Making a will is a significant step for individuals or couples who want to ensure the well-being of their loved ones in the future. However, it is not a simple process. People creating a will must choose from a variety of types of wills after deciding which kind of...
Elder Law Attorneys Helping You Plan For The Future
Year: 2013
New bill for veterans clears Senate committee
Veterans in Texas may be interested to learn that the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee passed a bill on July 24 providing for major changes in several areas pertaining to VA benefits. The changes will affect disability claims by sexual assault victims, G.I. Bill...
How changes to the law affect portability
Texas residents may have heard of some changes to estate planning law that went into effect at the beginning of 2013, and they may wonder how the changes could affect them. The American Tax Relief Act of 2012 was passed by Congress and signed into law by President...
Gandolfini’s estate may be hit with hefty estate tax bill
James Gandolfini left behind a $70 million dollar estate; however, the government may be getting a hefty 40 percent of that amount, which adds to up to $30 million in taxes. The actor drew up his last will and testament just six months before his death, and, because...
Important steps in estate planning
Many Texas individuals prefer to put off estate planning for as long as possible, but this avoidance is unnecessary and may be unwise unwise. A recent article condensed the operation of creating a quality estate plan down to five steps. The first and most important...
What to do with inherited debt
Many older Americans find themselves in debt because of falling housing prices, and debt incurred with credit cards and student loans that were taken to help their kids through college. Texas families may be curious to know what happens to this kind of debt when the...
Texas estate plans are for everyone
Texas residents do not have to be wealthy to need an estate plan. Estate planning guarantees that assets are distributed in the way the owner intends. An estate plan benefits those who survive the asset owner by making it clear exactly how money and property will be...
Medicaid planning helps seniors struggling with health issues
Senior citizens in Texas may be facing difficult times if the programs that help support them end. Many seniors, who were forced to retire early due to chronic medical issues, rely on certain government programs such as the Foster Grandparent Program in order to earn...
Estate planning mistakes of the rich and famous
Most Texas residents will never have to worry about a will worth billions of dollars or leaving behind the rights to product royalties to heirs, but celebrity mishaps still show common problems to avoid in the distribution of assets. Large fortunes may be more...
Including college monies in estate planning
Many parents in Texas and across the nation understand that they need to begin saving early for their child's college education. However, they might forget to set up a contingency plan to handle the funds in the event that they die. Part of estate planning includes...