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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 it yet. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Estate planning is even more necessary for young parents, as it allows them to choose a guardian for their children and set the terms for when their estate will be divided, should the unthinkable happen.

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.

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.

Death is something none of us want to think about. But if you put off your estate planning, you won't be prepared for life's changes, face worst-case scenarios like needing guardianship, and could force your family to pay for an expensive probate process. It's always better to draw up your estate planning documents sooner than later.

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

If your loved one died without a Will, transferring his or her assets to beneficiaries can be quite difficult. If no action is taken, assets will not be properly transferred and the beneficiaries will have to take some legal action down the road to straighten out the situation. In some cases, a costly determination of heirship proceeding and dependent administration of the estate may be required.

The price you pay for this advice before signing a contract can easily save you many thousands of dollars and lots of headaches and trouble in the future. A review of a standard residential purchase contract generally would not be more than a few hundred dollars. More complicated contracts, of course, would cost more to review or draft, but the cost would still be far less than any negotiation or litigation later to address problems that arise.

It is a common misconception that prenuptial agreements are only for the rich and famous. The truth is, a prenup can benefit couples in a number of situations, even for us common folk.

You are carrying the note on the sale of a property, and the borrower has missed several payments, has failed to provide proof of insurance, or has not paid the property taxes. If your efforts to get them to comply have been unsuccessful, it may be time to foreclose on the property.

Probate may seem like a hassle. However, it may be necessary to ensure a living spouse maintains ownership of real estate. Additionally, it's often not as expensive, long, or complicated as it may seem. It is always a good idea to meet with a qualified Texas attorney to see if probate is required in your situation.