If you moved to Texas from a foreign state – defined as “anywhere but Texas” – then you need to update your estate planning documents. Immediately.  What documents are those? Let’s start with the Magnificent 7.   Will Your will is first up. Every adult needs a will. Texas has some very nice laws that make probating your will a breeze. The trick is to make sure your will is executed with the...

Don't Pay More Than Your Fair Share You may have noticed that your home value has sky-rocketed in the last two years. Know who else has noticed? Your local appraisal district.     That is bad news for your property tax. A higher home value means a higher property tax. You can protest your property valuation once a year. In the meantime, one good way to whittle homestead property taxes down is to...

Dear New Widow(er): Your friends here at the federal government join me in sending condolences for your loss. We want you to know we are here for you.  To help get things started, we have structured a few special tax deadlines that you really do not want to miss. No wasted time grieving here! One deadline that may seem a bit silly, given that the estate tax exemption of $11.7 million, is...