Texas has enacted the Natural Death Act which allows any competent adult, by signing a directive to physicians, or “living will,” as it often is called, to instruct his or her physician to withhold or withdraw artificial life-sustaining procedures in the event of a terminal condition. The directive takes effect only after two physicians determine …
You would not believe what I have found right here in Walker County, Texas with regards to property records. Hand written, homemade, or instruments that have nothing to do with what they state they are, all proporting to convey property. Just this week, I tried a case where a seller tried to evict someone even …
Many clients have asked me how to insure that a bank account or investment account passes to a particular person (spouse or child) without having to wait until a Will is probated. First, I would like to remind you that the amount of time its takes to probate an estate in Texas depends to a great extent on the type …
Continue reading “Joint Accounts with Right of Survivorship”
Can I first just say, “WHEW!” I am glad I am not still in law school. The Rule Against Perpetuities was one of those subjects the law school professor loved to “hide the ball” with us on. That is to say, confuse us to the point our heads hurt. The rule Against Perpetuities is a …
We all procrastinate. However, when it comes to estate planning, and particularly drafting a Will, it seems to get worse. Many couples think they are too young to need a Will or any kind of estate planning. But, as I have discussed in earlier columns and this is driven home to me every time a …
Crazy question What do you own? The starting point for any Texas landowner in considering the legal issues he or she may face is to consider what the landowner actually owns. This week’s column will address some of the aspects of ownership. When land is acquired, through purchase or otherwise, a good starting point for …
As we watch the Houston Astros approach the end of the regular season, folks in Washington D.C. are talking about two significant changes that could affect us all. Senator Bernie Sanders has sponsored the 99.5 Percent Act (99.5% Act) and the Biden Administration is working on the Sensible Taxation and Equity Promotion (STEP) Act. While …
Continue reading “Don’t Look Now, but its Estate Tax May be Changing”
On June 4, 2021, Governor Abbott signed House Bill 365, which modified the Farm Animal Liability Act (FALA) to ensure that it does apply to working ranches and in situations involving injured ranchers and ranch hands, among other changes. All ranch owners should pay careful attention to the changes which modify the scope of application …
The information in this column is not intended as legal advice but to provide a general understanding of the law. Any readers with a legal problem, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult an attorney for advice on their particular circumstances. Just this past week our community lost another young soul. Please remember …
The information in this column is not intended as legal advice but to provide a general understanding of the law. Any readers with a legal problem, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult an attorney for advice on their particular circumstance. Texas is experiencing a great deal of influx of people from other …
Continue reading “Welcome to Texas! Have you reviewed your Estate Plan?”
