During estate planning, families may seek to protect as much of their wealth as possible to pass on to the next generation. However, Forney families planning their estates should understand how estate taxes could affect their loved ones under a proposed plan. Many families may wonder whether Texas has an inheritance or other estate taxes. …
You may worry that if you suddenly passed away, your loved ones may have to deal with debts you may have, such as student loans, credit cards, or a mortgage. As a result, you might create an estate plan to govern the resolution of your financial affairs after your passing. However, you may want to…
You may own various assets that allow you to execute a beneficiary designation, naming a loved one or multiple parties who will receive the assets after your death. Assets that may have beneficiary designations include life insurance policies, bank accounts, investment accounts, annuities, and pensions. Beneficiary designations can provide an alternative to passing assets outside…
When you create a will in Texas, witnesses must attest to it (except in certain circumstances). Those witnesses may later have to affirm the will’s authenticity during probate. However, a self-proving affidavit can make probate simpler and reduce the risk of legal challenges. A self-proving affidavit can eliminate the need for testimony to establish a…
Welcome to Kaufman County, located directly east of Dallas County. Although we share a border with Dallas County, our criminal justice systems could not be more different. Defense lawyers often say that crossing the county line into Kaufman is like stepping back in time 50 years. Any leniency that has developed in Dallas—for instance, regarding…
I’ve handled drug possession cases in Kaufman County for years—first as a prosecutor, where I learned how regional drug routes work. Contraband moves east out of Dallas toward Atlanta or Shreveport, while cash and weapons flow west back to Mexico. Having handled hundreds of these cases, I can tell you one thing: Kaufman County is…
You may create a trust to protect assets and pass them to family members after your death without the time and expense of probate. However, establishing a trust requires you to “fund” it. Failing to fund a trust could cause it to “fail,” potentially upsetting the objectives of an estate plan. As a result, you…
Many people may assume that only married couples and individuals with children or grandchildren need an estate plan to pass on assets to spouses or descendants. However, single adults may also face important considerations that may require an estate plan. Even single adults have assets and matters that an estate plan can address. An estate…
You may decide to pass on the wealth you’ve spent your life building to your loved ones. However, you may agonize over how to leave family wealth to a loved one when you worry about how they might use – or misuse – that money. Fortunately, a spendthrift trust can provide you with an estate…
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