While trustees hold significant legal authority over trust assets, their position is not permanent. Either the court or the terms of the trust instrument can remove a trustee from their position. Here is what you need to know about the process in Texas. What does the...
You opened every drawer, cleared every shelf and checked every single hidden corner, yet you still cannot find the original will. All you are left with is a copy of it. It is understandable if you are feeling frustrated. Here is what you need to know to assess your...
A joint bank account may seem straightforward. A parent may add an adult child to help pay bills, deposit income or manage everyday finances. In many families, the arrangement works without raising concerns while everyone is alive. After a loved one dies, however, the...
Some people know that the value of their personal property and/or the dynamics in their family may contribute to probate conflict after they pass. People who expect litigation challenging their wishes can preemptively prevent frivolous will contests. A no-contest...
Losing a loved one is difficult enough without unexpected complications during probate. If you are responsible for administering an estate, careful preparation can help you avoid delays, unnecessary costs and disputes among beneficiaries. Many probate issues arise...
Trust administration often involves asset management and careful investments. Trustees may need to physically maintain property, make decisions about the future of assets and determine the appropriate sale value for resources when selling trust assets. Trustees must...
When a loved one leaves a trust, the trustee is supposed to safeguard those assets and manage them in the beneficiary’s best interest. But trustees don’t always meet that mark. Sometimes they stop communicating, mishandle money, or simply can’t keep up with the job. ...
Remarriage after a divorce or the death of a spouse is common. Sometimes, people marry substantially younger spouses. When that happens, the younger spouse is likely to outlive the older one. There may then be concerns about the estate plan left by the older spouse...
Serving as a trustee can place you in charge of assets that someone else set aside for family members or other beneficiaries. In that role, you are responsible for carrying out the instructions in the trust and handling those assets appropriately. If problems arise...
Disputes over a loved one’s will can become deeply emotional, especially when family members suspect someone acted dishonestly during the estate planning process. In Texas, certain forms of misconduct may give surviving relatives or beneficiaries valid reasons to...