Get free answers to your Estate Planning legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I'm seeking assistance with a situation where a nursing home is attempting to hold me liable for charges incurred by my mother, who is now deceased. I had Power of Attorney for her but did not sign any personal guarantees; I only signed documents necessary for her admission to the facility.... View More 
answered on May 10, 2025
No generally you don’t owe anyone debts incurred by your mom. The only concern I would have is if upon admission you inadvertently signed some document accepting liability. I would request that the nursing home send you copies of any document you signing allegedly guaranteeing payment. If they... View More
I have my mother's will and need to file it to change the name on the property. I can't afford an attorney, but I need to obtain a muniment of title. Can I apply for legal aid to help with this process?
answered on May 8, 2025
You can definitely apply for Legal Aid. In our area, that would be Legal Aid of Northwest Texas. If you don't qualify there, reach out to attorneys in your area who focus on probate in Dallas County. The focused attorneys may cost less than a general practice law firm. In fact, many... View More
I am the widow of an inventor who had numerous utility patents. He passed away unexpectedly at 55, and we were married for 15 years. I was unaware of these patents until eight years after his passing. His patents are licensed, and he told me we would be rich, but I didn't understand what he... View More
answered on May 7, 2025
Whether you are owed royalties depends on the language of any agreement signed by you or by your deceased husband permitting others to use the inventions he patented. If someone is using the patented inventions without permission, what constitutes a fair royalty can be one measure of any damages... View More
My wife and I have been married for 24 years, living in her original house in Texas. Her only daughter passed away 8 years ago, leaving two children. One of these grandchildren, who lives with his father in Denver, CO, is trying to claim the house after my wife's death. There is no will, and... View More
answered on May 8, 2025
It is unclear from your question what interest in the house you are trying to protect. You do have what are called "widow's rights" which arise regardless of your gender.
A surviving spouse has the right to use and occupy the homestead (family home) for their lifetime,... View More
I am dealing with an issue where the will specifies an even division of my deceased mother's estate among siblings. However, the executor has failed to inform us about the sale of the property and is keeping a large portion of the proceeds. We have raised concerns, but the executor refuses to... View More
answered on May 2, 2025
The executor will have to report the sale of real estate to the probate court and account for the proceeds of the sale. The heirs can obtain this information from the papers the executor must file with the probate court.
I am considering creating a revocable living trust where I will be the grantor and trustee, and listing the trust as the sole member of an LLC for privacy reasons. Can the profits be reallocated per the LLC's operating agreement to utilize the best tax plan, given that smaller income is taxed... View More
My wife passed away intestate in California, and a probate was filed there, along with an ancillary probate in Texas. There is uncertainty regarding the life estate and deed recording. Mineral rights royalties from an oil and gas company have been set up with my name and three children from my... View More
answered on Apr 27, 2025
Yes, you'll likely end up wanting an estates lawyer to review your documents and to advise you. However, if it were me, I'd reach out to a landman first. This may help you get even better results, faster, at a lower cost. Then, after a landman weighs in, then you can get an attorney to... View More
I applied for an EIN using Form SS-4 to set up a Revocable Trust for my minor, disabled son, and received the EIN. I then filled out a W-9 form as requested by an oil and gas company in Texas, indicating the trust's name and EIN, and signed as the trustee. However, the company rejected the... View More
What are the steps to obtain and record the deed for my minor son, who was born disabled and is an heir to mineral rights from intestacy probate filed in Texas with ancillary probate? Additionally, how can I ensure that the oil company is able to pay royalties to him, and do I need to set up a... View More
How is it insured all beneficiaries named have received their inheritance as per the wills dictation
answered on Apr 22, 2025
If, after a reasonable time, the court-appointed executor refuses or delays distributing proceeds to beneficiaries named in the will, the court may order them to distribute or may remove them and replace them with another suitable executor. This will typically require the beneficiary to file a... View More
My husband passed away without a will. We are trying to administer his estate, which includes a primary home (listed as 'a married man'), a boat, two cars, and ranch land in another county in Texas. His daughters, one from a previous marriage and our daughter, are adults, and we are all... View More
answered on Apr 21, 2025
This is actually pretty straightforward, if all three of you are on the same page. You'll want to get a probate attorney to assist you with the probate process called "determination of heirship with independent administration". This will result in the appointment of an independent... View More
In Texas, my father is in the process of creating a will. He has two adult children from previous marriages, and he is adamant that he does not want them to receive any of his assets when he passes. He is still married to my mom, who sometimes overspends, and he wants me to be the executor and take... View More
answered on Apr 21, 2025
He can acknowledge the existence of his two adult children in his Will and leave them nothing.
