One of the main reasons that a person creates a revocable living trust (a trust established during a person’s lifetime that they can amend or revoke) instead of relying on a will to transfer their money and property to their beneficiaries is to avoid probate. Probate is the court process during which a person’s will […]
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Difference Between Transfer on Death and Payable on Death Designation from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
When tackling estate planning, adding a payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) designation to an account allows the assets (money and property) in that account to be passed to a named beneficiary when the original account holder dies. Like trusts, POD and TOD accounts bypass probate. They are also fast, easy, and usually free to set […]
Reasons Why You Want to Avoid Intestacy from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
About two out of three Americans will die without a will. This is known as dying intestate. While the reasons for not having a will vary, the end result is the same for everyone: they do not get to choose who receives their property when they die. Instead, their money and property are distributed according to […]
Estate Administration: Bills and Services to Cancel or Keep When a Loved One Dies from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
A loved one’s passing is challenging on many different levels. In addition to the emotional difficulty of processing someone’s death, there are also the many tasks during estate administration that must be dealt with, such as going through their various accounts and taking the necessary steps to cancel them or transfer ownership. Most people subscribe […]
CTA Imposes New Small Business Reporting Requirements for 2024 from Austin Business Planning Attorney John Glode
Small business owners will have one more item on their compliance to-do list when the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) takes effect next year. The CTA,[1] enacted as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AMLA), places new reporting requirements on many business entities in an effort to expose illegal activities, including the use of shell […]
Why You Need Insurance for Your Business from Austin Business Planning Attorney John Glode
You have a lot riding on your small business. You have invested your money, time, and sweat equity to build a company that will be successful for years to come. Even if you make all the right business moves, unexpected costs can arise at any time. Accidents, natural disasters, data breaches, and other unexpected occurrences are […]
Three Important Concerns Self-Employed Individuals Should Address from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Being self-employed is no easy task. You are the owner, and in some cases, the only employee. While you may have more freedom than the average worker, a lot of responsibilities lie on your shoulders. Working together, we can craft a comprehensive estate plan that will help you address three important concerns you may have. […]
What Happens to Your Venmo, PayPal, and Apple Pay Accounts at Your Death? from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
It has been said that nothing ever dies on the Internet. While this dictum is typically used as a warning that what we put online may come back to haunt us, it is also true that our online accounts can outlive us, and even live in perpetuity. Having a digital estate plan that makes arrangements […]
What Not to Include in Estate Planning Documents from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
One important purpose of estate planning is to facilitate the transfer of ownership of your money and property to your family and loved ones when you pass away. For this transfer to be as stress-free and efficient as possible, it is crucial that estate planning documents be thorough and provide the necessary information. Nevertheless, there […]
Home Security Systems and Estate Planning from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Elizabeth Ziegler
Estate planning helps bring peace of mind and a sense of security, both in our lifetime and beyond. While we cannot predict our fate, we can at least dictate how our money and property will be distributed and ensure that we provide for our loved ones. Physical security is a big part of feeling emotionally, psychologically, […]