Shortcut Probate Proceeding Goes Nowhere Your father dies. He had a will that left everything to his children and named you as the independent executor. You go to your hairdresser and tell her your father died. Somewhere between the color and the rinse, she tells you that when her uncle’s friend’s cousin died, the cousin’s daughter’s attorney just showed the will to the judge, and the judge signed an order...

The Good Stuff Just Keeps Coming Is it finally time?  Thanks to the Texas legislature, state capital gains tax, estate tax, gift tax, and GST tax are well on their way to being permanently banned in Texas. Capital Gains Tax May Be Permanently Banned Senate Bill 18 proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a capital gains tax. This bill was inspired by Washington State, which, despite not having an income tax, successfully...

Why Litigation Often Means Mediation Want to litigate? Then be prepared to mediate. Judges love mediation—a form of alternative dispute resolution—and will require it in almost every civil litigation case before the case can proceed to a final trial. Even if you think you’ll never be part of a lawsuit, you should know about mediation. Many people end up in probate court not by choice, but because a relative died or someone...