In 2013 the various components necessary for implementation of Title III of the JOBS Act were set in place when the Securities and Exchange Commission released rules for business start-ups and a unique form of equity-based investing called C...
The State of Texas imposes a statute of limitations on filing probate after a person's death. However, generally an executor will want to file much sooner than this time because certain assets in the estate can be lost, such as a family home, if payments ...
Planning Your Estate for Minor Children If you and your spouse have minor children, it is essential that you make arrangements for their care should you unexpectedly die. This is especially the case in situations where both parents pass, but there may also be some things you want to m...
Why It is Important to Name Alternative Beneficiaries in Your Will An estate plan is not a success if a person's assets do not pass to those who are intended to inherit them. Many things can happen after you write your will, and if you don't either keep the will current with changes or pr...
Assuming the role of trustee is a large responsibility, and you expose yourself to the possibility of legal problems if you are not careful. When a person is named trustee, this means that he or she is regarded highly and considered to have a great dea...
Can a No-Contest Clause Prevent Heirs from Challenging a Will or Trust? When you create your will or trust, it is useful to keep in mind that at some point it may be challenged. Contrary to how such challenges are usually depicted in the movies, they are not always done out of greed and a...
Gift Trusts Many people who are developing an estate plan wish to do something altruistic, something that will help better the lot of others after their death. Setting up a gift trust is one way of answering this urge. Your Kingwood estate planning lawyer can answer any questions you hav...
If you recently divorced, you may not feel that revising your estate plan is a high priority. Indeed, because divorce is so highly charged emotionally, you may not want even to think about your will at this time. However, consider what would happe...
What Is the Difference between a Trust and a Will? Trusts and wills are both important instruments used in estate planning. Each serves a different purpose, so it is not necessarily a matter of whether you should select one or the other. You may wish to set up a trust in addition to havin...
Many couples do not wish to consider the possibility that their marriage may end in divorce. Such thinking is sometimes even considered to be self-fulfilling. However, divorce is the unfortunate reality for about half of all marriages today, and it ...
Investing in a franchise can be a very wise and lucrative business choice. However, it is important that you have a clear understanding of what is involved in such an investment. From the outset it is a good idea to work with a Bryan business attorney as you det...
Who Gets Copies of the Will after a Person Dies? Wills ultimately become public record after the estate is probated. However, certain individuals need to receive copies in order for them to carry out their duties in accordance with the estate and probate court. If you are in possession of...
An S corporation is a kind of hybrid between a partnership and corporation. Small business owners typically choose one or the other of these structures for their enterprise, but at times they do so without fully understanding restrictive rules. ...
Life Insurance and Estate Planning A life insurance policy can be a useful tool for estate planning. However, a large policy can adversely affect your beneficiaries by increasing the estate's tax liability. Your College Station estate planning lawyer can assist you in using life insuranc...
The purpose of estate planning is to save as much as possible from federal taxes and maximize the amount of the estate assets for the benefit of heirs. There are numerous strategies that your Bryan estate planning attorney can discuss with you, o...
Reverse mortgages are for many retired seniors a way to remain in their homes while using the equity to pay bills, take vacations, etc. Individuals who enter into reverse mortgage agreements are generally led to believe ...
Reverse mortgages have become very popular among seniors in the real estate industry. With a reverse mortgage, a senior property owner can borrow money using the home for collateral. The feature is that the loan does not need to be repaid...
Significant changes in real estate lending are taking place on August 1, 2015. The purpose of these changes is to help consumers better understand mortgages and disclosures, as well as make it easier to compare loans. Your Bryan real estate at...
Maintaining files with digital information about clients, including identification information, is simply a necessary part of doing business these days. Prior to maintaining cyber files, companies kept client information in filing cabin...
Healthcare Power of Attorney It is important to understand that disaster can occur without warning, and you can be left incapacitated. Should you, for instance, suffer a stroke and be unable to write or use a part of your brain, you will need individuals who can make both financial and me...
Grantor Retained Income Trusts The grantor retained income trust (or GRIT) is an irrevocable trust used for very specific purposes. This type of trust is one of a set of trusts—GRTs—that work in similar ways. Whether a GRIT or other type of trust is appropriate for your circumstances is a...
Selling a franchise business differs from other types of businesses because of the special relationship you have with the parent company. It is a good idea to work with Bryan business attorneys when selling your franchise to ensure that you don't erroneou...
It is important to use care when selecting a financial partner. It is not always wise to begin a business together with someone simply because of a long-term friendship, and indeed such arrange...
The decision to purchase another business should be made carefully. Due diligence is the process of reviewing the underlying processes that inform the seller's methods of conducting business. It is, then, a way of ensuring that yo...
Probate has a reputation for being expensive, lengthy, and difficult. While all three of these characteristics can be accurate, the probate process is necessary for the majority of estates. Probate can be very complicated and it is important to hire knowledgea...