Midlife singles are used to directing their own lives, but many worry about what will happen when they die. With strains of The Beatles' song Eleanor Rigby in their ears, they worry that their funeral will be unattended and sad. This is one problem that has a solution: planning ahead.…
Houston Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Blog
Oregon Signs New Law Protecting Digital Assets
Portland is widely recognized as one of the most innovative cities in the US, and a new law reflects Oregon's tech culture. With the signature of Governor Kate Brown, Oregon has enacted Senate Bill 1554, which grants legal access to digital assets to a person named in an estate plan…
Wealthy Family Goes Public With Estate Battle
Facebook has become the source of revolutions, personal journeys, and now, estate battles. When one of America's most admired art collectors passed away last year, she had an estate plan in place. Her husband of 14 years apparently didn't like the terms and is challenging the will. Her adult children…
Houston, Do You Know the True Cost of Divorce?
Once the initial emotional trauma is past and the couple starts working towards creating separation agreements, it's time to consider the day-to-day costs of living that change as the result of a divorce. The family economic unit that formerly had one mortgage or rent payment, one cable bill, one energy…
Beneficiary Designations: Do You Know Who’s Who in Houston?
If you don't remember who your beneficiaries are for your investment accounts, insurance policies or annuity contracts, then you need to carve out some time to go through your accounts and see who you named as your beneficiary. If it's been a while, you may be in for a rude…
Houston Families Can Tackle Tough Talk with Aging Parents
You might be surprised to learn that your elderly or aging parents are more open to discussing their final wishes and estate planning than you, their adult child. If they have already begun the estate planning process, they have come to terms with their own mortality—or are in the process…
Is Roth IRA Conversion a Good Fit For Your Houston Estate Plan?
Not everyone who has a traditional IRA is a good candidate for a Roth IRA conversion, according to The Motley Fool's article, "5 Things to Consider Before Making a Roth IRA Conversion." While every person's situation is different, there are five key elements to consider before making the change to…
Farming Future Depends on Planning Now
Regardless of the ultimate outcome – passing the farm to the next generation or selling it – creating a plan for the future requires a lot of groundwork and the help of an estate planning attorney with experience in family farm matters, according to The High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal's article,…
Glen Campbell’s Alzheimer’s Journey Helps Others Cope
Wife of music legend Glen Campbell, Kim thought that her husband's forgetful moments were part of the normal aging process. Once she realized that his symptoms were not normal, she went to the experts and got the bad but necessary news. In 2011, at age 79, Glen Campbell was diagnosed…
Renee Benson Wins, Is Named Trustee for Her Late Mother’s Assets
A settlement agreement approved today by a probate court judge in Texas has NFL owner Tom Benson's estranged daughter Renee Benson replacing her billionaire father as a trustee overseeing her late mother's assets, as reported by the San Antonio Express News in "Tom Benson's daughter wrestles control of $1 billion…