Our office is now open. We are giving options to meet in person or virtually (phone calls, audio/video meetings, etc.) as we continue to follow CDC guidelines. To sign up for our next free virtual “Estate Planning Essentials” call (214) 720-0102 to register or sign up online at www.dallaselderlawyer.com. Attendees often ask questions about estate planning, probate, Medicaid and Veterans benefits. We proceed to answer the questions over the course of the workshop. Our goal is to make it easy for you to attend from the comfort of wherever you reside.

As a result of COVID, we have added a link to our website www.dallaselderlawyer.com that provides the percentage of residents and staff at nursing facilities that have been vaccinated (besides rating of quality of care, whether they accept Medicare, Medicaid, etc.).

Many think that by simply naming an executor in their Will that the court will honor your selection to serve as executor for gathering assets, paying debts of the deceased, administering the estate, etc. However, the Texas Estates Code provides several situations whereby a person is disqualified from serving as either an executor or administrator of an estate

Many do not realize the signature card on your bank account (as to the type of account established) determines how the funds in the account pass at the owner’s death. Thus, even if a person has a Will, the signature card could establish that the account does not pass by Will depending on the type of account.

As the famous late N.Y. Yankee, Yogi Berra, once said “We made too many wrong mistakes.” Executors make many “wrong mistakes.” It may be an honor to be named as an executor in someone’s Will, but there are many pitfalls and errors that an executor can make.