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Texas History – How Much Money did the U.S. Give Texas in the 1850 Compromise?

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In 1850, for territory relinquished, Congress awarded Texas $10 million in U.S. indemnity bonds bearing 5% interest and redeemable at the end of fourteen (14) years. However, in 1855, the U.S. Congress awarded an additional $2,750,000. … [Read more...] about Texas History – How Much Money did the U.S. Give Texas in the 1850 Compromise?

Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?

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Karen Carpenter (1950-1983) - Singer & Drummer Karen and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo known as "The Carpenters." She was a drummer whose skills earned her admiration from her peers, although she was better known for her vocal performances of idealistic romantic ballads. Karen suffered from anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder of extreme weight loss dieting, which was a little-known illness at the time. She died at age 32 from heart failure, caused by complications related to … [Read more...] about Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?

Special Event:

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Members of the Mendel Law Firm team completed the Angie's Half Crazy Half Marathon on April 7TH, which benefits local law enforcement. Over 1,200 people participated this year, and the weather was beautiful. While the rest of the team was running in the Half Marathon, Steve Mendel was in Galveston participating in the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Triathlon (1.2 mile swim/56 mile bike ride/13.1 mile run). Go Mr. Mendel! … [Read more...] about Special Event:

Do You Need an Annuity?

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If you live long enough, there is a fifty-fifty chance that you will end up with some form of dementia. You will not be capable of handling your own finances. It is a possibility that you need to plan for. You should have a General Durable Power of Attorney in place so that someone you designate can handle your finances. However, what if unexpected costs occur and you run out of money? You should have a plan for that possibility as well. One thing that you might want to consider is an annuity. … [Read more...] about Do You Need an Annuity?

Texas History – Do You Know the Legend of the “Easter Fires”?

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The town of Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 by John Meusebach of New Braunfels. Being on the Indian frontier, it was terrorized by Indian raids. In the spring of 1847 Meusebach successfully made a treaty with the Commanche chiefs. The Indians gathered in the nearby mountains and made camp to watch and make sure there was no treachery from the whites while waiting to sign the treaty. They built their fires to signal to one another. Seeing the fires frightened the children of the settlement, … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know the Legend of the “Easter Fires”?

Posthumous Children

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If you work in estate planning long enough, you will eventually hear about new things that you never considered. One thing that very few people think about is the possibility of posthumous children. These are children that are born after the parent in question has passed away. Laws dealing with posthumous children have long been on the books. It is not unusual to pass away while a woman is pregnant with his child. It is also not unusual for a woman to die in childbirth. These things have … [Read more...] about Posthumous Children

Texas History – When did Mexico Give Up Its Claim to Texas?

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The Battle of San Jacinto resulted in Texas’ independence from Mexico, but that did not mean Mexico gave up her claim to Texas. It was not until the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed after the Mexican-American War in 1848 that Mexico relinquished her claim to Texas and the boundary between the United States and Mexico was established as the Rio Grande River. … [Read more...] about Texas History – When did Mexico Give Up Its Claim to Texas?

The Hidden Costs of Bad Estate Plans

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Poorly planned estates invite Probate costs and litigation. The estate often has to pay taxes, court fees and attorneys' bills. The people fighting over the estate have attorneys' fees of their own to pay. However, all of that is just money. There is a far more important cost to bad estate plans that people should consider: the costs to familial relationships. Most estate litigation pits family members against each other, and it is often family members who previously got along with each … [Read more...] about The Hidden Costs of Bad Estate Plans