As a domicile of Texas, you may be able to rely on the state’s probate laws to a limited extent should you divorce. Almost all estate planning lawyers will recommend periodic reviews of estate planning documents. Your estate planning attorney will most likely ask you to review your estate plan during or after important life-changing events. One of these events is divorce. At least one time after your divorce, you should sit down with your estate planning attorney to review your estate plan. … [Read more...] about Divorce and Previously Drafted Wills in Texas
Probate
Planning to be an Executor
When someone asks you to be the Executor of his or her Will, you usually agree to act in that capacity without thinking it through carefully. It is one of those things that people naturally say yes to. However, when it comes to to actually carrying out your duties as an Executor, you will face problems if you have not thought about what you need to do and prepare for it. Most of the time, Executors need to go to Probate to carry out their duties. This requires that you follow formal and set … [Read more...] about Planning to be an Executor
Executor Access to Email
The duties of an Executor get more and more complex as the world gets more and more complex. With people using email for just about everything today, it is important for an Executor to access the email account of the deceased to make sure that there is nothing important contained in a message, such as a business deadline. However, if the Executor does not have the password, then things can get complicated. In the best case scenario, the Executor will be able to access the computer that the … [Read more...] about Executor Access to Email
Divorce and Previously Drafted Wills in Texas
As a domicile of Texas, you may be able to rely on the state’s probate laws to a limited extent should you divorce. Almost all estate planning lawyers will recommend periodic reviews of estate planning documents. Your estate planning attorney will most likely ask you to review your estate plan during or after important life-changing events. One of these events is divorce. At least one time after your divorce, you should sit down with your estate planning attorney to review your estate plan. … [Read more...] about Divorce and Previously Drafted Wills in Texas
Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?
Alexandra Scott (1996-2004) - Advocate for Pediatric Cancer Research Alexandra "Alex" Scott was an American cancer patient who, at the age of four (4), started a lemonade stand to raise money for childhood-cancer research. She died of neuroblastoma at the age of eight (8). Since her death, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation has collected more than $50 million to fight pediatric cancers. Each year "Lemonade Days" occurs where people all over the nation set up lemonade stands to raise money … [Read more...] about Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?
Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?
Sonny Bono (1935-1998) - Recording Artist/Record Producer/Politician Sonny Bono began his music career at Specialty Records where his song "Things You Do to Me" was recorded by Sam Cooke. He went on to work for the record producer Phil Spector in the early 1960s as a promotion man and percussionist. He received commercial success with his then-wife Cher, as part of the singing duo Sonny and Cher. Bono wrote, arranged, and produced a number of hit records with singles like "I Got You Babe" and … [Read more...] about Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?
Procedures in Probating a Will in Texas: Part 3 of 3
Continuing the last blog within this three-part series, we will discuss proceeding with administration of the decedent’s estate using the Small Estate Affidavit. Unless the decedent’s assets fall within the small estate exception, the administration process involves appointing a personal representative to administer or oversee the distribution of the decedent’s assets pursuant to his or her will. If the decedent died without a valid will, you may be able to bypass the formal estate … [Read more...] about Procedures in Probating a Will in Texas: Part 3 of 3
Procedures in Probating a Will in Texas: Part 2 of 3
Continuing this three-part blog series, we will discuss what is necessary to probate your will in Texas. After the probate court establishes the authenticity of the decedent’s will or validity, you will have to administer the will. In Texas, the estate administration occurs after a court approves the decedent’s appointed executor. If the decedent’s will failed to appoint an executor, or if the executor is unable or unwilling to serve, the probate court must appoint a personal representative to … [Read more...] about Procedures in Probating a Will in Texas: Part 2 of 3
Procedures in Probating a Will in Texas: Part 1 of 3
This three-part blog series discusses the steps of probating a decedent’s will after he or she dies. If you are the decedent’s appointed executor or personal representative, you may be able to gain a cursory understanding of your probate duties during the next several months by reviewing these blog entries. If you are the personal representative of a decedent who died intestate or without a validly written will, your duties will also include locating the decedent’s heirs. Once you locate any … [Read more...] about Procedures in Probating a Will in Texas: Part 1 of 3
Inheriting an Underwater Home
Usually, inheriting real estate is a good thing. However, in today's real estate market many homes are underwater. That means there is more debt on the home than there is equity in the home. If you inherit an underwater home, it is important that you speak to a Probate lawyer right away. Should you choose to do nothing and inherit the property, it is likely that you will also be inheriting the debt. Obviously, leaving you with debt was not the deceased's intent, but the possibility is a fact of … [Read more...] about Inheriting an Underwater Home
