Estate planning

When planning your estate in Texas, you have many tools at your disposal: Wills, trusts, transfer on death deeds and designated beneficiary plans are just a few in your arsenal. Another versatile tool is the Lady Bird Deed.  Lady Bird Deeds, or more formally, Enhanced...

Thinking about dying before your children grow up is not necessarily pleasant. However, as a new parent, you need to create an estate plan to protect your children in the event you and your spouse die unexpectedly. When planning for a future you are not a part of, it...

When working on an estate plan, you must address complicated family issues to limit family tension as much as possible. According to Forbes, sibling arguments, hostile relatives and spendthrift heirs can create a challenge for high-net-worth households.  Every family...

Like other parents with young children, you may worry what will happen if you and your spouse die unexpectedly. At the moment, your children may be too young to handle coming into wealth and property. This problem is why some young families set up a testamentary trust...

When someone dies, a big step is to figure out what happens to the estate. If the person who passed has a will, the process is typically easier and less messy, although this is not always the case. If the person did not have a will, there is more involvement of the...

If you and your spouse have made the decision to separate, you may also be evaluating some longer-term decisions. Depending on your situation, the separation may provide time for the two of you to heal issues in your marriage or it may be the first step to getting...

When your disabled child was young, you took steps to meet his or her needs. Now that your son or daughter has grown into an adult, you are probably looking for ways to continue to provide basic support. Establishing a special needs trust as part of your overall...

Texas residents like you build your estate plans from the ground up. One of the most crucial pillars is your executor. It is important to find one that suits your needs well. What if your executor cannot fulfill their duties to your standard? It may jeopardize your...

Sometimes, an estate plan needs to change. In today’s world, relationships become fractured. Families may become estranged. No matter the reason, sometimes, parents seek to disinherit a child. Now, this is a decision that no one should take lightly. It can cause a lot...

You have options in deciding who takes care of your children in the event of a sudden and unexpected death. If your spouse dies tragically along with you, the state of Texas may appoint a guardian over your children if no other plans or arrangements exist.  Courts...