Search probate guides, practical articles, and estate settlement resources.747 in-depth guides • 86 blog posts
Texas RUFADAA guide. Learn how executors and trustees access digital assets under Texas Estates Code Chapter 2001, what counts as a digital asset, cryptocurrency considerations, and platform-specific tools like Facebook Legacy Contact.
Estate planning in Texas starts with 5 core documents: a will, financial POA, medical POA, advance directive, and HIPAA authorization. Learn what each does, when to update your plan, and when to hire an attorney.
Texas executor compensation under Texas Estates Code § 352.002. Learn how the 5% commission is calculated, what assets are excluded, when courts reduce fees, and how executor pay differs from attorney fees.
Texas executors must file an inventory within 90 days and account under Estates Code § 404.001. See what a final accounting includes and how to close it.
Texas executors named in a will are usually exempt from posting a probate bond. Learn when bond is required under Texas Estates Code § 305.001, how to get one, how much it costs, and how to waive it in your will.
Texas Estates Code § 355.102 sets the order in which estate debts must be paid. Learn the 7 priority classes, what happens when the estate is insolvent, and the personal liability risk executors face for paying in the wrong order.
How revocable living trusts work in Texas to avoid probate under the Texas Trust Code. Learn how to create and fund a trust, the role of a pour-over will, how trusts compare to TODDs and other probate-avoidance tools, and costs.
How the federal step-up in basis under IRC § 1014 works at death, why Texas community property gives both spouses a full step-up, real-number examples, and which assets do and don't qualify.
Texas Transfer on Death Deed (TODD) guide. Learn how to create and record a TODD under Texas Estates Code §§ 114.001–114.151, requirements, revocation, and how it compares to other probate-avoidance tools.
How to administer a Texas trust after the grantor's death. Learn trustee duties under the Texas Trust Code (Property Code Chapter 112), accounting requirements, beneficiary rights, and how trust administration differs from probate.
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