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Lapse: What Happens to Inheritance if the Beneficiary Dies?
August 2nd, 2021
A key part of your estate plan is your will. In addition to identifying who is in charge of handling your estate after your death, your will names who will inherit your property and assets. But what happens if that beneficiary dies before you do? For…
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Categories: Estate Planning
Estate Planning for the Family Farm
July 26th, 2021
Suppose that mother and dad have run the family farm for a long time. Now, though, they’re getting on in years, and they’re considering moving into a smaller place. One of the daughters and her husband help run the farm, but the rest of the sibli…
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Categories: Estate Planning
Preparing for Your Aging Parents' Care
July 19th, 2021
Although every situation is unique, one truism to preparing for an aging parent’s care is that preparation is crucial to success. Whether you need basic information about eldercare resources and services, are looking for a local agency to provide t…
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Categories: Estate Planning
What Your Will Can and Can Not Do (Hint: It's Not a Magic Wand)
July 12th, 2021
A will is a legally binding directive stating who will receive much of your property upon your death. Having a will allows you to appoint a legal representative or executor to carry out your bequests and name a guardian for your children. If you die…
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Beware of Undue Influence
June 14th, 2021
It’s the unfortunate truth that when our loved ones become elderly or ill, they become susceptible to manipulation from those who will defraud or steal. Targeted attacks on vulnerable older people to exert what attorneys deem undue influence consti…
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Categories: Estate Planning
“For the 99.5% Act": A Look at Proposed Changes and Estate Planning
June 7th, 2021
On March 21, 2021, Rep. Jimmy Gomez and Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a new bill into Congress called, “For the 99.5% Act.” The bill’s introduced form is only 18 pages long, but its potential impact on federal estate and gift tax l…
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What Are Your Parents' Aging Strategies?
May 31st, 2021
In the United States, it’s very common for adult children to live far away from their aging parents. Managing aging parents’ or in-laws’ medical events can be a serious challenge without proper preparation and understanding of their str…
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The Process of Probate
May 10th, 2021
When someone passes away, there is an often-lengthy legal procedure. This involves a court overseeing the process of authenticating the will, reviewing the deceased’s assets, paying outstanding debts, and distributing the remaining property to the…
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Should You Add Your Child’s Name to Your Bank Account?
May 3rd, 2021
Even if you wanted to have another party available to keep track of bills when you’re sick or away, adding a child’s name to a bank account may be more of a hassle than it’s worth. Doing so may have unintended consequences for both you and the…
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Property Co-Ownership Can Be Risky
April 26th, 2021
Too often, people try to circumvent probate challenges by deeding property away to someone else during their lives or by putting someone else on the deed to their home. Also too often, doing this leads to unintended consequences and higher attorneys&…
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Attorney Jana McCreary
Houston Estate Planning Attorney Jana R. McCreary has been an attorney for over twenty years, a career move she made after working for over a decade with adults and children with intellectual disabilities and mental illness. Graduating summa cum laud… Read More