by Keith Hajovsky | Mar 12, 2025 | Estate Administration, General Estate Planning, Non-probate Assets, Probate, Wills
In 2015 the Texas legislature created a new way for people to transfer ownership of real estate at the time of their death with what is called a Transfer on Death Deed (TOD). [also see A Lady Bird Deed Protects A Home Medicaid Recovery] The way it works is that the...
by Keith Hajovsky | Mar 5, 2025 | Estate Administration, General Estate Planning, Non-probate Assets, Probate, Wills
It’s very important to keep in mind that usually not all of your assets pass through your will. This is something that many people don’t realize. And this can potentially cause BIG problems. Assets that don’t pass through your will are called non-probate assets. These...
by Keith Hajovsky | Feb 26, 2025 | Estate Administration, General Estate Planning, Non-probate Assets, Probate, Wills
Most people incorrectly believe that the money in their bank account will automatically pass through their will in whatever way the will dictates. However, it is very common for a bank account to be opened either as a JTWROS (“joint tenants with right of...
by Keith Hajovsky | Dec 26, 2024 | Estate Administration, Probate, Wills
With so many people moving to Texas these days I often get the question “Can my will from another state be used in Texas?” The quick answer is, yes, as long as the will was created and signed properly within the laws of that other state, then the will should be...
by Keith Hajovsky | Oct 30, 2024 | Estate Administration, General Estate Planning, Probate, Trusts, Wills
Can you avoid probate by having a living trust? (please also see Do I Need A Living Trust) Well yes and no. Yes, for all the assets that you actually place into the trust you can avoid probate for those particular assets. For example, you could deed your house to the...
by Keith Hajovsky | Oct 2, 2024 | Estate Administration, General Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Wills
“Can my Power of Attorney take care of my assets when I die?” I get this question fairly often. And even more often than that, as I am talking to people about their estate plans I learn that many of them incorrectly assume that their Power of Attorney will still work...
