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If you have ever gone through a hospital admissions process, you've likely been asked if you have a living will (also known as a directive to physicians) and a medical power of attorney. Here are the main benefits of both—and why they're worth the investment.

A widely-held belief about probate is that it is long and expensive. That is often not the case. How long it will take and how much it will cost depend on a number of factors. In most cases, it is not a lengthy or horribly expensive process.

How soon must a Will be probated after death? In Texas, generally a Will must be filed within four years after the date of the death, but I encourage you to do it sooner rather than later. Neglecting to probate the Will can leave you in a more painful situation in the long run.

Are you considering selling a property and carrying the note yourself? Before you do, you will want to consider if you own the property, if carrying the note is a smart investment, if it is wise to take on the risk if the buyer can’t qualify for conventional third-party financing, and if you are willing to do the necessary legal work to protect yourself if the buyer defaults.

What is probate? Probate, while usually referred to as any legal action to handle an estate, is actually the administration of a Will upon the death of an individual.

Unfortunately, it's all too common for parents to put off estate planning to protect the settlement of their estates for the loved ones left behind because they don't believe they are old enough to think about this. Or, commonly, younger people believe estate planning is too expensive for them to take on at this stage in their lives. Neither of these things are true!

Sometimes, even when a person has drawn up a Will, probate of the Will may not be necessary. Advance planning with probate-alternative documents can avoid the need for probate in many cases.

Has a loved one passed away without a Will? In some cases, you can avoid a lot of frustration by using a Small Estate Affidavit to legally transfer assets at very little expense to you.

Estate planning is especially important for people with blended families in the state of Texas. Without a Will, probate issues can be complicated and the result may not be what the deceased person might have wanted. If you have a blended family, here's how to provide for your estate to pass as you desire.

Even if you are married, it’s not too late to outline how your property will be classified, how your joint finances will be handled, and how you will support children from prior marriages. Find out how to set up a postnup agreement for your estate planning.