In Texas, the news of the recent $2 billion Powerball jackpot winner has brought attention to the importance of protecting wealth. Lottery officials announced that a single ticket holder took home the largest prize in U.S. history. But history has shown that many lottery winners find themselves in financial trouble within five years of hitting […]
Under U.S. tax law, gifts and inheritances are generally excluded from gross income. This means that you do not have to pay taxes on gifts or inheritances that you receive. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if you receive a gift of property that has appreciated in value since it was […]
What exactly is probate? It’s a legal process that takes place when someone dies, and it involves the distribution of their assets. While this may sound like a simple enough process, there are actually several different types of probate in Texas that you should be aware of if you are dealing with an estate or […]
When you’re the beneficiary of a Texas trust, there are certain things that you should know. From understanding the different types of trusts in Texas to knowing your rights as a beneficiary, these six things will help you navigate your way through the process. Whether you’re setting up a trust for someone else or establishing […]
In Texas, there are two types of probate: independent and dependent. Independent probate is when the decedent left a will that names an executor, and dependent probate is when the decedent did not leave a will or the will does not name an executor. If you are named as an executor in a will, you […]
If you need to file an affidavit of heirship in Texas, there are a few things you’ll need to do first. First, find a notary public or licensed attorney who can notarize the affidavit. Then, gather all of the required documents, which include a death certificate, a copy of the will (if there is one), […]
In Texas, if you want to contest a will or trust on the grounds of undue influence, you must be able to show that the person who created the document was unduly influenced by another person. This can be a difficult burden to meet, but it is not impossible. If you suspect that someone unduly […]
Many people don’t know that you can cash a check made out to a deceased person in Texas prior to probate. The state has what’s called a “pay-on-death” provision, which allows for the cashing of checks made out to deceased persons. While this may seem like a simple process, there are actually a few things […]
If a person dies without any heirs, their estate is called intestate. This means that the state will decide what happens to the estate. The laws surrounding intestate estates can be complex and vary from state to state. In Texas, if a person dies without any heirs on either the paternal or maternal side, their […]
When a person dies, their property must go through a process called probate. Probate is the legal process of distributing a deceased person’s property. The court will appoint an executor to oversee the probate process and distribute the deceased person’s assets according to their will or, if they didn’t have a will, according to Texas […]