The Texas Bar and others have compiled some useful information– listed below are a set of links that may be helpful to you, and feel free to share with others: Prevention of COVID-19 Symptoms of COVID-19 What to do if you are sick Texas COVID-19 testing information How to prepare…
Consumer Protections in response to COVID-19
In response to COVID-19, several consumer protection measures have been announced ranging from court hearings, foreclosures, evictions, utilities to student loans, price gouging, bankruptcy and more. Please see the attached article from the National Consumer Law Center to read about the latest measures.
What Should You Do After Death of a Spouse?
Losing a spouse is one of the most difficult experiences you may encounter. In addition to the emotional pain and sorrow, legal and financial decisions must also be made. If you or someone you know is experiencing the loss of a spouse, please assure them that they should first take…
Importance of Coordination of Life Insurance and Estate Planning
With every client we discuss the important of Life Insurance as well as its non-probate character, in other words, as long as a beneficiary is named other than the estate, the policy will pay out directly to that beneficiary, rather than passing according to will (and waiting for the Court’s…
Primary Duty of Executor Involves Locating Heirs
One of the most important duties of an executor serving under a decedent’s Last Will and Testament is to locate the beneficiaries named in the Will. The Executor must locate the beneficiaries, notify them of their beneficiary status under the Will, and ultimately, ensure that the correct assets have been…
Will I Automatically Inherit my Husband’s House?
Many married clients assume that the surviving spouse will automatically inherit the real estate of their deceased spouse. Without a Will however, the Texas Intestate Succession rules govern. For example, in the case of a married couple with children from their marriage only, the surviving spouse will inherit the…
One in Three Americans will Receive an Inheritance – Is Yours is Protected?
One in every three Americans will receive an inheritance during their lifetime, according to a study by Ohio-State researcher Jay Zagorsky. Unfortunately, much of that windfall is lost through spending or bad investing. Mr. Zagorsky offers four steps for handling an inheritance: (1) assess the current financial situation; (2) figure…
The Season for Giving: Donate Appreciated Assets to boost your Charitable Impact
Many clients donate to charities in the spirit of holiday giving. Not all gifts have the same impact, however. Did you know that donating appreciated assets can have a bigger financial impact on the charitable organization than a gift of the cash proceeds from that same asset? Donating the appreciated…
What Happens to my Mortgage at my Death?
Did you know that no one is required to take possession of a property (and mortgage) unless they want to do so? Simply leaving a mortgaged property to your heirs does not necessarily subject them to your debts. However, if your heirs want the property, they must either take over…
CMS Announces Spousal Allowance Amounts unchanged for 2016
The 2016 Community Spouse Resource Allowance will remain at $119,200 (maximum) and $23,844 (minimum), as recently reported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In addition, the spousal monthly maintenance needs allowance will remain $2,980.50 a month. For medicaid eligibility, the income cap is projected to remain at $2,199.…