U.S. Representative Maury Maverick coined the word Gobbledygook after the gobbling of turkeys. Gobbledygook means "inflated, involved, and obscure verbiage characteristic of the pronouncements of officialdom," according to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary. In 1944, Maverick wrote a memo to his staff in which he told them to stay away from wordy, unintelligible correspondence. "Don’t use so much gobbledygook." This memo was picked up by the press and printed in other publications, and the word … [Read more...] about Texas History – What Prominent Texas Family is Responsible for Putting Two Words in the Dictionary?
Thought for the Day:
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. Confucius … [Read more...] about Thought for the Day:
Different Types of Living Trusts
People often come into estate planning attorneys' offices knowing that they would like to get a Living Trust. These are popular instruments for estate planning because they often have tax and probate-avoidance advantages. However, what people do not always know is that not all Living Trusts are exactly the same. The "Living" in the title does not tell you as much as some people think. First, there are two basic categories of Trusts: Living and Testamentary. All these categories tell you is when … [Read more...] about Different Types of Living Trusts
Texas History – Do You Know How the Brazos River Got Its Name?
A very poignant legend, accepted by most historians as fact, involves the explorer Francisco de Coronado, who in 1716, with his expedition party, wandered through Texas for days without water and would have died had a band of Indians not led them to a stream. Upon finding the water, a padre accompanying the expedition exclaimed, "los brazos de dios!" which means "the arms of God!" Thus, the life-saving body of water became the Brazos. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know How the Brazos River Got Its Name?
Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?
Milton C. Shedd (1922-2002) - Businessman & Philanthropist In a life that spanned almost 80 years, Milton Shedd spent more than 3,500 days on the ocean and extracted untold numbers of striped marlin and white sea bass. But he put back far more than the fish or the profits he took out as an experienced angler and manufacturer of fishing tackle. Shedd is one of the four UCLA fraternity brothers who founded Sea World and the creator of its research institute. Their joint interest in helping … [Read more...] about Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?
Thought for the Day:
I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear. Rosa Parks … [Read more...] about Thought for the Day:
Chinese Trusts?
It is obvious that different cultures have different ways of doing things and different ways of looking at the world. These differences often lead to radically different ways of thinking and reasoning about what is right. They also lead to entirely different ways of handling legal affairs. Consider, for example, how our estate laws would look if we did not have Trusts. Some cultures do not have Trusts, at least that is an argument that is currently playing itself out in Hong Kong's courts. … [Read more...] about Chinese Trusts?
Texas History – Do You Know the Texan Who Founded the Sealy Mattress Company?
We have Daniel Haynes to thank for giving us a good night’s sleep. In the 1880s, the Austin County settler invented the process and the machinery for manufacturing the cotton mattress. This was the forerunner of today’s modern bedding. Haynes named his company for the town where he developed the machinery - Sealy, Texas. Thus, began the Sealy Mattress Company. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know the Texan Who Founded the Sealy Mattress Company?
Thought for the Day:
It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves, that will make them successful human beings. Ann Landers … [Read more...] about Thought for the Day:
Hidden Gold and Intestate Succession
We have told you before that under the laws of Intestate succession your estate is distributed to your closest living relatives if you pass away without an estate plan or at least a Will. However, what we haven't told you is that it is not always easy for your relatives to claim their inheritances. In some cases, unrelated people step in and try to claim to be related and officials have to determine who is actually related to you. This is exactly what happened recently in Nevada with the estate … [Read more...] about Hidden Gold and Intestate Succession
