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Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?

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Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) - 34TH President of the United States, 1953-1961   Prior to his presidency, Eisenhower was a five-star general in the United States Army during World War II, and served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe. He had the responsibility of planning and supervising the invasion of North Africa in 1942-43, and the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944-45. In 1951, he became the first supreme commander of NATO. Eisenhower defeated Adlai … [Read more...] about Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?

Changes to the Estate Tax

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Estate planning attorneys everywhere are trying to let everyone know that the lifetime estate tax exemption of $5.12 million is scheduled to decrease at the beginning of 2013. Under normal circumstances, attorneys would be urging you to contact your congressmen and congresswomen to ask them to vote to keep the current limit. You can try that. However, the reality is that in the current political climate it is unlikely to have any affect, especially in an election year. This time, the wisest … [Read more...] about Changes to the Estate Tax

Texas History – Do You Know the Date the Texas Declaration of Independence Was Adopted?

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The Texas Declaration of Independence was adopted following a unanimous vote from the delegates on March 2, 1836. Fifty-nine (59) delegates eventually signed the document. They, along with three (3) people delayed by security circumstances, represented all of settled Texas. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know the Date the Texas Declaration of Independence Was Adopted?

Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?

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Rosa Parks (1913-2005) - Civil Rights Activist   Most historians date the beginning of the modern civil rights movement in the U.S. to December 1, 1955. That was the day Rosa Parks, an unknown seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. She was arrested and fined for violating a city ordinance. Her single act of defiance inspired tens of thousands of working-class blacks, led by Martin Luther King, to boycott the local buses for more than a … [Read more...] about Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?

Texas Intestacy Estate Planning for Children Born out of Wedlock: Part 2 of 2

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Continuing our two-part blog series focusing on the rights of illegitimate children or children born out of wedlock, we’ll cover when an illegitimate child can inherit from your biological father. As you know from reading the first blog in this series, an illegitimate child can inherit from his or her natural mother if she includes him or her in her Will and even if she failed to create a valid Will. Under the state’s intestacy laws, an illegitimate child has intestacy rights to inherit from … [Read more...] about Texas Intestacy Estate Planning for Children Born out of Wedlock: Part 2 of 2

Texas History – Do You Know What is the Oldest Artifact in the State Capitol of Texas?

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The restored remains of the original 1835 San Jacinto flag is the oldest artifact in the state capitol of Texas. It hangs behind the Speaker’s desk in the House Chamber. The flag features a female figure holding a sword over which is draped a sash or ribbon bearing the slogan "Liberty or Death." … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know What is the Oldest Artifact in the State Capitol of Texas?

Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?

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Jessica Savitch (1947-1983) - Television News Anchor   Savitch was a popular local television newscaster at KYW-TV, the former NBC affiliate (now CBS) in Philadelphia, and a Washington correspondent for NBC News. Thanks to her screen presence and attractive style, she was eventually promoted to the news anchor of the weekend NBC Nightly News, and she also anchored Frontline on PBS. Her autobiography, Anchorwoman, was published in 1982. However, her unstable personal life became … [Read more...] about Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?