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...
Fiduciary Representation
The Texas statutory durable power of attorney form
There may come a time when you need someone in Texas to take on some of your financial responsibilities. The cause could be a trip out of the country, incapacitation because of a car accident or even age and dementia. We at understand that...
Disinheriting your family member the right way
You have recently begun to rethink your will and are considering modifying the heirs you have designated in your original estate plan. Fortunately for you, changing things around is relatively easy and allows you to make needed modifications as your life changes....
Innovative application designed to protect seniors from fraud
As people near retirement age, they often face the excitement and anticipation of having more time to pursue their passions, travel and spend time with family members. However, as people age, they also face the very real risk of being taken advantage of in some way....
The fiduciary role of a personal representative
Being named the personal representative of a Texas estate comes with many responsibilities. While anyone can make a mistake, serious errors in judgment that negatively affect the assets of the estate could lead to a lawsuit. In fact, a personal representative may be...
Defining undue influence in Texas probate law
In the most basic sense of the law, and according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute, "undue influence" occurs when one party of a contract puts the free will of another party into question and therefore, leads to the courts declaring the contract...
Coordinating an estate plan to prevent inheritance disputes
When people begin the process of planning their estate in Texas, they may be facing uncertainty and hesitation when it comes time to designating beneficiaries and heirs. They may have anxiety about choosing the right people and hoping that they do not offend anyone in...
What can you do if you do not trust an estate executor?
According to MoneySense, the executor of a Texas estate has a duty to protect the estate, probate the will and pay both creditors and beneficiaries. An executor also has certain fiduciary duties, which you can learn more about below. If an estate administrator...
Preparing yourself to contest your loved one’s will
Your loved one has recently passed away and other family members are beginning the process of executing the deceased's estate plan in Texas. Learning that you were not named in his or her will despite the connection you had to the deceased, as well as the relationship...
Should I be a personal representative?
If someone named you as their personal representative, it probably means that you held a position of trust. Your loved one probably had confidence that you would make the right decisions about the estate. However, the Texas inheritance process is not something you...