Whether it is email accounts, online banking, or social media, we now live in an age where much of our lives are stored and managed digitally. While many people adequately plan for their physical and financial assets, digital assets are often overlooked in the estate planning process. Creating a digital asset plan protects your online […]
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Three Estate Planning Steps Every New Homeowner Should Take from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Congratulations on your new home! Whether you are officially a first-time homeowner or are leveling up (or scaling back) to a space that better fits your life, buying property is a massive milestone. While you are busy picking paint swatches and unboxing the kitchen, do not forget that a new deed often means a new financial […]
The Risks of an Unfinished Estate Plan—and Why You Should Complete Yours from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Planning for the future, especially your own mortality, is never easy. Even when you understand the importance of creating a will or trust to protect your loved ones, finding the motivation to complete an estate plan can be difficult. Yet an unfinished estate plan is almost as risky as having no plan at all. Without […]
Seven Estate Planning Traps Most People Miss from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Think back to how your life was seven years ago. Your family, your finances, your relationships, and even the accounts you use have probably changed in ways both obvious and subtle. Seven years does not feel like a long time until you start making the list. It can also change your perspective on your estate […]
Pot Trusts Explained for Families from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
A pot trust, sometimes referred to as a common trust, is a way to hold money and property for a group of beneficiaries, usually children or other family members, in one shared trust. Instead of dividing everything into separate shares right away, the assets stay together in a single fund, allowing the trustee (the person in charge […]
Executor Rights: How You Are Protected While Administering an Estate from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Being named executor of someone’s estate is often viewed as an honor. It means the person who created the will trusted you to handle their affairs and carry out their wishes after death. But once the process begins, executors can sometimes discover that the role is more involved than originally believed. Executors must locate assets, […]
Flying Solo: Why Estate Planning Still Matters for Single People and What to Do Next from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
As a member of the growing unmarried single people population, you may find yourself wondering who will step in to make important decisions for you if you become unable to do so or who will receive your money and property after your death. Although parents, siblings, or other loved ones may be the first people […]
Celebrate Your Life Your Way: How to Make Funerals and Memorials Meaningful from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Many people have a childhood memory of somebody close to them passing away. Whether the deceased was a parent or grandparent, an aunt or uncle, or a family friend, it may have been their first real encounter facing grief or attending a funeral. That experience may have left a lasting impression, influencing what you want—or […]
The Family Meeting: Not Just for Billionaires from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
For some people, the term family meeting may not bring to mind a pleasant gathering where everyone shares fond memories and warm feelings. When someone says, “We need to talk,” it often implies that something is wrong or that tough decisions need to be made or discussed. However, in estate planning, future problems are exactly what […]
Important Things Your Agent Under a Medical Power of Attorney Needs to Know from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Even if you are currently in good health, an unexpected illness or injury could leave you unable to make your own medical decisions. A document known in Texas as a medical power of attorney is a crucial component of your estate plan. This document allows you to designate a trusted individual (your agent) to make […]