People may leave holographic wills rather than documents drafted by a lawyer for a number of reasons. Some testators do not trust anyone else with their last wishes. Others may find themselves needing to plan in an emergency where they cannot access legal assistance....
Most of the time, trust management follows some fairly predictable patterns – until some conflict arises. Trustees can then end up facing difficult dilemmas that require additional legal clarity. In these situations, either the trustee or the beneficiaries of the...
Losing a loved one is hard enough. When fraud or forgery taints their final wishes, it adds insult to injury. Texas courts take these claims seriously in wealth transfer disputes. They aim to protect the deceased's true intentions and the rightful heirs. Proving foul...
Probate refers to the comprehensive management of a deceased individual's will or the estate of an individual who died intestate. An executor who is either named in the will or appointed by the court if there is no will oversees the process. This entails supervising...
An executor of an estate is responsible for accounting, which involves documenting the property, expenses, cash balance and other crucial details. Doing this helps them keep track of the assets they are managing and easily account for their activities. So, who can...
You cannot start handling someone’s estate until they are dead. You can, however, do a lot while they are still alive to make things easier once they die. The person who knows most about the estate plan is the person making it – the testator – and you won’t be able...
Families in Texas sometimes question the validity of a loved one’s estate plan. After someone dies, the contents of their will may seem far different than the preferences they expressed while alive. Some families reach the conclusion that an outside party may have...
Estate administration can be a delicate process, often fraught with emotional challenges as family members come to terms with the loss of a loved one. Unfortunately, estate disputes are common, especially when beneficiaries feel left out of the decision-making process...
An estate plan can establish several important relationships to help ensure the management of assets. A testator names an executor of the estate to manage and settle assets, including paying debts and taxes and contacting beneficiaries. A grantor can set up a trust,...
When someone dies, the distribution of their estate is typically managed by an executor. Not only is an executor someone that the deceased likely trusted very deeply to manage their final affairs but they are legally obligated to act in the best interests of the...