Veterans who qualify for both the Post 9/11 GI Bill program and the older Montgomery GI bill may have access to expanded veterans education benefits. It all hinges on a recent federal court decision and a possible appeal by VA officials. Tens of thousands of veterans could be impacted, if…
Houston Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Blog
Here are the Estate Planning Documents You Must Have
Leaving the workplace behind and heading into retirement can be as much an emotional transition, as it is financial. The prospect of fulfilling dreams long deferred, while recognizing a milestone of aging can take time to work through. At the same time, there are time-sensitive tasks that need doing. During…
How Does a Power of Attorney Work?
The durable power of attorney is a means of naming a person who can represent another in all legal and financial matters, while they are alive and well, as well as when they are incapacitated. It is a legal document that needs careful consideration. The power of attorney gives a…
What’s a Safe Place for My Estate Plan?
At last, you’ve completed your estate documents, including retitling assets and checking beneficiary designations. The only question left is, where should they be stored? The answer is not that simple. Do you know where your estate plan documents are? Many people ask their estate planning attorneys to hold onto their…
What Happens When There’s a Will Contest?
Contesting a will is not for the faint of heart, but this is the process that lets a person legally challenge a will. When there’s a will, there’s a way to challenge it, known as a “will contest.” If someone dies and they had a will, their estate goes through…
What is a Probate Lawyer? Do I Need One?
While it’s possible for people to manage some parts of their loved one’s estate, very often the tasks feel overwhelming. When getting assets out of probate becomes too much of a challenge, it’s time for help. There are instances when an executor knows they need to hire an attorney who…
What Will Boomers Do When They Need Long-Term Care?
A generation seems to be waking up to the concept that they are likely to need to care for a spouse or a family member, and they’re taking it seriously. A study from Bankers Life Center for a Secure Retirement reported that 90% of baby boomers surveyed understand that they…
How Doctors Can Protect Assets
Any high-income professional must expect that at some point there will be a bad outcome and a lawsuit against them and/or their practice. Doctors, in particular, need to be sure that they have the correct protection in place. Whether you are a surgeon, chiropractor or cardiologist, at some point in…
Is There a Way to Avoid Paying Taxes on a Jointly-Owned Home?
There are many inheritance scenarios, where people hope that a simple solution will save them time and money. Unfortunately, that’s not always the way estate or tax laws work. A woman received joint ownership of her father’s house about a decade ago. Her father is still living there, and so…
Should A Trust be an IRA Beneficiary?
An IRA is one of the most popular ways to save for retirement. The possibility, however small, does exist that you will pass before using the entire IRA. How do you decide who to leave your IRA to? In addition to leaving assets, including IRAs and 401(k)s, to heirs, you…