When planning your estate in Texas, you should understand how the state handles probate. Some of your assets may go through this process, which involves the court supervision of property distribution, tax payments and creditor claims. Review the laws about Texas...
Houston Estate Planning And Probate Law Blog
What is a simple will?
It is never too early to start estate planning. Many people believe that they do not need to consider starting an estate plan until they are nearing retirement; however, the reality is that many people would benefit from having a will in place at a much younger age....
Differences between commercial and residential leasing
One of the biggest mistakes that new business owners make is not understanding the difference between residential and commercial leasing. Most individuals have engaged in residential leasing at least once in their lifetimes, and many mistakenly assume that the same...
What is a reason family business succession may fail?
You may be the owner of a business and hope someday to have a family member succeed you as owner and manager. Not all family business successions work out, though. To help ensure that you can someday transition your business to your child or family member, it may help...
Is it time to update your estate plan?
Texas residents like you have a lot of ground to cover when working out your estate plan. Creating the first draft often takes many months to perfect. After you finish, it may feel tempting to leave it as-is. But you must update your estate plan somewhat frequently....
When should you begin creating estate plans?
Perhaps you are young and just out of college or newly retired but feeling as good as you did 20 years ago. Estate planning may not be on your mind much, if at all, because death seems like a distant prospect. This mindset, however, could become rife with problems...
Is a QTIP trust good for my blended family?
Many people in Texas get married after having been previously divorced or widowed. The chance at a fresh start for a happy marriage and life is something to celebrate indeed. However, blending families may not always be easy and some of the issues that couples in...
What makes up the value of a commercial property?
There are many differences between residential and commercial real estate with perhaps the biggest being how you handle validation. Knowing the value of a property is an important aspect of purchasing or selling. Values in real estate are never exact but rather...
What is a no-contest clause?
It is not uncommon to have concerns regarding what will happen with your estate after death. Particularly if you believe that your heirs may challenge any will that you put forth, you may be looking for ways to prevent this. The most common way to prevent any...
Will my spouse have to pay my credit debt after my death?
There is nothing more final than death, which means you probably assume that when you die, your debts will as well. That is not always true when you have a spouse. Your creditors could hold him or her responsible for your debt in a couple of situations. According to...