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 […]
Blended Families
Have a Harmonious Family that Does Not Fight? You Still Need an Estate Plan from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
In many families, everyone gets along, happily gathering for the holidays, sharing laughs, telling stories, and enjoying each other’s company. Then the matriarch or patriarch becomes incapacitated. Suddenly everyone wants to step forward to be the loving, responsible relative. Questions of who will be the primary decision-maker for grandma or grandpa can lead to tension. […]
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 […]
Why Snow White’s Father Should Have Had an Estate Plan from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Many of us are familiar with the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Central to the story is the relationship between Snow White and her stepmother. After losing his first wife, the king decided to remarry in order to provide a motherly influence for his daughter, Snow White. While things were peaceful for […]