Close

Articles Posted in Probate Court

Updated:

Most Americans Still Don’t Have a Will

Despite countless celebrity estate battles, most Americans still put off having a will created. Think of a will as an itinerary for your family that will make their lives easier once you are gone. Prince was clearly busy with performing, writing, recording and creating. But that's still not a good…

Updated:

How Do Supreme Court Judges Do Their Estate Planning? Very Well, As It Turns Out!

One Chief Justice's seemingly simplistic will was the target of a lot of humor. Tongues wagged in Washington that he had utterly failed to do any estate planning. The gossips had it all wrong. It may be surprising to outsiders, but Washington D.C. actually functions in many ways as a…

Updated:

TV Crime Boss Not Wise Guy About Estate Planning

The irrevocable charitable lead trust is a trust that cannot be amended, revised or cancelled. We would call that bullet-proof, and it would have been a good idea for preventing James Gandolfini's estate from being "whacked" by estate taxes. The financial website thestreet.com took a closer look at this powerful…

Updated:

Is Your Estate Plan In Place?

Perhaps the biggest reason to have an estate plan is to decide who will raise and care for your children if you and your spouse should both pass away. An experienced estate attorney who is knowledgeable about guardian ship laws in your state can help you make a plan, as…

Updated:

Estate Planning for Blended Families Takes Special Consideration

Anytime a blended family includes children from prior marriages, estate planning becomes more challenging, as reported in The Meridian Star, in “Estate planning after a second marriage.” If there are young children, how can you ensure that the surviving spouse will take care of them? And what if you pass…

Updated:

Estate Tax Planning Remains Important Step for Some Houstonians

Estate taxes are seen by some as instruments of public policy, an attempt to fight economic inequality by diminishing the ability of wealthy families to aggregate vast amounts of wealth. Others see estate taxes as a “death tax” that penalizes those who are financially successful. Whatever your opinion, estate tax…

Updated:

Two Key Documents for Houston Estate Planning

When a man who had remarried passed away, his children were less upset about his leaving everything to their stepmother as they were about her decision to liquidate the family home and furnishings. Rather than give them an opportunity to enjoy things that had special meaning to the children, she…

Updated:

Having THAT Conversation with Your Houston Heirs

While some estate planning is better than none, most Americans don't speak with their heirs about basic issues – like where the wills can be found – and most wills are not updated. A recent study from the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College, estimates that between 2007…

Updated:

Hard-to-Value Houston Estates Can Be Tax Concern

The Internal Revenue Service has won a settlement of $388 million from the estate of Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson. According to the IRS, the estate owned more than $2 billion in additional taxes. To gain some perspective:  in 2013, the US Treasury took in a total of $12.7 billion…

Updated:

YOU Can Define Your Houston Legacy

Unlike previous generations, the baby boomers are more concerned with having enough money to last through their retirement years than with leaving substantial assets to their heirs and to charities.  But they are still concerned with leaving a legacy for their children and grandchildren.  A new definition of a legacy…

Contact Us