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…
Houston Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Blog
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Out-of-date beneficiary designations could completely undo your entire estate plan.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.…
What Are the Rules About Inheriting an IRA?
The rules are strict, and mistakes can be costly. Inheriting an IRA is not like inheriting any other asset. You’ll need to be very careful to follow the rules. Usually the parent is the beneficiary and the children (grandchildren) are successor beneficiaries. Here’s how it works, as described in nj.com’s…
Why Do I Need to Have Power of Attorney Forms?
There are a number of different estate planning documents that are easily confused, including “Power of Attorney.” Let’s get a look at the different types of “Power of Attorney,” and what they do. Of the estate planning documents, most people have heard of a will and some have a health…
Born in the USA, But Want to Retire in the U.K.?
Many people contemplate retiring in Europe, to enjoy the company of relatives, a lower price of living or to explore countries they’ve always wanted to see. Here's what you should know if the U.K. is on your retirement radar. Despite a common language and shared history, life in the U.K.…
What Singles Need to Know About the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Single with a net worth less than $11.4 million in 2019? You’re in luck—you can die knowing that all of your money will pass free of any federal estate tax to your heirs. It was good news for the wealthy—the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) amped up the unified…