Articles
Is There An Estate Tax In Texas?
At the state level, there is not an estate tax in Texas to be concerned about by anyone, but at the federal level there is. However, less than 1% of the population in Texas or even in the United States needs to worry about this. This is because even though an estate...
Discussing Life Insurance With Your Estate Planning Attorney
If you have life insurance or plan to buy some, then you should definitely discuss it with your estate planning attorney. Whether you have the payout on the policy go directly to an individual beneficiary, to your estate, or to a trust, life insurance plays a...
What’s The Difference Between An Executor And A Trustee?
An executor and a trustee play very large and important roles in your estate plan. But what’s the difference between an executor and a trustee? Knowing what their roles are can help you make better choices for these positions. An executor is the person you name in...
What Can An Estate Planning Attorney Do For You?
An estate planning attorney can do many things for you. He or she can of course create a will for you. A will is usually the most important part of someone’s estate plan. This document allows you to direct where all of your probate assets should go upon your passing....
Does Life Insurance Pass Through A Will?
Life insurance is often a significant part of someone’s estate. So does life insurance pass through a will? The short answer is that usually proceeds from a life insurance policy pass directly to whomever was designated as the beneficiary or beneficiaries on the...
Are Handwritten Wills Legal In Texas?
Are handwritten wills legal in Texas? Handwritten wills, also know as holographic wills, can be legal in Texas if written properly. It can be better than not having a will at all. But it’s certainly not the best way to have a will. For a handwritten will to be legally...
Can A Trust Be Amended Or Terminated?
Can a trust be amended or terminated? Sometimes a grantor, also called a settlor, of a trust (the person who created the trust) or a trust beneficiary ends up not liking some of the wording of a trust. Or sometimes life circumstances in general change so much that the...
Can A Married Couple Use A Joint Will?
I’ve been asked by married couples if they can just use a joint will as opposed to each spouse getting a will of their own. In these situations, typically each spouse wants to leave everything to the surviving spouse, and when the surviving spouse passes on later,...
Do You Want To Be Buried Or Cremated Or….?
A few years ago I took a trip to Peru, and on that trip I took some of my father’s ashes with me. He had recently passed away, and he had made it very clear to us that he wanted to be cremated rather than buried. He likewise let it be known that he wanted his ashes...
Transferring A Car Title In Texas After Someone Dies With The Right Documents
I often get asked about transferring a car title after someone dies. An estate planning attorney or a probate attorney can help you with that. But depending on your specific situation, you may even be able to do it yourself. If the person who died had a will, then a...