estate administration Archives - Page 3 of 4

What Is the Difference Between a Probate and Trust Administration Attorney and an Estate Planning Attorney? from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

Liz Nielsen / February 6, 2024

Estate planning attorneys and probate and trust administration attorneys play crucial but distinct roles in the legal processes involving legacy planning, asset distribution, and wealth preservation. As part of the estate planning process, you should discuss with your attorney the role they will play during your lifetime and whether they can also assist your loved ones […]

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What Happens to My Leased Car If I Die Before the Lease Term Ends? from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

Liz Nielsen / September 12, 2023

After a house, a car is often the second-most valuable piece of property a person owns. About 15–20 percent of new vehicles are leased rather than purchased and financed. Leasing is a popular alternative to traditional financing because it can allow the lessee (the person who leases a vehicle) to drive a more expensive car on a […]

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Could a Testamentary Trust Be What Your Loved Ones Need? by Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

Liz Nielsen / August 18, 2023

One of the main reasons that a person creates a revocable living trust (a trust established during a person’s lifetime that they can amend or revoke) instead of relying on a will to transfer their money and property to their beneficiaries is to avoid probate. Probate is the court process during which a person’s will is […]

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Estate Administration: Bills and Services to Cancel or Keep When a Loved One Dies from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

Liz Nielsen / August 8, 2023

A loved one’s passing is challenging on many different levels. In addition to the emotional difficulty of processing someone’s death, there are also the many tasks during estate administration that must be dealt with, such as going through their various accounts and taking the necessary steps to cancel them or transfer ownership. Most people subscribe to […]

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Aaron Carter: A Life Gone Too Soon from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

Liz Nielsen / February 14, 2023

Musician Aaron Carter, a former child pop star and younger brother of Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter, died in November at the age of thirty-four. Aaron’s untimely passing is one of the more tragic celebrity deaths of 2022. It is also one of the messiest from an estate planning perspective. The late singer, who struggled with substance […]

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The Death of Anne Heche: Lessons for Estate Planning from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

Liz Nielsen / November 4, 2022

The recent accidental death of Anne Heche was a shocking reminder of how the everyday can quickly turn into the tragic. While driving through the Mar Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles on August 5, 2022, Heche was involved in a car crash and succumbed to her injuries a week later. The official cause of death was […]

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Who Should Attend Trust and Estate Administration Meetings? from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

Liz Nielsen / August 27, 2021

A loved one’s passing is felt by their entire surviving family. But when it comes to carrying out the decedent’s final wishes, not everyone has an equal say. In fact, in many cases, only one person—the executor (for a will) or trustee (for a trust)—plays a role in carrying out the final wishes. This role includes things […]

What to Do After a Loved One Dies by Austin estate planning lawyer

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What to Do After a Loved One Dies from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

Liz Nielsen / March 9, 2021

When a family member or other loved one dies, grief and shock can sometimes be overwhelming. You will need this time to grieve. The last thing most people want to think about is making plans or decisions. Some things do not need to be done immediately, but there are some steps that should be taken soon […]