For many people, the realization of the benefits of a power of attorney comes too late. Once someone is no longer capable of understanding his or her legal, medical or financial needs, obtaining a power of attorney to handle those needs is not possible. Instead, loved...

In most cases, with the appropriate estate planning, testators can leave their assets to whomever they choose. They can also disinherit whomever they choose, but this is not always easy to do without risking a challenge during probate. An heir who is disinherited may...

This time of year often brings the impulse to clean and purge, and many in Texas and beyond will empty closets, attics and garages to rid themselves of clutter. However, when cleaning out the drawers of the desks, they may run across their estate planning documents,...

One important aspect of probate is identifying and locating the heirs the will names or, if no will exists, the heirs by Texas law. However, what happens when the executor or estate administrator cannot locate the legal heirs of an estate going through probate. It...

After a loved one dies, there may be many reasons for wanting the probate process to end quickly. Perhaps you already have a buyer for the deceased’s house, and you need the estate to close so you can complete the transaction. Maybe you have financial reasons for...

The definition and understanding of the word “family” has undeniably changed in recent years. What was once considered a traditional family of a married mom and dad and their children living in a single home now makes up less than 20% of households. With this complex...

Estate planning carries many myths and misconceptions, but it comes down to very personal choices. Some parents believe they must leave equal inheritances for all their children, but this is not true. For example, parents who gift one child money for a down payment on...

Writing a will may be something you don’t think about unless you have a brush with death. You may think you will deal with your will later, when you are closer to the end of your life and the thought of death won’t feel so morbid. If these are your thoughts, you may...

Giving someone else control over one’s finances and health care decisions through a power of attorney designation may seem unthinkable to some. They may have heard stories of people whose agents took advantage of them and left them alone and struggling. However, many...

The sad fact is that most people in Texas do not have a will in place when they die. Without a will or other estate planning instrument, many of those estates are left to the mercy of probate court. The court will typically distribute the assets based on next-of-kin...