Many people think that creating a last will and testament is all that is needed to protect their assets and ensure that their loved ones are taken care of after they pass away. However, a will is only a part of a comprehensive estate plan that can provide greater protection, minimize taxes, and avoid family...KEEP READING

When estate administrators sell property years after the statutory deadline for opening probate has passed, can purchasers rely on those sales? This fundamental question has confronted Texas courts for over a century. Modern practitioners often assume that probate law has undergone substantial evolution since the early 1900s. Yet examining how courts addressed late-filed administrations in...KEEP READING

When children fight over their parents’ estates, can accepting even small benefits under a will prevent them from challenging it entirely? Many beneficiaries assume they can collect rent checks or occupy inherited property while simultaneously contesting the document that gave them those rights. This misconception often proves costly. Texas law has long held that beneficiaries...KEEP READING

A terminally ill parent wants to ensure their children are provided for after death. They sign a power of attorney document that includes instructions about placing lawsuit proceeds “in trust” for their children’s benefit. The parent dies that same day. The question then becomes whether those handwritten instructions actually created a trust—or merely gave someone...KEEP READING