These days, nearly everyone has email, a facebook account, and digital photos. But what happens to your digital assets after you die? According to a recent article in Scientific American, judges and lawmakers are only recently trying to figure out how to handle the ever-changing realm of digital technology. The article suggests starting with making a […]
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Tips for Working with a Law Firm from Austin Estate Planning Lawyer Liz Nielsen
When you hire an attorney for estate planning, help with a loved one’s estate, or any other legal matter you want to make sure that the work gets done as quickly as possible and at the best possible value. Here are some tips to have the most useful and value-oriented law firm experience. The more […]
Are Payable-On-Death Accounts Right For You? from Austin Estate Planning Lawyer Liz Nielsen
A payable-on-death account, also called a POD account or sometimes a transfer-on-death (TOD) account, is a common way to keep bank and investment accounts out of probate, the court-supervised process that oversees distributing a deceased person’s property. Most people want to avoid their estate going through probate because their heirs will receive the inheritance faster, privately, and at lower cost.
Is a POD account an appropriate solution for your needs? Let’s examine what POD accounts do and how they fit into the overall picture.
High Deductible Health Plan? How Your Health Savings Account (HSA) Works with Your Estate Plan from Austin Estate Planning Lawyer Liz Nielsen
If you’re enrolled in a qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHP), you must consider how your health savings account (HSA) fits into your estate plan—especially to make sure that any hard-earned money left in your HSA when you die goes where you want it.