Planning Ahead Reduces Family Conflict Planning for the division of assets and other desires upon someone’s death can be an uncomfortable and difficult process. Often, parents or other benefactors want to assume that their heirs and beneficiaries will understand their end-of-life wishes and cooperate in dividing their assets and making…
Estate planning is a critical collection of documents that protects one’s assets and property for future generations. An “estate” is the collection of these documents, and it specifies who will protect ones’ wishes and act on them when the time comes. While estate planning is a centuries-old tradition that many…
Estate planning is a fairly complex topic. The laws frequently change and are not always intuitive. However, estate planning is crucial and, while the thought of starting the estate planning process may not be something anyone looks forward to, it is something everyone needs to consider. This is especially the…
According to the National Association of Realtors, the pandemic has brought on an unprecedented amount of home sales in Texas and throughout the United States. As home sales increased, mortgage rates hit record lows, encouraging quarantined home buyers to jump-start their searches. Those who have bought or sold a home…
Society as a whole has experienced unexpected and overwhelming changes over the past year. These changes have undoubtedly caused people to consult with their Houston estate planning attorneys to address their long-term goals. Recent surveys by TD Wealth highlight several issues that have impacted estate planning. Healthcare Costs Skyrocket, But…
It is never too early to begin thinking about retirement. In fact, the wisest people often begin planning and saving for retirement early on, understanding that doing so can pay off in a big way down the line. One question many Texas individuals have when thinking about their retirement plans…
Many Texans plan for the future, including planning their estates with their spouse. Married couples may find it easier to plan together, or may enjoy picturing their life together years, maybe even decades, down the road. But, unfortunately, not every marriage survives until the end of time. Texans may find…
Although there has recently been a lot of news out of Washington, D.C.—particularly the COVID-19 Relief Bill—many individuals are interested in the 2022 fiscal year budget and the proposed changes that will be made. This includes expected capital gains and dividend tax rate increases for high-income individuals, along with any…
When people reach retirement age, many assume that the majority of the taxes they will need to pay are over. However, in many cases, taxes may be even more burdensome once a person has retired. Be it in the form of an estate tax, Roth IRAs, or life insurance plans,…
When a family member or close friend is upset by the contents of a deceased person’s will, they may contest the will’s validity. The most popular argument is to claim the will is invalid because of the person’s mental incompetence or that there was undue influence exerted upon them. In…