Wills and trusts are the two basic legal instruments that people use to pass accounts and property on to their loved ones at death. Although a revocable living trust is often used in place of a will, the two are not mutually exclusive. You can have both a will and a trust, and in fact, […]
Estate Plan
Using Real Estate Deeds in Estate Planning from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
When using trusts in estate planning, a key element includes transferring the trustmaker’s real estate into the trust by recording a real estate deed with the local recording authority. This step is crucial for ensuring that the trustee has the authority to manage and ultimately sell or transfer the property should the trustmaker become incapacitated […]
The Zappo’s CEO and the Importance of Estate Planning from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Elizabeth Ziegler
Our lives are full of everyday superstitions. Knock on wood, don’t step on sidewalk cracks, and that talking about bad things make them more likely to happen. This last one is among the most given reasons why people don’t make estate plans. “If I talk about it, then I’ll die” goes the excuse. Unfortunately, this […]
Untangling Tangled Title: Homeownership, Property Deeds, and Estate Planning from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Do you really own the home you live in? If you are currently living in a property that you inherited, but the deed has not been transferred into your name, you may be surprised to learn that, under the law, you are technically not the owner. This legal situation is known as “tangled title.” A tangled […]