by Keith Hajovsky | Mar 27, 2024 | Non-probate Assets, Probate, Wills
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...
by Keith Hajovsky | Mar 20, 2024 | Estate Administration, General Estate Planning, Probate, Wills
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...
by Keith Hajovsky | Mar 6, 2024 | Probate, Trusts, Wills
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,...
by Keith Hajovsky | Feb 21, 2024 | Estate Administration, Intestate - Dying Without A Will, Probate, Wills
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...
by Keith Hajovsky | Feb 7, 2024 | Asset Protection, General Estate Planning, Marital Assets, Probate, Wills
What is considered a homestead in Texas can have a very big effect on your estate planning needs as well as many other aspects of your life. The Texas Constitution lets a person establish a homestead which is basically a certain piece of real estate that is exempted...
by Keith Hajovsky | Jan 31, 2024 | General Estate Planning, Medicaid, Non-probate Assets, Probate
I have counseled several clients to use a what is called a Lady Bird Deed to protect a home from Medicaid recovery. [also see What Is A Transfer on Death Deed] The typical situation is that a parent or other loved one is elderly and has become so sick with an ailment...
