When someone asks a person whom they trust to serve as their executor or the personal representative of their estate, that is in some ways an honor. It is also a bit of a burden, as a personal representative has a lot of responsibility. Not only do they need to...
Estate Administration
& Probate
Estate Planning
Real Estate Law
Business Law
Probate And Estate Administration
What happens when family members die without a will?
Losing a family member is tragic in its own right. Most people have a hard time coping with their grief. It may take them months to come to terms with their new daily routine and the changes in their family dynamics. Unfortunately, people don't have the option of...
When can a beneficiary seek to remove an estate’s executor?
It’s not uncommon for surviving family members of someone who has passed away to have an issue with the person that the deceased named to be the executor (or “personal representative,” as it’s called in Texas law) of their estate. If that’s how you feel, you’re not...
Why do so many people move to Texas as they age?
Texas has certainly become a prime destination for Americans. For many older adults, it holds some of the same draws that individuals benefit from when they move to a state like Florida. For instance, like Florida, Texas has no income tax and relatively warm weather....
Understanding the Power of Attorney
You may have heard the phrase "power of attorney" before and may associate it with someone giving another person permission to make legal decisions for them. While that is part of it, a power of attorney is the most critical estate document you will ever sign. People...
3 ways a lawyer can help out-of-state executors in Texas
You grew up in New Mexico, and so that is where you still currently live. However, your parents eventually moved to Texas. Losing a parent is difficult in any situation, and choosing to serve as the executor of their estate will mean that you have a lot of obligations...
2 risks for out-of-state executors of estates with real property
Although Arizona and Florida are arguably the states best known for high densities of snowbirds, they are far from the only state where retirees flee from colder Northern climates. Texas has quite a few older adults pursuing the later stages of their career or their...
Can creditors hold you accountable for debts not paid in probate?
Agreeing to serve as the personal representative or executor of someone's estate means committing a lot of your time for very little compensation. You will need to attend court, make repetitive phone calls, send legal notices and hand out property to the beneficiaries...
What does out-of-state estate administration mean for taxes?
Some people move to Texas for retirement. Other times, family members spread out to other states as they become adults and start families of their own. Having generations of the family living in different locations will make socialization a bit more of a challenge....
Can you probate a foreign will in Texas?
When you have will that was not drawn up in Texas but the person who that will is for has passed away in Texas, you may need to probate the will in Texas rather than the state where it was drawn up. The will, despite being created in the USA, is called a foreign will....