Be aware that as executor of his Will who do not have the discretion to withhold assets from your mom if she is the beneficiary of his Will. You will have a fiduciary duty upon his death to pay... View More
I am the trustee, grantor, and beneficiary of a revocable trust, and my minor son is listed as a beneficiary. He received an inheritance from intestate probate filed in Texas as one of the heirs, including three other adult children. Now, we're filling out a W-9 form for him for the first... View More
I filed for ancillary probate in Texas after my wife passed away intestate, adopting our minor son. He was named an heir, and I was appointed by the court as the administrator and custodian. We receive oil and gas royalties in Texas. Recently, I received a letter from the oil and gas company asking... View More
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answered on Apr 16, 2025
You’re absolutely right to protect your son's identity and disability benefits while managing his mineral rights. One of the best options is to create a revocable or irrevocable trust where you serve as trustee, and your son is the beneficiary. The trust can hold title to the mineral... View More
In Texas, my sibling presented a notarized Power of Attorney, reportedly signed by our mother, who was under Medicaid and in poor health. This was done without involving other siblings or reaching an open, written agreement. Our mother had suffered a severe fall due to an incident with an American... View More
answered on Apr 14, 2025
To successfully challenge the use of a POA before your mother's death, you will need to prove that, at the time she signed the POA, she was mentally incompetent to do so, she was under duress (someone threatened her with bodily harm),or it was obtained by fraud (she reasonably believed she was... View More
My stepbrother was gifted land through a will by my father, who recently passed away. Before my father passed, my stepbrother promised my parents he wouldn't evict any family members from the property. I want to understand the legal obligations associated with this promise and my rights within... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
You're right to want clarity—land and family promises can become especially complicated after someone passes. In Texas, once a will is probated and the property is legally transferred, the new owner (in this case, your stepbrother) generally has full legal control over the land. If your... View More
I'm the executor of a testate estate with a probate court providing letters of testamentary. The estate includes gold half eagle coins minted in 1880, 1901, 1911, and some silver coins. Before distribution, does selling these coins by the executor affect the step-up in cost basis?
answered on Apr 2, 2025
Generally, anything that passes upon the death gets an adjusted basis. So, as the executor, your legal requirement is to distribute the decedent's property pursuant to his/her will. For anything substantial, I would recommend that you provide a detailed inventory with as much detail as... View More
I am considering a ladybird deed for my elderly relative, as her financial resources are low and she cannot care for herself. She is currently in a place that suggests using a ladybird deed to ensure she remains there. She has two sons: one unable to provide care due to work commitments, and the... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
You’re doing a thoughtful and caring thing by looking into options that protect your elderly relative while also considering Medicaid eligibility. In Texas, a Lady Bird Deed (also called an enhanced life estate deed) can be a very helpful tool. It allows your relative to retain full control of... View More
I am the successor durable power of attorney (SDPOA) for my grandmother. The previous SDPOA, her daughter, misapplied $48,000 from my grandmother's bank account and refused to provide an account of her actions despite multiple verbal and written requests. Adult Protective Services validated... View More
answered on Mar 31, 2025
Because you are filing suit as a fiduciary for your grandmother, you must hire an attorney under Texas law.
Unless a fiduciary is also a licensed attorney, filing a lawsuit pro se as a fiduciary constitutes the unauthorized practice of law and will not be allowed by the court.
A... View More
I'm named as a beneficiary on my father's ladybird deed, along with my sister. The deed has been recorded. My father has recently passed away, and the property is neither occupied nor leased. There are no outstanding debts or taxes, and no restrictions or conditions on the deed. What... View More
answered on Mar 26, 2025
First, I'm sorry to hear about your father's passing. You and your sister are now owners. For clarity with the title, you may want to file an affidavit of death with the real property records in the County clerks office. You need to decide how you wish to handle the property. If you plan... View More
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