The process of probate involves the compensation of any final expenses and the transferring of property and estate assets to beneficiaries after a person dies. Probate is a legal process, but it does not mean that a probate judge has to be there along every step of the probate process, nor does it mean that …
Drafting a last will and testament is one of the most important things you can do in the probate process. Without one, Texas intestacy laws will govern the management and distribution of your estate. This could delay and reduce the inheritance your family receives once you have passed. It could also lead to in-fighting over …
Last month, we discussed the different ways Texas probates estates. We outlined the four methods our state uses to distribute assets to the beneficiaries of an estate. This month, we are examining the details of how to probate a will in Texas. There are 8 steps in the process of distributing estate assets to the …
There are many ways to distribute your assets after you pass. Some people use a trust, others use joint ownership or rely on direct payments from insurance or retirement policies. However, the most commonly used method of passing on property to beneficiaries is drafting a will. But before your beneficiaries can receive their inheritance, your …
While you are creating your estate plan, you might be wondering what will happen to your digital legacy once you pass away. Your digital legacy includes all information related to your online accounts, blogs, social networking identities and digital files that will still be left on the web once you pass away. Many of these …
Since coronavirus entered the U.S., our entire nation has been on lockdown. In this climate, the potential threats that COVID-19 poses have weighed on the minds of Americans. It has prompted many to think about mortality and what their families would do without them. This concern has led many to start preparing their estate. But …
Most wills go through probate without any problems. They carry out very specific tasks related to your estate. But every once in a while, issues can halt the proceedings. If the decedent was not legally of age or of sound mind when drafting their will, there may be cause to contest the document. Probate courts …
James Brown was the Godfather of Soul. He composed over 1,200 pieces of music, many of which have gone on to entertain the world. This allowed the star to amass a significant fortune, and he accounted for that wealth in a will drafted in 2000. However, his estate has been in legal limbo since his …
Making the decision to remove a family member from your will is tough. Yet, life is messy, and this sort of thing happens. If you feel the need to disinherit a family member, then the chances are that your reasons for doing so are warranted. However, making changes to an estate planning document, such as …
Under the common law, whenever a beneficiary of a will predeceased the person making the will (known as the “testator”), the gift intended for the beneficiary in the will failed or “lapsed” and was given to the residuary beneficiary or beneficiaries of the testator’s estate, that is, those beneficiaries entitled to whatever was left in …