When you pass away, the instructions you leave behind in your last will are administered by whomever you choose as the executor. The executor’s responsible for ensuring that the beneficiaries you’ve specified will receive the assets in your estate. Naming an executor...
Estate Planning and Probate
How do special needs trusts affect public benefits?
It can be disheartening to have a relative who cannot work due to a disability. Fortunately, your loved one might not be entirely out of luck. According to USA.gov, there are some social programs that provide benefits to individuals who need them. While beneficial to...
How can you include digital assets in your estate plan?
While creating your estate plan, you likely included physical property, such as real estate, family heirlooms and other valuable items. But you may not have made plans for digital items. According to a survey conducted by Caring.com, only 33% of Americans have created...
3 crucial items to add to your estate plan before retirement
You might already have grand plans in store for your retirement years, but you also know that there are many preparations to make before officially retiring. It is important to make sure your financial affairs are in order, and equally important to sort out your...
How do you know your family member will make a good executor?
During estate planning, you may consider a family member or loved one to carry out the executor role if something happens to you. After all, you need someone you trust will uphold your wishes and family members often fulfill that role within your life. However, good...
How can you avoid probate in Texas?
Creating an estate plan is not about wealth. It is about upholding your wishes after your death. You can put all your plans in a will, but that could leave your family dealing with the lengthy probate process following your death. Fortunately, there is documentation...
When should you make changes to your will?
Your will is an important part of your estate plan, and it dictates who will receive your assets after you die. However, many people have yet to create a will or get started on the estate planning process. According to a survey produced by Caring.com, only 33% of...
How can you choose a financial power of attorney?
During the course of estate planning, you will likely come across various documents that you need. One of the documents that you should never skip out on is a power of attorney, specifically, a financial power of attorney. According to the U.S. News, a financial power...
Options to consider before creating a guardianship
When someone you care about becomes unable to manage his or her own personal or financial affairs, you may start thinking about whether this individual needs a legal guardian to advocate on that party’s behalf. A Texas guardian handles any number of efforts on behalf...
Could a living trust benefit your middle-class family?
As a middle-class American, you may assume that trust funds are only useful for the very wealthy. However, if you own a home and have other assets you would like to pass on to loved ones, creating a living trust may be a smart financial choice. This important...