Houston Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney BlogAs 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 public benefits planning in Texas […]
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Can a Small Estate Affidavit Eliminate the Need for Probate?
In Texas, it is a general requirement that a decedent’s estate plan must go through probate before beneficiaries inherit the property, assets, or debts that their loved one left behind. There are ways to avoid probate, however – some of which we have focused on in this blog. Avoiding probate is an important goal for […]
What is Muniment of Title in Texas?
As many individuals in Texas know all too well, the probate process can be long and drawn out. Waiting for a decedent’s assets to be distributed can take months, which often makes things difficult for beneficiaries who might need more immediate access to their loved one’s funds. In Texas, however, there is an option called […]
Who Can Benefit from a Texas Special Needs Trust?
As we have discussed previously in our blog, trusts can be powerful tools to protect and distribute assets for individuals in a variety of circumstances. One particular kind of trust is called the special needs trust, which is designed specifically for individuals with a disability. This type of trust distributes assets without eliminating its beneficiaries […]
Signs of Elder Abuse: How to Look Out for Your Loved Ones
When we speak to clients who have elderly parents, grandparents, or friends, one of their biggest concerns is that their loved ones will be taken advantage of through financial abuse. Financial abuse is incredibly common among elder individuals, and the most important thing that others can do is closely monitor how and when their loved […]
The Two Types of Special Needs Trusts in Texas
Loved ones, family members, and parents of special needs individuals know they often need a unique approach in helping care for the special needs child or adult in their life. This approach is often augmented by help from government benefits established to make life easier for people with special needs, such as Medicaid and Social […]
Planning for Retirement with a Special Needs Child
Planning for retirement can already seem intimidating: it can be seen as time-consuming, stressful, and expensive. For parents of special needs children or adults within their care, retirement planning may seem impossible. Retirement planning usually involves analyzing income, expected income, and assets and planning those inflows against expected outflows, or expenses, from retirement to the […]
Protecting Yourself or Your Loved One from Elder Abuse
Medical emergencies, especially among aging individuals, can result in long-term rehabilitation and financial distress. Planning ahead for these emergencies is crucial, not only to preserve your assets and your independence but also to protect yourself from unscrupulous practices. According to a recent article, a woman has filed a lawsuit alleging extensive financial fraud and abuse […]
The Costs of Long-Term Care are Rising
According to a recent report, long-term care costs are rising. Genworth, a provider of long-term care insurance, surveyed 2017-2018 inflation rates in long-term care categories and discovered that for some categories, costs were rising at up to two to three times the rate of inflation. And with inflation rising even higher in 2022 than it […]
What Happens if a Beneficiary to a Will Dies
Estate plans are crucial to protecting loved ones and ensuring peace of mind. Despite thorough planning, unexpected events can happen that may change the disposition of a person’s assets. An experienced Texas estate planning attorney can work with individuals to plan for the unexpected. What is a Beneficiary under Texas Law? Broadly, a beneficiary is […]