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Another Thing Families Can Fight About

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Many times in this space we have told you that when there is money involved in an estate, families will fight over that estate if they have any basis for doing so. This is why you need an estate plan so that your wishes are known. It helps avoid family fights. The fights are often not even about who gets what. Families can fight over other things if you do not have an estate plan. Consider the estate of rapper Nate Dogg who passed away without a Will. Someone still has to administer his estate … [Read more...] about Another Thing Families Can Fight About

Texas History – Do You Know Who is the Father of the Grape Industry in Texas?

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Thomas V. Munson of Denison is considered the father of the grape industry in Texas. In the 1890s he developed many new varieties of grapes and was responsible for many grapevine cuttings being shipped to France, where they were credited with saving the French vineyards from destruction by the grape phylloxera. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know Who is the Father of the Grape Industry in Texas?

Estate Plan Roles

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A common problem in estate planning is choosing the wrong people to appoint to the various roles in the administration of your plan. The wrong choice of Executor, for example, can seriously complicate the Probate process. Similarly, appointing someone to be a Trustee who is not up to the task can also be disastrous. A current example of this phenomenon comes from the actress Zsa Zsa Gabor. Her husband is her power of attorney as she is seriously ill and unable to manage her own affairs. It … [Read more...] about Estate Plan Roles

Texas History – Do You Know When the Coat of Arms for the Republic of Texas Was Established?

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The Republic of Texas coat of arms was established by an Act of Congress on January 25, 1839. It was declared to be a five point star on an azure background encircled by olive and live oak branches. The national seal bore the arms encircled by the words "The Republic of Texas." The Constitution of 1845 provided for the same seal with the words changed to "The State of Texas." … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know When the Coat of Arms for the Republic of Texas Was Established?

Do What You Want

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In the United States we like to talk about our freedoms and how we are a free people. While that is true, if you think about it, we are actually restricted in what we can do in all sorts of ways. Most of these are ways that we do not even think of as restricting our freedom because they just seem natural to us. An extreme example of this is that we do not see it as a restriction on our freedom that we are not allowed to murder whomever we want. However, in a way it is a restriction. We are … [Read more...] about Do What You Want

Texas History – Do You Know Who Prevented Reinforcements From Aiding Santa Anna’s Army in the Battle of San Jacinto?

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A Texas scout and spy named Erastus (Deaf) Smith is given credit for destroying Vince’s bridge before the Battle of San Jacinto, which prevented reinforcements from aiding Santa Anna’s army. This may have been Deaf Smith’s most valuable effort on the Texans’ behalf. He died at Richmond, Texas, on November 30, 1837, at the age of fifty. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know Who Prevented Reinforcements From Aiding Santa Anna’s Army in the Battle of San Jacinto?

Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?

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John F. Kennedy, Jr. (1960-1999) - Lawyer & Magazine Publisher John F. Kennedy, Jr. was an American socialite, magazine publisher, and lawyer. He was the only surviving son of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy. Several times Kennedy was asked publicly if he was interested in following in his father’s footsteps and choosing politics as a career. He would always decline for the time being, but he would not rule it out for the future. In 1995, Kennedy … [Read more...] about Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?