Once you have been appointed the executor or personal representative of a deceased loved one’s probate estate, or when you step in as the successor trustee of the loved one’s trust, one of the first things you should do is to notify the post office of the death and ask them to forward the deceased […]
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Have You Checked Your Beneficiary Designations Lately? From Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
You regularly check the balances of your retirement, bank, and investment accounts. But when was the last time you checked the beneficiary designations on these accounts (and really, all the other accounts that allow you to name a beneficiary)? It may have been years since you first opened an individual retirement account, bought a life […]
How to Choose a Guardian for Yourself From Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Every day we make hundreds of decisions for ourselves—from what to eat for breakfast to how to manage our finances. However, what happens if you cannot make decisions for yourself? Who do you want making day-to-day decisions on your behalf and serving as your guardian? Financial Power of Attorney If you have recently created or […]
The Perils of Joint Property Ownership from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
People often set up bank accounts or real estate so that they own them jointly with a spouse or other family member. The appeal of joint ownership, specifically with survivorship rights, is that when one owner dies, the other owner(s) will automatically inherit the property without it having to go through probate. Also, joint property […]