A will forms one of the most pivotal parts of any estate plan. This legal instrument allows the testator to dictate who assets go to upon their death. Not only that, but it can make provisions for who will be your child’s legal guardian should you pass away....
Does your estate plan need a discretionary trust?
Estate planning often starts with writing a will, and some people assume this is the only way to transfer assets. If you want to leave something to your firstborn, for instance, you put their name in the will and list the assets that they’re going to get. It is...
Making charitable giving a part of your estate plan
Estate planning is often thought of in terms of providing for your family should you become incapacitated. While this is certainly the case, there is far more to the estate planning process than that. Have you always tried to give back to the community throughout...
Does having a living will make sense for you?
When most of us think of a will, we think of a legal document that outlines how we want our home, money, personal belongings and other assets distributed and to whom when we die. A living will is different in that it provides information on how you want to be...
Why do I need to include a living trust in my estate plan?
An estate plan comes with several important tools, each designed to ensure that your wishes are honored when you are no longer around to make important decisions. One such tool is the living trust. At the very basic, a living trust is a fiduciary document that allows...
Why divorce and estate planning go hand in hand
When going through a divorce, it is natural to focus on your immediate future. After all, you do need to concentrate on ending your marriage in a way that allows you to retain as many of your assets as possible. Despite this, you need to keep one eye on your...
3 things to consider in estate planning
If you have not yet made an estate plan, you should. Every adult needs one. The more assets you accrue and the older you get, the more vital it becomes. Estate planning need not be difficult You might find the prospect of creating your first estate plan overwhelming....
The right way to talk about estate planning
Estate planning can surface lots of emotions and opinions for many families in Texas. While experts recommend that estate planning be a family affair, going about it the wrong way can backfire and create dissonance. When people understand how to bring up the topic of...
Can you avoid estate taxes?
One nagging thought that may remain in your head throughout the estate planning process is that many of the assets you have earmarked for your beneficiaries will inevitably go towards paying the estate's taxes. Yet, is this truly the case? As one of the primary goals...
Estate considerations following a divorce
Estate planning is a task that many in Texas often do not look forward to. One need only consider the fact that (according to Gallup) barely only 44% of American adults actually have a will. The reason why may be due to the fact that estate planning goes far beyond...