Most of us know Tony Hsieh for his groundbreaking company, Zappos. And, we all received the news in Nov. 2020 of his sudden passing, right before his 48th birthday. Though, it came as a shock to everyone that he passed without an estate plan of any kind. A life well...
Decatur Family Law and Probate Attorney
How are assets in other states handled during probate?
The probate and estate administration process can be challenging enough to navigate as is. But the matter can become even more complicated when the deceased individual left behind extensive assets located in various geographical locations. As the estate administrator,...
Three ways to avoid probate
Administering a loved one’s estate is challenging. Coping with their death while trying to honor their wishes and comply with the law can be overwhelming. The process is all the more cumbersome if the estate ends up in probate court. Probate court can prolong the time...
Signs that the fiduciary duty has been breached
Losing a loved one is never easy. While you try to find a way to cope with the emotional realities of the situation, you might also have very real financial concerns if you were mentioned in your loved one’s estate plan. After all, how those finances are managed is...
What are reasons to challenge a will?
There are few guarantees in life for people in Texas. One of the few guarantees is something that people generally want to push off as long as they can though. That guarantee is that everyone will pass away at some point in time. While it may be something that people...
What happens during the probate process?
Probate is the legal process of transferring property following the estate planner’s death. During the probate process, which is a court-supervised process, the estate planner’s property is collected, debts are paid and property is distributed. Because the probate...
The importance of a power of attorney
If you have started the estate planning process, you know that there is typically more involved than just writing up a will. The power of attorney is also an important document that should be included in just about every estate plan. A power of attorney gives someone...
Here are some ways to defend against breach of fiduciary duty
Serving as an estate administrator or a trustee is oftentimes more complicated than people think. Paying yourself out of the estate, determining how and when assets should be distributed, and investing assets can be difficult to navigate, and named beneficiaries might...
What are the duties of an estate administrator?
Once you write a will, you need to select an executor. The primary role of the executor is to follow the directions of the will once you pass on. However, if you die without writing a will, your next of kin will mostly likely be appointed the estate administrator, and...
Who can challenge a will?
A will in Texas might be legally binding, but that doesn't mean it's set in stone. Certain parties can challenge the will if they have reason to believe that the will is invalid or they're entitled to a bigger share of the estate. These parties are typically known as...
