Oil and gas royalties feel like passive mailbox money, yet probate treats them as complex real property interests. Each royalty check stems from a lease that must be located, interpreted, and confirmed for accuracy. Executors must verify the decedent’s percentage ownership in every producing well, then track revenue back to…
Texas probate law lets personal representatives choose between independent and dependent administration, and that decision directly affects how long heirs wait for assets. Independent administration removes most court oversight, empowering an executor to act without asking a judge for routine approvals. Dependent administration, by contrast, keeps the probate judge involved…
Leaving money outright to a loved one with a disability can backfire. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid impose strict asset caps—usually $2,000. Exceed that limit, and benefits vanish until funds deplete. A carefully drafted special needs trust (SNT) provides extra resources while preserving public assistance. Consult an Austin estate…
Misconceptions about probate spread faster than brisket recipes at a backyard cook-out. Friends repeat half-truths, and online forums mix other states’ rules with Texas procedure. Believing the wrong story can push families into expensive, time-consuming missteps. Let’s bust five common myths—and share a few practical tips—with insight from an Austin…
Wedding gifts fill kitchen cabinets; thank-you cards go out; life settles. Estate planning rarely tops a newlywed’s priority list, yet marriage transforms financial and legal rights overnight. Drafting documents now cements the groundwork for decades of partnership. An Austin probate lawyer at McCulloch & Miller, PLLC makes the process straightforward…
Major job hubs and no state income tax draw countless families to Austin every year. New barbecue spots delight, but new legal rules lurk beneath the excitement. Moving to Texas can shift how assets pass, how debts divide, and which court has jurisdiction. Collaborating with an Austin probate lawyer at…
Naming an executor feels final—until that person moves overseas, develops health problems, or simply says no. Similar obstacles affect trustees and guardians. Without alternates, Texas courts decide who steps in. That may not match your vision. Engage a Dallas probate lawyer at McCulloch & Miller, PLLC to build a fiduciary…
Most Texans picture estate planning as a will that activates after death. Life proves otherwise. A car crash, stroke, or sudden illness can leave anyone unable to sign checks or speak with doctors. If you have not appointed trusted agents, courts may step in—and court supervision rarely feels personal or…
Dallas residents juggle careers, kids, and commutes; estate planning slides down the to-do list. Yet waiting has a price. When you pass away without clear instructions, your family pays—sometimes literally. Working with a Dallas probate lawyer at McCulloch & Miller, PLLC uncovers those hidden expenses early, saving your heirs from…
Your smartphone holds more than photos; it stores passwords, payment apps, and cryptocurrency keys. If you live in the Dallas area and die or become incapacitated, a court must sort out that virtual treasure. Working with a Dallas probate lawyer at McCulloch & Miller, PLLC ensures your digital life fits…