You might hear families in Texas and around the nation say that probate is the last thing they want to go through when a loved one passes away and their estate begins to be distributed. One of the biggest reasons behind avoiding probate is because of its long and...
When you die in the state of Texas, your assets may have to go through probate before they're distributed to your heirs. Probate can be a necessary but time-consuming process that delays the time when your loved ones receive their assets. How can you avoid probate and...
Families in Texas and throughout the country may be spending time together this holiday season, or at least staying in touch with one another. Typically, the topics of death and money are off-limits during family events. However, failing to have an estate planning...
The probate process takes place after a person dies whether there was a valid will or not. When there is a valid will, the process is more straightforward than when there is not. Nevertheless, it can still expend a lot of time and money. The will does not take effect...
Finalizing an estate plan means accepting that incapacity and death are possibilities. It can be hard for people in Texas to confront that reality about themselves. Making an estate plan is a lot of work, but it's worth it because an estate plan can save a lot of...
Just because you've gone through a divorce at a late age does not mean you'll never find love again. This is the reality for many Texas seniors as they have been able to find love only a few years after their initial divorce. However, just like a divorce, the process...
As more older adults in Texas divorce and remarry, it's important to think about the way that divorce can impact financial planning. Partly, that involves financial settlements for ex-spouses, but it's important to think about the impact of remarriage on estate...
A fiduciary is a person who acts on behalf of his or her client and is required to make decisions that are in that person's best interests. For instance, accountants, bankers or money managers in Texas or anywhere else could act as fiduciaries. A child's legal...
When a Texas resident dies, the executor named in their will is responsible for paying bills and taxes and distributing assets according to the terms outlined in the will. However, in some cases, the executor might pass away before the will holder. If no one else is...
Dying without a valid will in place can leave the decedent's family in a precarious situation when Texas probate law is applied. All individuals who die intestate will have their financial assets place in probate, which means that creditors and government taxation...