Harvey Cox The person you trust most may be the right executor or trustee, but trust isn’t the only qualification. Consider organization, judgment, follow-through, recordkeeping, and the ability to handle family disagreements before making the choice.
Leaving everything outright to a surviving spouse may provide security but does not guarantee an inheritance for children from an earlier relationship. Learn how Texas second-marriage planning can address both goals.
Prince died without a will, creating years of estate administration. Texas families can learn an important lesson about intestacy, probate, beneficiary designations, and planning ahead.
If you die without a will in Texas, state intestacy law determines who inherits your probate property. Learn why a surviving spouse may not receive everything and how blended families can be affected.
A will does little to solve incapacity problems while you are alive. Learn the three Texas estate-planning documents retirees should consider for medical, financial, and end-of-life decisions.
Not every Texan needs a living trust. Learn when a revocable living trust may help with probate avoidance, incapacity, out-of-state property, blended families, and beneficiary protection.
If a Texas spouse dies and only that spouse is named on the deed, the survivor may not automatically own the entire home. Learn how community property, intestacy, homestead rights, and title affect the result.
If a Texas parent becomes incapacitated, children may need caregivers, access to financial support, medical decision-makers, and practical family information. Learn what documents can help.
Adding an adult child to a bank account may create ownership, creditor, survivorship, and inheritance consequences. Learn the Texas estate-planning issues to consider before making the change.
Your will may not control life insurance, retirement accounts, payable-on-death accounts, and other beneficiary-controlled assets. Learn why beneficiary designations must be coordinated with your Texas estate plan.