Menu
» Property
How to Own Your Real Estate
March 18th, 2026
Your real estate encompasses not only your primary residence but also any vacation homes, rental properties, or even vacant land you may own. The ideal form of ownership varies depending on the type of property and your individual circumstances. Your…
Read More
The Hidden Gender Gap in Estate Planning—and How to Close It
March 11th, 2026
You have probably heard of the gender pay gap. But there is also another common disparity: the estate planning gender gap. Although the two are interrelated to some extent—earning less than men puts women on an unequal path to investment and retire…
Read More
Categories: Estate Planning, Guardianship, Health Care Surrogates, Living Will, Powers of Attorney, Property, Trusts, Wills
Caution: Using a Do-it-Yourself Deed to Avoid Probate Can Lead to Costly Unintended Consequences
March 4th, 2026
One goal of estate planning is to ensure that your assets, including your home, pass to your chosen beneficiaries quickly and with minimal expense. In real estate, a common strategy to avoid probate (the court process of validating a will and distrib…
Read More
Estate Planning for Heirlooms: A Guide to Distributing Sentimental Items
February 25th, 2026
Personal items accumulated over our lifetimes may be left in estate planning limbo when we pass away. You may have kept many personal effects and everyday items more for sentimental reasons than for financial value, such as your clothing, jewelry, bo…
Read More
Why Receiving an Inheritance Changes Your Estate Plan
January 28th, 2026
Receiving an inheritance can be a meaningful and transformative experience, but it can also create challenges if not handled thoughtfully. Without a clear plan, an inheritor may struggle to manage newly acquired assets, face creditor or tax issues, o…
Read More
Categories: Estate Planning, Hiring an Attorney, Planning for Minor Children, Property, Trusts, Wills
Why Retirement Is the Right Time to Revisit Your Estate Plan
January 21st, 2026
Retirement can mean many different things to different people. For some, it opens up a new world of travel, experiences, and creative pursuits. For others, it may herald quiet days at home with a good book, a steaming mug of tea or coffee, and no oth…
Read More
Committed, Protected, Prepared: Estate Planning Tips for Unmarried Couples
January 7th, 2026
More couples than ever are building deep, lasting relationships without ever walking down the aisle and staying as an unmarried couple. Whether by choice, circumstance, or principle, many Americans are opting out of marriage—but not out of commitme…
Read More
Categories: Estate Planning, Health Care Surrogates, Living Will, Powers of Attorney, Probate, Property, Trusts, Wills
Parental Warning: If You Own Your Property This Way, You May Accidentally Disinherit Your Own Children
November 19th, 2025
Do you own your home, other property, or a financial account with someone else, such as a spouse or an adult child? If so, you might be surprised to learn that a common way of owning property could cause problems for your loved ones in the future. Jo…
Read More
If I Leave Someone My Home, What Do They Really Get?
November 5th, 2025
Your home is likely one of the most valuable assets you own, if not the most valuable. Calling it an asset can sound cold. A home is far more than an assortment of materials and possessions. It is also a place to live, gather, create life stories, an…
Read More
Trust Funding: Setting Your Trustee Up for Success
August 27th, 2025
A revocable living trust can serve as a valuable estate planning tool to help ensure that your finances remain well managed if you become incapacitated (unable to manage your affairs while you are alive) and to provide future financial security for y…
Read More
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