While there’s a time limit on this great opportunity for tax-free giving—2025, unless Congress makes some changes—this is a good time to take advantage of minimizing your tax liability through generosity. There’s a new big break for top-dollar wealth transfers, thanks to the new tax law. Basic rule: the more…
Houston Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Blog
New Rules on Benefits Appeals for Veterans
Following the adoption of new rules, there will now be options for veterans to appeal their disability benefits. The hope is that these three new processes will speed cases. It took more than a year and a half, but the Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that new appeals rules…
How to Make Your Charitable Giving Have a Greater Impact
Most donations are made in December, and charities of all shapes and sizes make the most of the holiday spirit. However, by taking a bit of time to plan out charitable giving, including doing some research and talking with your family about your legacy, your giving could have a greater…
Want to be in Charge of Your Own Funeral?
For people who like to plan and don’t trust anyone else to get the details right, estate planning and even funeral planning can provide peace of mind. If you watched the funeral of the former President George H. W. Bush, you may have noticed how smoothly everything went. Every detail…
Millennials Need an Estate Plan Too
Live long enough, and you learn that life can change in a heartbeat. Young adults don’t always know this, but they need to have an estate plan as much as older people. Whether you are a Baby Boomer or a Millennial, you need to have an estate plan. With the…
The Biggest Retirement Risks? The Ones You Don’t Know About
You know that health care, taxes and not saving enough for retirement can derail retirement. However, what about the risks you never saw coming? Consider these three risks to retirement says Wealth Advisor in the article, “The Three Risks To Prepare For In Retirement.” They are a little less obvious…
The Sooner You Complete Your Estate Plan, The Better
Among the top three reasons for an estate plan are to make sure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, helping your loved ones from having to pay more taxes than necessary and if possible, avoiding having your estate go through probate. When there are minor children or…
What If I Don’t Want My Inheritance?
It sounds crazy, but there are many good reasons why someone would not want to receive an inheritance. Making sure that you are not forced to receive assets must be done very carefully, so you’ll need an estate planning attorney on your team. An estate waiver, also known as an…
The Difference Between Per Capita And Per Stirpes – Beneficiary Designations
Out-of-date beneficiary designations could completely undo your entire estate plan. It happens often, since people often neglect these ‘fine print’ details. We hope that you have a will to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes after you pass. However, if you are like most Americans, many…
What Happens When an Heir Predeceases the Parent?
If your will does not address this issue, then your state’s laws will be applied. Speak to an experienced Houston estate planning attorney to see about Texas heir laws. Estate planning attorneys deal with unexpected issues all of the time, and by their nature, some of them involve sensitive and sad topics.…