Texas residents may speed up their asset distribution by adding heirs to their financial accounts. You could review and choose those financial institutions that allow clients to name beneficiaries or add joint owners to their accounts. You may also consider creating a...
People write wills and other estate planning documents hoping their friends and family will respect their wishes regarding their assets and other end-of-life decisions. Heartbreakingly, this is not always the case. For many different reasons, some estates end up in...
Not all assets end up going through probate. Some assets do not become part of an estate because they have beneficiary designations. Assigning a beneficiary on an asset means you can directly pass it to another person after you die, allowing the asset to bypass...
A valid will requires naming an individual as your estate’s executor. The individual you choose administers to the various needs that arise during probate. Under Chapter 304 of the Texas Estates Code, you may name a spouse, relative or trusted individual capable of...
Whoever serves as your estate executor will have the responsibility of distributing your estate to your heirs, so you want to look for ways to lighten the burden on your executor. Sometimes estate administrators become swamped with duties because the estate has a lot...
When a loved one passes away, probate court is often necessary and helpful in settling his or her final arrangements and distributing assets to any heirs named in a will. U.S. News notes that smaller, uncontested estates, those worth less than $70,000, usually have an...
When creating your estate plan, selecting an executor is one of the most important parts of the process. After all, this person will oversee your estate after your death. Of course, many people automatically lean toward a family member when choosing their executor....
The purpose of a will is to prevent disagreements about one’s property after death. However, things do not always go as planned. If someone disputes the will, it can lead to litigation. What are some common causes of estate litigation? A will is a legally binding...
Many siblings will deal with rivalries between one another at some point in their childhood or even adulthood. While many of these spats are minor and most siblings will grow out of them, others may end up holding life-long grudges. The fires of these grudges may end...
Sibling rivalry is nothing new. Most families with siblings will experience it in various forms, whether friendly competition or genuine malicious disagreements. When financial matters end up in the mix, as is the case with probate, things have a chance to get out of...