Menu
Articles
Important Questions to Ask When Investing in a Vacation Property
August 5th, 2022
According to the National Association of Home Builders, in 2018 there were approximately 7.5 million second homes, making up 5.5 percent of the total number of homes.[1] These vacation property homes are not only real estate that must be planned for,…
Read More
Four Essential Strategies for Asset Protection
July 29th, 2022
You might think that only the super wealthy need to worry about asset protection planning. But the truth is that if you don’t have millions, you may be at even greater risk. For instance, if you are a multi-millionaire, a $50,000 judgment against y…
Read More
Categories: Uncategorized
When Rock Legends Pass Away: The Possible Fates of Meat Loaf’s $40 Million Estate
May 31st, 2022
Meat Loaf, whose real name was Michael Lee Aday, passed away earlier this year at the age of seventy-four. The singer behind 1977’s Bat Out of Hell—one of the best-selling albums of all time—experienced ups and downs befitting his larger-than-l…
Read More
It's Not Set-It-and-Forget-It: When to Update an Estate Plan
May 26th, 2022
As we all know, life happens. There is really nothing we can do about it. However, some of the most common life events can have a dramatic effect on your estate plan meaning you will occasionally need to update your estate plan. Because if you think…
Read More
Categories: Estate Planning
Three Steps to Take When the Deceased Has Controlled Substances
April 19th, 2022
There are so many things to think about when a loved one passes away. What to do with the prescription drugs (or other controlled substances) that are in your loved one’s medicine cabinet is not usually at the top of that list. Yet, to avoid runnin…
Read More
Categories: Probate
Estate Planning Considerations for Couples with an Age Gap
March 28th, 2022
With couples of similar ages, planning for the future is naturally a joint effort. However, if you have a large age gap and are married to someone who is significantly older or younger than you, the future can look different and mean different things…
Read More
Categories: Uncategorized
Mental Health Considerations in Estate Planning
February 28th, 2022
It is okay to not be okay. Removing the stigma of mental health starts with realizing that many people—about one in five of all US adults–are affected by mental illness. Understanding this fact can lead to more people getting the help they re…
Read More
Categories: Estate Planning
529 Plan Changes for the FAFSA Form and What It Means for Grandparents (and Grandaunts)
February 9th, 2022
For grandparents who want to leave a legacy to their grandchildren (or grandaunts, such as myself, who wants to help out with the costs for grandnieces and grandnephews), the gift of a 529 college savings plan is an option. Not only can opening a 529…
Read More
Untangling Tangled Titles: Homeownership, Property Deeds, and Estate Planning
January 17th, 2022
If you are currently living in a property that you inherited but the deed has not been transferred into your name, you may be surprised to learn that, under the law, you are technically not the owner. This legal situation is known as “tangled title…
Read More
Categories: Probate
The Common Trust: Providing for All Your Children's Needs
January 6th, 2022
Parents strive to make their children feel equally valued as reflected in the fact that, when setting up an estate plan, parents typically divide their accounts and property equally among their children. But while parents strive to treat their childr…
Read More
Categories: Estate Planning
Attorney Jana McCreary
Houston Estate Planning Attorney Jana R. McCreary has been an attorney for over nineteen years, a career move she made after working for over a decade with adults and children with intellectual disabilities and mental illness. Graduating summa cum la… Read More
