The executor of a Texas estate has a lot of responsibility. Their role requires that they locate and secure assets, cooperate with the probate courts and communicate with creditors. They also need to provide beneficiaries with information about the estate and...
As an executor of a loved one’s or friend’s estate, you’ll need to deal with probate to some degree. However, if the deceased did some sound estate planning, that process should be relatively short and uncomplicated. If they owned property outside of Texas, you might...
Many people oversimplify the responsibilities of a Texas estate executor. They will tell you that an executor distributes someone's property to their beneficiaries and attends court. Those certainly are some of the basic obligations of estate administration, but many...
If you accepted the responsibility of administering the estate of a deceased friend or loved one, expect to take on many tasks. You must pay off their debts, inventory their assets and file their final income tax return, for example. It is also your responsibility to...
People are often very aware of the fact that they are going to pass away with assets. They want to make sure that their assets go to their children. They create an estate plan so that they can do things like determining who gets which assets, reducing the amount of...
A will must go through probate before the distribution of the estate to the beneficiaries. The court-controlled process is supposed to validate the will and ensure all claims to the estate are settled before the heirs receive their portions. Ideally, it should be a...
In many situations, after someone dies, the probate process is simple. It’s straightforward and doesn’t cause many issues. However, there are situations where the beneficiaries of an estate plan will experience quite a few speed bumps during probate. If you aren’t...
Many well-meaning parents decide to leave the house for their kids when they die. Maybe they think the kids will maintain it as a place for family reunions. Or perhaps they just never got around to thinking about how the kids would share it. While a share in a piece...
The thought of estate planning is difficult because it forces you to think about a future that does not include you. However tough it may be, it is important to do your research and make the right choices for your family. Do I need a will? If you pass away without a...
When a loved one dies – particularly if it’s unexpected – surviving family members have a multitude of things to deal with. They’re usually doing this amid some level of grief and maybe shock and disbelief. Often, little if any thought is given to making sure the...