There are many software programs, as well as websites, that sell do-it-yourself estate planning documents. These websites and form tools seem to offer a convenient and cost-effective alternative to working with an estate planning attorney. But do they really meet your needs and protect your family? Is online, do-it-yourself estate planning worth the perceived upfront savings? […]
Every trust has at least three important roles. One, the grantor (sometimes known as the trustmaker), the person who creates the trust. Two, the trustee, the person who manages the property placed in the trust. And three, the beneficiary, the person who reaps the benefit of the trust property. Every trust has at least one grantor. […]
Estate planning is about protecting you and your loved ones. Sometimes this can be a difficult endeavor when there is a loved one who may require additional support at your death. While you may want to give as much as possible to this individual, you may not want to do so at the expense of others […]
About 40 to 50 percent of all marriages in the United States end in divorce. Regardless of how you feel about your child’s spouse, you must face the possibility that they could become your child’s ex-spouse. Should that day come, the money you leave to your child could be subject to a division of marital assets. […]
Creating an estate plan is a personal and often emotional undertaking, making the selection of your estate planning attorney of the utmost importance. Here are some questions you should ask your estate planning attorney to determine if they are the right fit for you. Why Did They Pick Estate Planning as Their Practice Area? At its […]
Roughly two-thirds of Americans do not have an estate plan, according to a recent survey from Caring.com.[1] If you are among the minority of US adults who have prepared a will, living trust, and other end-of-life documents, you may think that your estate plan is settled. But you might want to think again. An estate plan […]
The duties of a trustee has been covered by this blog in the past. Long time readers will know that a trustee has a duty under the law to communicate with beneficiaries and keep them reasonably informed as to the progress of the trust administration. In Texas, trustees are required to provide annual accounting of the […]
In a society dominated by information and paperwork, the question of how long to you should keep important documents is baffling for most people. We especially worry about documents of a financial or personally identifying nature. People who worry about losing something important sometimes keep everything; others who worry about things like identity theft often share […]
