Estate Planning

When Should I Use a Revocable Trust?

September 19, 2011

A couple of weeks ago, I explained that probate recently got more private in Texas. In the past an estate’s representative was required to file an inventory, appraisement and list of claims with the court. Revocable trust-based plans avoided the public disclosure of information required in the inventory. But effective September 1, 2011, Section 250 [...]

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A Mother’s Love

February 14, 2011

A few years ago, I read an article that reminded me of the extraordinary lengths parents will go to protect and provide for their children. It was about a woman named Melissa Bowmer, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. While she was preparing for her treatment, she learned that her four-year-old son had a [...]

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Beyond Taxes: 10 Reasons Why Americans Without Taxable Estates Need an Estate Plan

January 31, 2011

NB: Rocket Lawyer Press invited me to contribute another guest post on an estate planning issue. Below is an excerpt of the article I wrote, as well as a link to the full article on the Rocket Lawyer website. Last December, the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans breathed a collective sigh of relief. The estate [...]

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Inheritance Rights of Adopted Children

January 24, 2011

If you are a parent of an adopted child in Texas and you die without a will, your adopted child will be entitled to the same inheritance rights as any biological children. The Texas statutes provide that adopted children and their descendants can inherit from and through their adopted parents and relatives just as though [...]

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If You Eat A Frog First Thing In The Morning, The Rest of Your Day Will Be Wonderful – Mark Twain

January 3, 2011

Whether it’s doing the laundry, cleaning out the garage, or getting that long overdue check-up, all of us face tasks each week that we dread. We convince ourselves that they’ll take too long to accomplish, be too unpleasant or too uncomfortable. And we procrastinate on getting them done. Procrastinating is easy, especially if you’re a [...]

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Is Your Estate In Order?

November 22, 2010

NB: Last week, Rocket Lawyer Press invited me to contribute a guest post on an estate planning issue. Below is an excerpt of the article I wrote, as well as a link to the full article on the Rocket Lawyer website. Are your personal records organized? If your incapacity or death required your loved ones [...]

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