If you go through the trouble to carefully draft and execute your estate planning documents, you want your loved ones to respect your wishes for your assets. Sometimes, though, heirs contest their loved ones’ wills after their loved ones are gone. The most common reasons that descendants contest a will…
In an ideal situation, if you are left to handle a loved one’s affairs after they pass, you have your loved one’s detailed will or estate planning document at your disposal. Sometimes, however, individuals die without a will, and their heirs are left to navigate intestate probate in Texas. The…
In Texas, if a person dies without a will (or if a person leaves property out of their will, intentionally or mistakenly), there are laws that dictate how the state distributes the relevant property. Texas heirship law can seem complicated at first, but today’s blog aims to simplify the process…
The probate process can vary in complexity, depending on the size and nature of a decedent’s estate. While many executors think first and foremost about the assets in a decedent’s estate, it is equally important to consider the debts and taxes that might be involved. Without addressing these crucial elements,…
Some individuals in Texas qualify for what is called a “small estate affidavit,” which simplifies the probate process and serves as an efficient way to pass assets to heirs. When does the small estate affidavit make sense for Texans? What are the requirements? Today’s blog summarizes some of the basics…
When clients or potential clients ask us how long the probate process typically takes in Texas, we always say that “it depends.” This answer can be frustrating, but there is unfortunately no cookie cutter answer to this common question. As we have described in past blogs, probate is the process…
If one of your loved ones has recently passed, and that loved one died both with a will and without any debts, you might be able to probate your loved one’s estate through Muniment of Title. Muniment of Title is a tool that shortens the time that probate typically takes,…
Probate is a pain for most involved parties. It entails court filings, hearings, and fees, and it can take longer than many people want to wait. At the same time, probate is a necessary hurdle that allows beneficiaries to access the assets that their loved one left behind. Sometimes, though,…
In this day and age, it can be tempting to use technology to bypass legal advice. Many individuals, for example, tell us that they have considered creating a “DIY will” online instead of consulting a Houston estate planning attorney to undergo the process. Is this a good idea? At McCulloch…
Many of our clients are interested in leaving money to their children when they pass. For some clients, though, there is a question about what to do when their child is not financially savvy. Do they leave unrestricted assets for the child anyway? Are there tools they can use to…