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Dispelling a Myth

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Estate Planning attorneys often have to spend a lot of time dispelling the misconceptions of their clients. People often believe things about the law that are simply not true. I'm sure that attorneys in different fields have to do this too. There is one myth that many people believe that I would like to put to rest today. Many people believe that if you pass away without a Will that all of your property will be claimed by the government. It is easy to see where this myth comes from. In the … [Read more...] about Dispelling a Myth

Texas History – What is the Only County in Texas Named for a Woman?

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Angelina County. When Spanish friars established their mission, San Francisco de la Tejas, they took in an Indian child whom they named Angelina, which means "little angel." She was baptized and learned to speak Spanish. She later became an interpreter for Spanish explorers. The "little angel" also lends her name to a river and a national forest in Texas. … [Read more...] about Texas History – What is the Only County in Texas Named for a Woman?

Wealthy Making Big Mistakes

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If you think that extremely wealthy people do not make big mistakes with their property, then a new study conducted by Rothstein Kass proves that you are mistaken. The study details that 75% of the wealthiest of wealthy Americans have estate plans that have not been updated in over three years. If you are thinking, "So what? If the old estate plan still works, why change it," then the study also reveals that you are wrong about that too. 95% of those with old estate plans had seen significant … [Read more...] about Wealthy Making Big Mistakes

Texas History – What was the Largest Ranch in Texas in the 1880’s?

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The XIT Ranch. The ranch was established in 1885 as a piece of land totaling 3,050,000 acres given to the Chicago firm that built the state capitol building in Austin. This massive ranch covered most of ten counties in Texas. The designer of the XIT livestock brand says the design was chosen because it would be difficult to alter; however, the brand gave rise to the generally accepted ranch name "Ten-In-Texas" (X standing for ten counties, IT for In Texas). … [Read more...] about Texas History – What was the Largest Ranch in Texas in the 1880’s?

Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?

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Stieg Larsson (1954-2004) - Journalist, Novelist Stieg Larsson was a Swedish journalist and writer best known for writing the "Millennium series" of crime novels, which were published posthumously. Its last part, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest, became the most sold book in the United States in 2010 according to Publishers Weekly. Larsson lived and worked much of his life in Stockholm, in the field of journalism and as an independent researcher of right-wing extremism. Larsson’s political … [Read more...] about Famous Estates – Legacy Champ or Chump?

A Curious Lack of Headlines

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There are some celebrities that make headlines no matter what they do. You see their names in the tabloids and in the regular news outlets. The specific celebrities this applies to tends to change over time as stars rise and fall. However, there are some celebrities who have longer lasting power. Madonna is certainly one of those celebrities with lasting power. Thus, it is interesting that she is involved in a lawsuit against Marlon Brando's estate that has received little notice. The lawsuit … [Read more...] about A Curious Lack of Headlines

Texas History – Do You Know What the “Black Bean Death Warrant” Was?

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In December 1842, a party of Texan soldiers on the Mier Expedition crossed the border seeking supplies from Mexico. Mexicans captured 176 of the soldiers and all were sentenced to be shot. Then the order was changed and it was decided instead that every tenth man would be shot. An earthen pot containing 159 white beans and 17 black beans was presented to the captured soldiers and each was instructed to draw a bean. Those who drew the black bean were to be shot; the black beans were their "death … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know What the “Black Bean Death Warrant” Was?