In Texas, a revocable living trust, also known as a trust, is a legal entity designed to control one’s assets. Trusts are created when one person, referred to as the trustor, settlor, or grantor transfers a property interest to a trustee to be held for a beneficiary. Trusts creator during…
Estate planning requires individuals to take an inventory of and consider what they wish to do with their bank accounts, homes, car, and other personal belongings after they pass. In addition to these contemplations, Texas business owners must undertake strategic decision-making to pass on or dispose of their business interests…
When beginning the estate planning process, most people begin with creating a will and other documents like healthcare directives, medical power of attorney, and funeral arrangements. However, they often forget about living trusts, which have many unique benefits. Unlike a will, a living trust allows an individual to transfer assets…
Because estate planning laws are constantly changing, individuals often wonder if they should be changing their estate plans or utilizing other strategies. Some of these changes are known—such as the reduction of the federal estate tax exemption in 2026—whereas others are passed by Congress last minute and can be difficult…
Because there are proposed and implemented changes every year to the federal and state tax code, Texans should always be vigilant as to how these changes affect their gifting practices and their estate plans. In many cases, without the assistance of an estate planning attorney, these changes may seem minuscule…
When individuals think about creating a trust, they often envision the protection of assets that comes along with such a legal entity. However, they may not consider the lawsuits that may be brought in connection with managing the trust. Being the trustee of a trust is a major responsibility, but…
Putting together an estate plan is often a long but well-thought-out process. However, last-minute mistakes can lead to future complications. These last-minute mistakes may be changing a designation in the plan at the last second, taking advice from someone and not consulting with their attorney, or not paying attention to…
A federal bill working its way through Congress will have dramatic implications for Texans and their estate plans. Once the bill becomes law, some of the estate planning techniques that have assisted Americans with sizeable estates will no longer be available. Fortunately, there is still time for Houston residents to…
Selecting the right legal instrument for a charitable donation can help ensure that your good deed goes unpunished. One effective but lesser-known instrument for charitable donations is the charitable lead trust (CLT). Donors can set up this type of trust in Houston to provide a stream of income to a…
The recent increase in unexpected deaths as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic has brought the issue of estate planning to the front of many people’s minds. In planning for the end of their life, asset holders may be confused by the various tools that may be used to divide…