One common misconception in estate planning is that everyone’s estate documents revolve around a will. While many of our clients do decide to use a will, many others use the trust instead of or in addition to their will. The trust has purposes that go beyond estate planning, though, and…
A power of attorney is a binding legal document that gives an individual the power to make decisions on your behalf. In Texas, there are five basic types of powers of attorney, all of which we will review on today’s blog. By understanding all of the types and their various…
It’s a universal truth that we all get older, and it’s also a universal truth that we can’t be sure what the future holds. For many individuals, aging means finding long-term care. Unfortunately, the cost of elderly care is incredibly expensive in this country, and it is difficult for many…
At McCulloch & Miller, we understand – meeting with an estate planning attorney for the first time can feel daunting. You might not know what to expect, and you might feel slightly nervous about what questions might be asked of you. Today, we review some basic ways to prepare for…
Estate planning does not have to be complex, but it’s also not naturally the simplest of processes. As a group of Houston estate planning attorneys, we see some of the same issues again and again in the ways our clients (and the broader public) think about estate planning. Today, we…
As healthcare improves over time, the median age of adults in the U.S. also rises. While this is certainly a net positive for adults and their families, it also means that individuals have more planning to do regarding their elder years. Today, our blog reviews some important topics regarding senior…
Probate is the legal process through which a court reviews a decedent’s will or estate planning documents and accepts the documents as valid and enforceable. In Texas, there are certain assets that must go through probate. There are, however, ways around probate, which many clients are interested in, given the…
Many clients, especially after they have had an especially profitable year, ask our team about how to best structure their charitable giving. Giving money away is a noble goal, and part of our job as estate planning attorneys is to help you figure out how to have the greatest impact…
Take it from us: thinking about death is very rarely how anyone wants to spend their time. As estate planning attorneys, however, we have learned that it is a necessary evil. In our experience, the clients whose families are best protected long-term are those who have taken the time and…
As a team of Texas estate planning attorneys, we often face similar questions from the clients and prospective clients we meet. One such question that many clients ask is: what’s the problem with a DIY will? Our short answer, which we will delve into more through this blog, is that…