An important element of creating an estate plan is choosing a responsible party to handle your legal, medical, and financial affairs if you become unable to manage them yourself (i.e., become incapacitated) or die. The individual or entity you choose must be someone whom you can trust to make crucial and often time-sensitive decisions, who is […]
Annual exams are a part of life. As we age, these appointments grow more and more important to catch potential issues before they become serious. Similarly, due to ever-changing tax laws and interpersonal relationships, it’s a good idea for clients to review their estate plan regularly. When your estate plan is written, it reflects the situation […]
When a family member or other loved one dies, grief and shock can sometimes be overwhelming. You will need this time to grieve. The last thing most people want to think about is making plans or decisions. Some things do not need to be done immediately, but there are some steps that should be taken soon […]
Who Should Be Your Successor Trustee? If you have a revocable living trust, you probably named yourself as the initial trustee so you can continue to manage your financial affairs. Eventually someone else will need to step in when you are no longer able to act due to incapacity or after your death, however. Your successor […]
It is very important to regularly review and update all of your estate planning documents. However, your financial power of attorney, also known as a Statutory Durable Power of Attorney in Texas, is one document that should be reexamined more frequently than others. Revisiting your financial power of attorney will help ensure that the person you […]
Many believe that estate planning is simply instructions on how to distribute your assets upon your death, but the reality is that proper estate planning can do much more. While one major benefit of estate planning is to provide for your family and friends when you are gone, there are many benefits for you as well. […]
Every day we make hundreds of decisions from what to eat for breakfast to where we go on vacation. With each passing day, there are more choices to be made. But, what will happen if you can’t make decisions for yourself? Before that time comes, there is one important decision you need to make. Who do […]
There is no question that having children changes everything — and your estate planning is no exception. If you and your spouse pass away or become legally incapacitated, and arrangements were never made in the event of such an emergency, your minor child or children will have to be placed with a new family. Not surprisingly, […]
Anytime you need to go to the hospital, whether it’s for a broken bone, birth of a new baby, or surgery, there are a few documents they will request from you. Sometimes these forms can be completed by you at the hospital. However, what happens if you need medical assistance and you are incapacitated or unconscious? […]
Most business owners have their estate planning prepared because they are worried about what will happen to their business after they are dead. However, proper estate planning has the added benefit of allowing you to make plans for what will happen if you are incapacitated or needing to be away from your business for an extended […]
