Making your own estate plan gives you the space and flexibility to set terms that reflect your family's needs. If you were to die without a last will, your spouse will receive a specific portion of your estate, while your children will typically equally split the...
Estate Planning
Do your children really want your most treasured possessions?
When you start working on your estate plan, you’ll likely focus on the traditional assets like bank, retirement and investment accounts and your properties. Of course, developing an advanced directive for your health care and choosing executors, trustees and those who...
Using A Trust To Skip Your Children And Leave Your Estate To Your Grandkids
If you’re in a position where you don’t want to leave your estate to your children but would like to leave it to your grandchildren, you should know that there are excellent options available. You can skip the middle generation by using a trust. For example, using a...
Is your estate plan going to hold up after you die?
The purpose of creating an estate plan is to leave behind a meaningful legacy or protect the people that you love the most. Too many people keep putting the process off. Procrastination leaves some people without a plan when they die earlier than they thought they...
Large lump sums as legacies often more of a curse than a blessing
Have you ever heard the sad and sordid tales of those who won mega-million lottery jackpots — enough money to set themselves up for several lifetimes — but who somehow still died broke, sometimes only a few years later? Unfortunately, unfettered wealth has been the...
What Is a Spousal Lifetime Access Trust?
If you want to reduce your estate’s risk of being taxed and to use your tax exemptions for the benefit of your spouse, there is one trust that could help. A spousal lifetime access trust is one that you create to benefit your spouse. This trust is irrevocable, which...
How to talk to your parents about estate planning
Ideally, you will have at least one estate planning conversation with your parents. However, you may find that they are hesitant to discuss what they plan on doing with their Texas home, bank accounts, or other assets. Your parents may also be hesitant to talk about...
What should you consider when planning your estate?
It's never too early to start thinking about estate planning. Whether you're in your 30s or retired with adult children, an estate plan can help you take care of your family members after you pass away. However, estate planning isn't just about writing a will. It's...
How do contested and uncontested divorces differ?
Many people assume that the divorce process is always the same, and people with this assumption may be surprised to learn that it is untrue. Texas couples who are considering divorce can select the divorce process that make the most sense for their situation.If you...