Dealing with issues related to trusts, trustees, or estate management can get confusing. Maybe you’re not getting the funds you were promised or noticing that the trustee is not acting in your best interest. The whole process can feel unfair, especially if you’re unsure of your rights. If you’re facing fiduciary litigation, you need someone who understands the law...
Continue ReadingThere may come a time when a person loses the ability to communicate his or her health care decisions. Whether the person loses capacity as a result of an accident, disease, or old age, it can be a difficult time for everyone involved. To ease the emotional stress of these types of situations, Texans should consider completing a medical...
Continue ReadingIt is natural to want to protect your hard-earned assets to ensure you and your loved ones can benefit from them for years to come. One way married couples can protect assets is by creating a spousal lifetime access trust (SLAT). These trusts allow one spouse to set aside assets for the benefit of the other spouse. In this...
Continue ReadingFew people imagine they’ll ever need a probate attorney. However, the need for adequate representation throughout the probate process becomes obvious right after a loved one passes on. There are many reasons for this. First, probate is a long and complicated process. This fact is especially true now as probate cases have surged since 2020. Second, probate proceedings tend to...
Continue ReadingIf you die without a will in Texas, any property you own at the time of your death will be distributed in accordance with Texas intestate succession laws. But, you may be wondering, What exactly does that mean? If you have questions about how to plan for your future and what happens if you die without a will in...
Continue ReadingWhen someone passes away (commonly referred to as a “decedent”), one of the first things to do is determine whether the decedent left a will. If the decedent did leave a will, it must go through the probate process in court before the property can be distributed to their beneficiaries. The probate process can be complicated. Sometimes, after a will is...
Continue ReadingAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics, marriage rates throughout the United States have steadily declined since the 1980s. However, that doesn’t mean there are fewer people in committed relationships. In fact, studies show that the number of Americans living with an unmarried partner is growing, indicating the public’s shift on perceptions of marriage. That...
Continue ReadingSetting up a living trust is often a highly efficient method of maintaining control over your assets while preparing to pass them on to descendants. However, you must take steps to prepare your assets for the trust. Transferring ownership of your property to your trust is one such step. Ensuring that a trust officially owns all the assets you...
Continue ReadingA properly formed and executed estate plan can ensure loved ones benefit from all a decedent’s property once they pass. Unfortunately, not everyone can perfectly manage their assets and make the proper arrangements to pass them on with little effort. Sometimes, valuable property can fall through the cracks. During the probate process, the families of the deceased relative might...
Continue ReadingThe Texas Estates Code sets out a process for overseeing the distribution of an estate’s assets. Intestate estates (those where the decedent left no will), and an estate with assets that are not exempt, must go through probate. Though the process is relatively straightforward, several issues that might interrupt the distribution of the estate to heirs can arise. From...
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