Keeping beneficiaries adequately informed is one of your duties as an estate’s executor. It ensures you maintain transparency. Failing to effectively communicate with beneficiaries can get you into trouble. They may petition to remove you, as they may believe you are...
Some people are very open about their finances. Their spouse, children and close friends may all know about their major financial obligations. Many people treat financial matters as personal and private. They may not even necessarily disclose all of their routine...
Guardianship can provide important protection for minors and adults who are unable to manage their personal or financial affairs. However, a guardianship is not always permanent, and Texas law recognizes several circumstances where court supervision may no longer be...
Creating an estate plan often begins with assets. People make an inventory of everything that they own and their financial holdings, such as bank accounts and investment portfolios. They then determine exactly how they want to split these assets up among family...
Executors, also known as estate administrators or personal representatives, spend months managing estates. Depending on the circumstances, the process can take a year or longer to complete. In some cases, beneficiaries or heirs who expect to receive property from the...
Many people assume that all assets must pass through probate after someone dies. In reality, a large portion of an estate may transfer directly to beneficiaries without court involvement. These assets are known as nonprobate property. Texas law recognizes several...
Probate can be a time-consuming and public court process that many families prefer to avoid. When a loved one passes away, assets often become tied up in court supervision, creating delays, expenses and unnecessary stress at an already difficult time. With the right...
Unmarried couples can face unique challenges when planning for the future. State law does not provide the same protections for unwed partners. This makes it important to create documents that reflect each person’s wishes. A thoughtful plan helps reduce confusion and...
Probate is a court-controlled process, which means it doesn’t operate on a flexible or customized timeline. Hearings are scheduled based on availability, filings are processed in sequence and court backlogs can affect even straightforward cases. Some level of delay is...
Fiduciary representation plays an important role in estate and real estate administration. When someone passes away or creates a trust, another person is often responsible for managing assets, paying debts and handling distributions for beneficiaries. These...