Courts may declare a will invalid if they find it was made under undue influence. This issue comes up in very difficult will contests involving accusations that someone manipulated the deceased person into making a will that did not represent their true wishes. This...
Probate is the legal process that begins when a person, called the decedent, passes away. Probate administration resolves any debt and taxes on the estate, and where directed, distributes devises and legacies. Probating a Will is the procedure the court takes to...
When creating a will, individuals in Texas and elsewhere will consider all the details that will go into the document. Specifically, his or her wishes when it comes to their property and who will own it after their passing. A will is one estate planning tool that is...
Being the beneficiary of a trust can provide you with a certain amount of financial security. For most people who are in this position, these trust assets are about much more than money. After all, a loved one who is no longer here made the conscious decision to name...
In our last post, we began a discussion about will contests and the most common reasons for them. In today’s post, we’ll discuss the two most common and compelling reasons for challenging the validity of a will: Allegations of lack of testamentary capacity and...
When estates become the subject of litigation, disputed (or contested) wills are frequently the issue at hand. Courts generally want to honor wills, as they are likely the best record of a decedent’s wishes about what happens to his or her property. Moreover, the...
It is not uncommon for consumers in Texas and around the nation to struggle with credit card debt. The problem is so widespread that many people carry debt for their entire lives. Some of them may wonder what will happen to this credit card debt at the end of their...
Dealing with disputes and challenges is not always what someone imagines when he or she accepts the duty of being executor of a loved one's Texas estate. Most may imagine the executor as the one who doles out the assets according to the wishes of the deceased....
Not everyone will be satisfied with how a Texas resident decides to distribute his or her estate upon death. Some will feel as though they should have received something or received more, but not everyone can initiate probate litigation, and certainly not simply...
Aretha Franklin, known as the Queen of Soul, recently passed away at the age of 76. Though her estate was estimated at over $80 million, she reportedly died without a will. Many Texas residents and others all across the country are in the same situation, leaving heirs...
