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Are Pensions Treated the Same in Your Estate Plan as Other Retirement Accounts? from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

The first private pension plan in the United States was established in the late 1800s. Through 1980, nearly 40 percent of Americans were covered by a traditional employer-funded pension. But employer-provided retirement plans have now largely shifted away from pensions to retirement savings vehicles like 401(k) plans and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) that place most […]

A Review of Changing Name and Pronouns from Nielsen Law’s Frances Chlebowski

Happy Pride Month everyone! Last year this blog sought to provide helpful information for members of the transgender and gender non-conforming members of the LGBT+ community change their legal names and pronouns. Since last year’s post there have been some updates to the ongoing legal battle over gender affirming care for minors in Texas. The […]

What Can I Not Do as Trustmaker and Trustee of a Revocable Living Trust? from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

Wills and living trusts are two of the most fundamental estate planning documents. While both accomplish the same primary objective in an estate plan of directing the distributions of your money and property to your desired beneficiaries after you pass away, a revocable living trust, often referred to simply as a living trust or an inter […]

If My Will Is Filed with the Court, Will It Go through Probate? from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

Death is a personal and private affair that affects the deceased’s close family and friends. However, there is at least one aspect of death that may require state oversight: probate. But what does it mean to probate an estate and how does that different from when a the court requires a trusted helper to file […]