Unintended consequences can occur when dividing up real property, which is often harder to distribute than investment accounts or savings accounts. Planning for real property division must take into account the different circumstances of your heirs. You may have envisioned a time in the future, when your children and grandchildren…
Houston Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Blog
Must-Do Retirement Planning Principles
In the best of all possible worlds, your retirement finances include a nest egg that generates a steady flow of income while your principal assets continue to grow. There are six key investment points that, if you can meet them, will make retirement finances work in your favor, according to…
Why “Regular Folks” Need an Estate Plan
An estate plan does a lot more than distribute your assets among family members and organizations that share your values. It also protects you and your loved ones. That’s why everyone needs an estate plan, especially if you have minor children. It’s amazing that some people still think they don’t…
Britney Spears Pets Live Large, but Without a Pet Trust, Their Luxe Life Is Vulnerable
Britney Spears five dogs enjoy the same quality of life as she does, but without a pet trust, if anything happened to her, their lavish lifestyle would be at risk. Pet trusts are no longer the exclusive province of the rich and famous, but a recent article in Trust Advisor…
A Legacy of Service Will Continue Now that Estate Battle is Settled
At last, a happy ending for the estate of the late Veronica Shoemaker, a community activist who made service the heart of her life and business. With the conclusion of the estate battle, Mattie Young, the daughter of the late Veronica Shoemaker, will now be able to keep her mother’s…
Retiring in 2017? Take These Steps Before You Make It Official
Before you tell HR what your final day of work will be, there are more than a few details that you need to cover to prepare for taxes, make the most of any potential benefits and start retirement on the right foot. If there’s a retirement season, it’s spring or…
You May Miss the Estate Tax, but Your State May Have Its Own Death Taxes
Some states are cheaper to die in than others, that is, when it comes to death taxes. The average American doesn’t have to worry too much about paying a federal estate tax, as the current federal estate tax exemption is a generous $5.49 million for 2017 and twice that if…
Strong Trust Planning is Important When One Spouse is Not a U.S. Citizen
With many tech companies, universities and businesses, North Carolina has become home to many resident aliens who contribute greatly to the state’s growth. Estate planning requires special knowledge of non-citizen tax rules. More than $1 billion in annual foreign direct investment gives North Carolina’s private sector employment a huge boost,…
Daughter Sues Mom, Charging Her with Draining Her Inheritance
Legal battles that lasted longer than the marriage, continue to plague the daughter of a real estate investor. A court action brought by a young woman, whose mother devoted nine years to gaining control of her trust fund, is now trying to free herself from her mother’s financial grip. Her…
Welfare Check on Senior Leads to Lawsuit against NYPD Officer
A federal judge has ruled that a police officer’s uninvited entry into a house to check on the well-being of an adult with dementia, is shielded by qualified immunity. The response to a possible crisis was correct. Given the number of elder abuse cases, it is encouraging that New York…