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Retirement Benefits Trusts

Posted on November 11th, 2017 by Sheehan Law, PLLC

If you have worked and managed to save large balances in retirement plans it is imperative that you properly plan for the assets to pass to named beneficiaries in order to minimize taxes. Generally the beneficiaries of retirement plans will be either your heirs or spouse. If the spouse is named the beneficiary then he …

Guardianships for Minor Heirs

Posted on November 11th, 2017 by Sheehan Law, PLLC

Texas law provides that parents are the natural guardians of their children in most instances. However, if the parents die, or if a minor child inherits property, legal action may need to be taken to protect and provide for the children and their assets. In this article we will discuss guardianships for minor heirs. Austin …

Travis County Probate

Posted on November 11th, 2017 by Sheehan Law, PLLC

Counties in Texas have special courts set up to handle probate cases, where Wills are validated or property is passed upon a person’s death. Many of these courts have limited jurisdiction to hear certain types of cases. In this article we will discuss probate courts in Travis County, Texas. Austin probate lawyer Farren Sheehan can …

Contesting a Will in Texas

Posted on November 11th, 2017 by Sheehan Law, PLLC

Adults have the ability to make their own Will to name who will receive their property upon death. There may be circumstances, however, when the process of making a Will wasn’t done properly. Interested persons may wish to step forward and challenge, or contest, the Will, claiming it is invalid. In this article we will …

The Law Office of Farren Smith is Sheehan Law, PLLC

Posted on November 10th, 2017 by Sheehan Law, PLLC

After over a decade of providing the Austin area with expert real estate and estate planning legal services, The Law Office of Farren Smith is changing its name to Sheehan Law, PLLC. While the sign outside our office might be changing, we will continue to offer our clients comprehensive, compassionate, and efficient legal assistance, whether …

Joint Tenancies and Tenancies in Common in Texas

Posted on November 10th, 2017 by Sheehan Law, PLLC

Property is often owned by two or more people simultaneously. This is referred to as a concurrent estate. Two of the most common forms of concurrent estates in Texas are joint tenancies and tenancies in common. These concurrent estates are similar, but have key distinctions which can have significant effects when it comes to issues …

Dying Without A Will For Common Law Same Sex Couples

Posted on November 10th, 2017 by Sheehan Law, PLLC

Many people in Texas don’t have a Will. However, if a person dies without a Will directing to whom their property passes, the person dies “intestate” and the laws of intestacy determine who gets the deceased’s property. As we will discuss in this article, it is especially important to have a Will if the person …

How Long Does Probate Take in Texas?

Posted on November 10th, 2017 by Sheehan Law, PLLC

When winding up business affairs of a person who has passed away, many people may be concerned about how long it will take to go through the probate process to probate a Will. There is a series of events that should take place to effectively probate a Will. In this article we will discuss the …