by Keith Hajovsky | Sep 17, 2026 | Estate Administration, General Estate Planning, Intestate - Dying Without A Will, Marital Assets, Wills
Executive Summary: Overview of Dying Without a Will (Intestacy) Texas Estates Code Chapter 201 governs asset distribution when dying intestate. Probate becomes more expensive and time-consuming without a will. Minor children receive full access to inheritance at age...
by Keith Hajovsky | Sep 10, 2026 | Estate Administration, General Estate Planning, Non-probate Assets, Probate, Wills
Key Takeaways: Transfer on Death Deed (TODD): Texas Estates Code Chapter 114 lets property owners transfer real estate automatically at death without probate. Main benefit: No need for probate. The beneficiary only needs to file a copy of the death certificate at the...
by Keith Hajovsky | Sep 3, 2026 | Estate Administration, General Estate Planning, Non-probate Assets, Probate, Wills
Executive Summary: Wills do not control all assets. Many people mistakenly believe a will dictates how their entire estate is distributed after death. Non-probate assets bypass the will. These are primarily financial assets such as checking and savings accounts, life...
by Keith Hajovsky | Aug 27, 2026 | Estate Administration, General Estate Planning, Non-probate Assets, Probate, Wills
Executive Summary: Your Will may not control your bank accounts. Certain accounts pass automatically outside of probate. JTWROS accounts pass to the surviving joint owner, while POD accounts pass to the designated beneficiary. These designations generally override the...
by Keith Hajovsky | Aug 5, 2026 | General Estate Planning, Wills
Quick Answer: Almost two-thirds of Americans do not have a will and other important estate planning documents like powers of attorney for no good reason. Enormous improvements in easily available technology have made it possible for some attorneys such as myself to...
by Keith Hajovsky | Jul 29, 2026 | General Estate Planning, Marital Assets, Probate, Wills
Quick Answer: Per Section 2.401 of the Texas Family Code, three elements must exist at the same time in order to establish a common law marriage. Both parties must agree to be married. The couple has to live together as husband and wife while in Texas, i.e. they act...
