are small, comprising only a few thousand dollars in assets. Some estates consist entirely of cash and stocks and bonds, while others include...