by Jeff Barnett | Mar 16, 2017 | Family Law, Probate, Wills & Estate Planning
Even if you have a valid will, you may need to draft a new one for a variety of reasons. A will is an essential part of planning for the future. But don’t think creating a will is a one-time proposition. Even if you have a valid document, you may need to draft a...
by Jeff Barnett | Feb 13, 2017 | Family Law, Probate, Wills & Estate Planning
We feel that having a will, and related powers of attorney and advanced directives, is one of the most important tasks one should complete. After working hard your entire life to provide for your family, you should not allow the Texas Estates Code and the courts to...
by Jeff Barnett | Dec 20, 2016 | Family Law, Probate, Wills & Estate Planning
Our last blog post offered some tips for avoiding family feuds when distributing assets of a family member. It’s important to choose your executor carefully.The executor generally exercises discretion in distributing personal and household items....
by Jeff Barnett | Dec 1, 2016 | Probate, Wills & Estate Planning
In the days after a person dies, some family members may decide to take matters into their own hands. These individuals may have a key to the home and decide they are going to take items they want. Before the will is even read, furniture, jewelry, artwork and other...
by Jeff Barnett | Mar 5, 2013 | Business and Corporate, Civil Procedure (court rules for lawsuits), Defamation, Slander and Libel, Probate
Recently, I saw a story that ran on a KEYE-TV (ch. 42, in Austin) newscast about a bill that has been proposed in the Texas legislature by Representative Jeff Leach (R) from Plano. That bill, HB 1989, is proposing to allow people to be served subpoenas through social...
by Jeff Barnett | Feb 17, 2013 | Probate, Wills & Estate Planning
Wills are the most common way for people to state their preferences about how their estates should be handled after their deaths. A person who makes a will is known as a testator (male) or testatrix (female). A will is similar to an instruction booklet for the probate...
