1. I’LL GET AROUND TO IT Seventy percent of Texans never get around to preparing for their death or disability. They rationalize that when they get old or sick or hurt they will see a lawyer about some documents to protect their family. This is like … [Read more...]
HANDLE WITH CARE
Perhaps you have seen “HANDLE WITH CARE” stenciled on the outside of a container or crate. If you’re like me you may have tried to child-proof a room or dealt with the consequences of placing an item in harms’ way. As we get older we accumulate more … [Read more...]
H.A.L.T.
In her article “Client Self-Defense Against Abuse, Disputes, and Neglect,” Renee C. Lovelace reminds us of an acronym describing risk factors for becoming a victim of scams. H.A.L.T. refers to the risk saturated circumstances of being overly hungry, … [Read more...]
THE BUDDY SYSTEM
I am apparently on the “He’s old so we can scam him“ list. Extended warranties or refinancing for cars I don’t own, windows, roofing, and people claiming to be from the IRS or my internet provider. Some of these folks are looking to sell me … [Read more...]
“ONLY BRUSH THE ONES YOU WANT TO KEEP”
I read a quote the other day that has caused me to engage in the unaccustomed torture of thought. “You can do anything, but you can’t do everything.” I think the sentiment is empowering and a little bit intimidating. On the one hand, I want relief … [Read more...]
HAVE YOU GOT A GUY?
With apologies for the gender reference, you have probably heard the phrase. For plumbing, electrical work, auto repair, accounting, etc. The response is “I have a guy”. This means you are familiar with their work, they have done work for you or for … [Read more...]
PEACE ON EARTH?
As we find ourselves in the middle of another holiday season I have renewed my annual Christmas requests, World Peace and a red bicycle. I can’t offer you anything in this brief article that will deliver “peace on earth and good will to mankind”, … [Read more...]
What to Do After You’ve Planned Your Estate
Congratulations! You’ve taken the necessary steps to plan out your estate if or when the unthinkable happens. But, now that you have these documents, what do you do next? Storage: Place your newly executed documents in a location that will be … [Read more...]
Will, Trust, and Powers of Attorney
One of my favorite things on social media is the pictures of the special cake, cupcake or project that shows a perfect example and then the not so perfect attempt to copy it. The children’s animated or puppet character cake looks amazing when the … [Read more...]
WHAT IS A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST?
A Special Needs Trust is a trust that can be used to supplement a disabled beneficiary’s needs while allowing that beneficiary to continue receiving his or her governmental benefits. These benefits include Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social … [Read more...]
Revocable Living Trusts
For most people, a carefully prepared will and, in the case of incapacity, powers of attorney are sufficient for a complete estate plan. However, there are times when a revocable living trust may be preferable. How does one decide which is a better … [Read more...]
ESSENTIAL ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS
A surprising number of people do not think ahead when it comes to their estate planning. Many people believe that because they don’t consider themselves to be wealthy, such planning is unnecessary. However, everyone has an estate, no matter how … [Read more...]
