Estate planning often feels complex, leading many people to rely on common misconceptions that can have devastating consequences for their loved ones and their legacy. From who can make decisions for you to whether you need an estate plan, common myths can stand between you and a secure future. Let’s debunk these widespread misconceptions and […]
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Do I Need a Will or a Trust? Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Yes, everyone needs an estate plan, regardless of whether that plan is centered around a will or a trust. These important tools ensure that your legacy will be carried out according to your wishes. They will allow you to provide for loved ones after your passing. A properly prepared trust can also help avoid probate, […]
Help! This Probate Is Taking Forever! from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
After a loved one dies, their money and property that goes through probate must be distributed to the people legally entitled to it, either according to a last will and testament (also called a will) or the state’s default distribution scheme (found in its intestacy statute). While most people want the settlement process done as […]
Nosy Neighbor Nellie Can Find Out About Your Probate by Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
We tend to think of death as a private affair, something that is only for the family to address. It can be easy to forget that some parts of our deaths are actually quite public, to anyone and everyone. Most people think of probate (the process of collecting, managing, and distributing a deceased person’s money and […]
Trust Funding: Setting Your Trustee Up for Success from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
A revocable living trust can serve as a valuable estate planning tool to help ensure that your finances remain well managed if you become incapacitated (unable to manage your affairs while you are alive) and to provide future financial security for your loved ones upon your passing. However, merely signing the trust agreement does not […]
How to Help Your Loved Ones (and Your Life Savings) Avoid Probate from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Ask any estate planning attorney and many will admit a main goal of clients it to avoid probate. Even in states where the process is quicker and easier, probate tends to remain something of a boogeyman. Today, many people use tools such as revocable living trust instead of a will, joint ownership, or beneficiary designation as […]
Being Deployed? Here Is What You Need to Do from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
You have just received your orders, and you will be deployed shortly. No matter how soon you are leaving, there is still time to ensure that your affairs are in order. Review or Prepare a Family Care Plan. Regardless of the branch of the military in which you are serving, you may be required to […]
Estate Tax Exemption Increased to $15 million in 2026 by Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Beginning January 1st, 2026, the federal estate tax exemption will rise to $15 million per individual and $30 million for couples filing jointly due to the enactment of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” under the Trump Administration. This marks a change that individuals should be aware of as the current estate tax exemption is […]
Planning for Real Estate in a Foreign Country from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
The allure of a foreign land—perhaps where the weather is milder, the pace of life slower, and the cost of living lower—is a dream for many Americans who want to escape our country’s fast-paced, high-cost living. That dream can become a reality, and a tangible investment, for Americans who purchase a home overseas. Wealthy individuals […]
Minimalism May Be Great for Your Life but Not for Your Estate Plan from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
In a modern world marked by information overload, overflowing inboxes, nonstop notifications, and the constant pressure to accumulate more stuff, minimalism offers a compelling counternarrative. Born from the mid-twentieth century artistic rebellion and revived in the 2010s on the back of increased digital clutter, climate anxiety, and economic strain, minimalism promises clarity and order based on […]