Estate Planning

One important aspect of completing the estate planning process is having a living will on file. This way, if a Texas resident is incapacitated and unable to make decisions for him or herself, a medical power of attorney will be clearly defined. It is also important to...

The estates of Texas farmers may be affected by federal estate taxes upon the death of the estate owner. Therefore, it is important that farmers take potential liabilities into account during the estate planning process. If an individual passes away in 2014, private...

Common sense dictates that estate planning is best done sooner rather than later. No matter one's age, financial situation or health status, getting one's ducks in a row in this regard can bring an enormous amount of peace of mind. That said, each Texas resident will...

When it comes to planning one's estate and retirement, a change of location becomes a part of the plan for many American retirees. For example, some states levy more extreme inheritance and/or estate taxes than other states -- and some states do not levy any such...

There is no better time than now to begin the process of drafting one's will. However, for many Texas residents, estate planning is a foreign process filled with lots of difficult decisions and challenging thoughts about one's own death. Considering these challenges,...

Most people don't want to think about what is going to happen to their personal property when they die. For this reason, estate planning and the questions that arise from the process are usually the last thing on any Texas resident's mind. Nevertheless, the question...

It is common now for many Texas families to be a combination of step-parents and half or step-siblings. However, with this comes some complex issues that do not typically exist in traditional estate planning. When it comes to blended families, trusts are often a...

Texas residents know the importance of estate planning, especially for those who make a significant income. Estate planning is especially important for professional athletes. In fact, it is a well-publicized fact that National Football League players often find...

Readers in Texas may be interested to learn about the specifics of a new law in the area of estate planning. The estate planning law relates to the portability of the estate tax exemption. This could affect some 99 percent of those who have estates valued between $5...

Many in Texas and across the nation own pets and love them like family. However, surprisingly few people make considerations in their estate plan for these pets in the event that they die or are incapacitated. It seems that this might be changing, though, as the...