Estate planning makes the process of distributing assets after death an easy one. If you reside in Texas, it is important to know the involvement of creditors in this process and whether they retain the ability to file claims against your estate. Consider the...
Houston Estate Planning And Probate Law Blog
3 ways to prevent a will contest
As you build your wealth, you want the confidence that it gets dispersed the way you want upon your death. If you have planned ahead, unlike the two out of three Americans without any estate planning documentation, according to Caring.com, you feel a sense of...
Avoid these succession planning mistakes
You spent a lifetime building a successful business. Do not let a poor succession plan destroy your legacy. A successful transition of ownership affects more than your legacy, however. The U.S. economy relies on small businesses. According to Bankrate, 99.9 percent of...
Sabotage? Encumbrance and your commercial real estate deal
Many states have laws that deal with commercial real estate transactions. These provide the boundaries for the sale and transfer of property. Encumbrance is the legal term that defines a legal interest in a property held by someone other than the property owner....
You found a handwritten will: what now?
When a loved one passes away, the responsibility of going through property and sorting out affairs often falls to family or close friends. As someone tasked with this enormous and emotional feat, you may not know what to expect. What happens if you find a hastily...
Keeping a small business afloat after you pass
While it is not fun to think about what should happen after you die, it is necessary for people of all ages to discuss. This is especially true if you own a small business and hope to see that business continue and thrive after your death. Here are some ways to keep a...
What exactly is testamentary capacity?
If your elderly parents have not yet drafted an estate plan, you may be in store for some headaches after their death. In addition to having to deal with family disputes, you may be at risk of losing out on some or all of your inheritance. As individuals age, they...
What should you do with superseded drafts of your will?
If you have written a will to describe how you want to distribute your property after your death, you are doing better than most Americans. After all, as a recent survey found, almost 70% of individuals across all age groups have not yet created even a bare-bones...
Proving undue influence is often a challenge
A Texas will is not legally valid if the actions or threats of one or more other parties had an undue influence on the person executing the will. However, mere suspicion of undue influence is not enough. To invalidate a will on the grounds of undue influence the...
Negotiating a favorable commercial lease renewal
Commercial leases often come with longer lease terms than residential ones, so when the time comes around to renew yours, you may want to ask yourself whether your current arrangement meets your needs. If not, you may be able to negotiate better lease terms that save...