Wills

Wacky Wednesday: Wills That Make You Go “Hmmm…” – Sandra West

February 1, 2012

NB: This post is part of a series highlighting wills that contain some interesting, and sometimes bizarre, bequests and stipulations. You can see all these posts here. It has been said that Americans have love affairs with cars, but but one person took that love to an extreme. Sandra Illene West was a Texas oil [...]

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Is A Will Valid If It Is Not Dated?

January 23, 2012

Someone contacted me last week inquiring whether a Will is valid in Texas if it is not dated. Apparently, the individual’s father-in-law died leaving a short typed Will. He signed the Will and two unrelated people signed as witnesses, but the Will was not dated. Requirements of a valid Will Section 59 of the Texas [...]

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Resolve to Name Guardians For Your Children

January 4, 2012

The part of estate planning that most parents struggle with is naming a guardian for their children. For some parents, the process of selecting a guardian is easy. They have close relationships with certain family members or friends who share a similar worldview. They have absolutely no hesitation about the possibility of that person stepping [...]

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Does Revoking My Will Revive a Prior Will?

November 28, 2011

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I received a question from someone who wondered whether revoking a current will would revive a will that was signed previously. Unfortunately, I seem to have accidentally deleted the email before responding directly. My apologies! I hope this article will answer the writer’s questions. Suppose a testator signs a will, but [...]

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How Does Divorce Affect the Rights of Stepchildren
Who Are Named In A Will?

November 7, 2011

I have written before that making a will is not a something you do just once in your life. Your will is something that should change as your life does. Otherwise it can become an outdated document that doesn’t accomplish your goals and objectives. One life change that will trigger a need to update your [...]

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Wacky Wednesday: Wills That Make You Go “Hmmm…” – Carlotta Liebenstein

October 26, 2011

NB: This post is part of a series highlighting wills that contain some interesting, and sometimes bizarre, bequests and stipulations. You can see all these posts here. Leona Helmsley left her dog, Trouble, $12 million in trust, but that amount seems paltry considering the amount Austrian Countess Carlotta Liebenstein left her dog. When she died [...]

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