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living abroad
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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 are […]

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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 less […]

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Does Treating Your Children Fairly Mean Unequal Inheritances? from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

When thinking through their estate plan and how they want their assets (money and property) managed after they pass away, most parents wish to treat their children equally, often out of a sense of fairness. However, sometimes being fair or doing what is right by your children may mean giving unequal inheritances. The Key Takeaways Treating […]

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The Deaths of Gene Hackman and His Wife from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

When investigators entered the home of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Machiko Arakawa, in a gated community outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26, 2025, they found the couple dead under mysterious circumstances. Following their investigation, authorities pieced together a timeline of the couple’s last days, indicating that a period of about […]

The Trust Protection Myth by Austin Estate Planning Lawyer
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The Trust Protection Myth: Your Revocable Trust Protects Against Lawsuits, By Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

Many people believe the trust protection myth, i.e. they believe that once they create a revocable living trust and change the ownership of their accounts and property from themselves as individuals to their trust, those accounts and property are protected from lawsuits. This is not true. While trusts commonly protect a beneficiary’s inheritance, few trusts protect […]

Residuary Beneficiaries
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Pros and Cons of Naming Many Residuary Beneficiaries in a Will or Trust from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen

You have meticulously created your estate plan to ensure that it includes and addresses all of your most important assets (accounts and property). You have reviewed your asset list repeatedly, and everything seems to be accounted for. But what if you have forgotten something? Are you willing to update your plan every time you acquire a […]

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