Congress has passed an infrastructure spending bill and is considering a much larger package proposed by President Biden, and with new spending comes potential new tax legislation to pay for it. Has the bill that has passed and the proposals on the table impacted estate tax planning? The simple answer is "not so far." The [...]
If you own property, your estate will be better handled if you have a Will. However, if a loved one has died without a Will, you need to know your best options. For most estates, the best answer is opening an administration and a formal declaration of heirship. Although more expensive than probating a Will, [...]
Whatever you call it -- an advanced directive, living will, a do not resuscitate order (DNR) -- they are all the same thing. Right? Although a “living will” is an imprecise term for what Texas law refers to as an advanced directive, a DNR is totally different. The Texas advanced directive law allows a person, [...]
Family farms and ranches often are intended to pass through multiple generations without being sold. If every member of the family is a model citizen, that may not be a significant problem; however, if even one member of the family has creditor or severe medical problems, that can threaten ownership of the family farm. If [...]
A family farm or ranch may be a treasured possession, but without effective estate planning, this treasure can turn to rust. Without any Will, or with the most common type of Will, ownership of family farms gets split among children and grandchildren through each passing generation. As each person dies, to correctly transfer the family [...]
If you are contemplating remarrying, or are in a second marital relationship, what special concerns are there for your estate planning? The major issues are: Determining whose assets are whose; Deciding if you have a joint plan or two separate estate plans; and How to ensure that your estate plan succeeds if you are the [...]
A well-drafted Revocable Living Trust in another state should be fully enforceable in the State of Texas. In fact, the Trust should state that the law where the Trust was drafted is applicable, so moving to another state does not subject the Trust to a different set of laws. It is advisable that if you [...]
For many, a Revocable Living Trust is a wonderful substitute for a Will to do estate planning. There are many advantages, and a few disadvantages, to a living Trust, so we do not make a blanket recommendation that everyone have a Revocable Living Trust. However, it is not uncommon that we are approached by someone [...]
If you represent creditors, a defendant in your lawsuit that has died, or your client already has judgments against a deceased person, here's a brief overview of your client’s rights. First, a person's death does not end claims against them. Second, collection rights may be better against the estate than the living debtor, as most [...]
Medicaid planning seeks to ensure that your assets provide you quality care while maximizing what you pass on to your heirs. The probability that you will need long-term care is extraordinarily high: More than half of those turning 65 will need some type of long-term care services in their lifetimes. As life expectancy continues to [...]