Few enjoy planning their own funeral, but making those arrangements in advance for yourself may be one of the most thoughtful acts you can do for your loved ones. More and more people are including funeral planning as part of their estate plan, sparing their grieving families from having to make hasty arrangements during an already […]
Yes, even the undead need an estate plan. Go ahead and laugh. But as we’ve learned from the likes of The Vampire Chronicles, the Twilight saga, and HBO’s True Blood, vampires aren’t immortal. They do die, and it’s usually unexpected and messy. While vampires aren’t necessarily good candidates for life insurance and probably don’t need a […]
How to Make Your Inheritance Last, from Austin Estate Planning Lawyer Liz Nielsen A 2012 study by Ohio State researcher Jay Zagorsky found that about one-third of Americans who receive an inheritance have negative savings within two years of getting their money, and of those who receive $100,000 or more, nearly one in five spend, donate […]
Believe it or not, in the U.S. it isn’t easy to disinherit your spouse. But the same is not true for other family members — generally, you can use your estate plan to disinherit your brothers and sisters, your nieces and nephews, or even your very own children and grandchildren. However, in the majority of states […]
Most people think of probate as a private process. However, since wills are filed at the courthouse, probated estates become a matter of public record. That means your nosey neighbor Natasha can simply go down to the courthouse or hop online and find out about your probate. Really. It’s Not Just Natasha That Has Access… After […]
You’ve said your goodbyes and your furniture and household goods are on a truck. Soon you’ll be heading to Austin, Texas, ready to enjoy the warm weather and slower pace of life. You may not have given much thought to what your move might mean for income and estate taxes. But you should, particularly if you […]
In September, Nielsen Law celebrated the anniversary of its opening. Attorney Liz Nielsen, Paralegal Meg Yetter, and Client Relationship Manager Keith Vance spent several hours in community service at AGE of Central Texas. Liz, Meg and Keith spent time talking with AGE clients, as well as playing games and assisting with lunch service. There was even […]
After a loved one dies, his or her estate must be settled. While most people want the settlement process to be done ASAP, probate can take what seems like forever — between 6 and 12 months, believe it or not. The time delays create unnecessary stress. Six Reasons Probate Takes So Long There are many reasons […]
