Category: Estate Planning

Death is an uncomfortable subject, but it’s an important one to talk about. It’s a given that everyone should have a legal document dictating the division of their assets upon death. But the question is, do you really need a will, or is there another option? There is – but it might not be for …

Having a will that successfully transfers your assets under Texas and federal law is the most important estate planning document you can have, and is very likely the only one you will need. However, a thorough and well-drafted estate plan will include several other documents covering every possibility or contingency, no matter how remote or …

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 …

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 …

Sometimes people die without having made a Will. A Will is a legal document, usually drafted by a Texas attorney, that states who will get the person’s property when he dies. If the person did not plan and prepare a Will, the person dies “intestate” and the Texas laws of intestacy determine who gets the …

Many people assume that when a married person dies the surviving spouse gets everything. In Texas, that may not always be the case. If a married person dies without having made a Will, directing to whom their property passes, the person dies “intestate”. The Texas laws of intestacy determine who gets the deceased’s property, which …

A Will is a valuable legal document that designates who will receive property of a testator when he dies. Under Texas law, an adult may draft a Will at any time, as long as he meets the legal requirements when executing the Will. One important requirement is that the testator was of sound mind (or …

A Will is an important legal document that designates who will receive property of a testator when he dies. A Will enables property to pass to others with minimal court involvement. Under Texas law there are certain legal requirements that must be met when executing the Will. One important requirement is that the testator freely …

When you visit a doctor’s office or have medical treatment done, most physicians’ offices now require the patient to read and sign a HIPAA authorization. What is a HIPAA release? The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that includes privacy provisions intended to protect a patient’s confidential medical information. The …