Whether you are young or old, married or unmarried, parenting or childfree, you need a will. A will is a basic courtesy to the loved ones left behind after someone’s passing. Even for people with minimal assets, a will is an appropriate Houston estate planning tool to ensure that any…
Throughout time, the purposes of life insurance in the estate planning context have simultaneously remained constant, while also dramatically changing. These alterations have occurred because of state and federal regulations. And these changes impact how estate planning attorneys advise their clients. However, it can be difficult for Texans to know…
Last month, a judge delivered a ruling that thousands of fans and supporters of Britney Spears had been waiting for. Calling the situation of Spears’s conservatorship “toxic,” the judge decided that Spears’s father must no longer be her conservator. Under the conservatorship (guardianship)—which has been in place for over a…
Regardless of the makeup of a family, family dynamics can often be complicated. But fighting about food and what to watch on TV are simple problems compared to disputes about a loved one’s estate. These lawsuits can cost millions of dollars and tear families apart. Instead, there are steps that…
Many Houstonians have taken the laudable first step of creating an estate plan, so their assets can be passed off after their death. However, people will often forget to include provisions to handle the expenses that occur at the end of a person’s life. If these costs are not incorporated…
No will is the same; however, some wills are more complicated than others because of family dynamics and related situations. One family dynamic that makes a will slightly more complex is when a blended family is involved. A blended family—made up of families that come together over time with new…
While drafting their estate plan, many individuals do not consider the taxes that will be taken from their assets after their passing. Because every state has different tax rates—and there are both estate tax and inheritance taxes to worry about—it can be confusing for Texans to determine what taxes apply…
There is a common phrase that says, “the days are long but the years are short.” While this phrase was not created with estate planning in mind, the sentiment runs true: people talk about drafting an estate plan but rarely do so over time. However, it is never too early…
Most people understand that it is important to have an estate plan in place from a young age. In fact, most financial planners recommend that every newly minted adult creates a basic estate plan. At the very least, it is crucial to have an estate plan in place once you…
Individuals often ask Houston estate planning attorneys about some of the worst mistakes that can occur during—or after—the estate planning process. One of these fatal errors is when estate plans are not updated as the person’s situation in life changes. An estate plan—detailing who the person would like to receive…