Probate Attorney Blog

Happy Monday. Yes, I said Monday. We’re closed today for Labor Day, so I thought we’d bump this week’s blog out a day. It also got me thinking about what Labor Day actually is. We celebrate all of these holidays but don’t always know the history and/or meaning behind them. So today I’m going to make it easy for you. I did the research, and I’m going to tell you what I discovered. First, as the name suggests, Labor Day…

I thought today we’d lighten things up with a question from someone out there in the YouTube verse. This is a real question from a real person, with a real answer. Enjoy! I inherited a house with a mortgage. How do I get my name put on the mortgage so I can tap into the equity to repair the home? Great question. It’s easier than you think, though it doesn’t happen exactly the way you think. The first thing I…

If you have kids still going to school, this is a bittersweet time of the year as they head back for another year of learning and growth. Well, bittersweet for some I guess. Mostly just sweet for me. :) I love my kids, but man am I ready to get back into that school time routine! No matter your feelings on the return, it is imminent, and that makes this a great time to remind all of you with kids…

First, let’s talk about what doesn’t matter with a trust (necessarily) – money. People often have trusts without a lot of assets, because they provide the functionality they need. Here are those three reasons: 1. Avoid probate. 2. Management and control of assets after death (minor children that you don’t want to get a huge check when they turn 18). 3. Estate tax strategy (this would be a situation where you’d want assets before employing this strategy). And, here’s a…

Happy Sunday! This week I wanted to talk about something that’s a little depressing, but also empowering if you choose to view it that way. My parents are visiting this week from Kansas. They tend to get out here about once a year, and we tend to get back there once a year. Often, when one thinks about the people in their life and the time they get to spend with them (and with ourselves), they think in years. For…

Happy Sunday from sunny and rainy Austin, Texas! We had a great mastermind meeting this week and talked about everything from AI, to accounting and taxes, to client service, to therapy (there’s nothing off limits). I wanted to talk about one of the things we talked about because I think it reaches across all of these different topics, and that is procrastination. One of the people in the group, kind of playfully, was talking about the “type of person he…

Happy Sunday! And, happy birthday USA! I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I don’t think I can say it enough. For all the things people are unhappy with about the US right now, it is still the best place to live in the world. And it’s not even close. So, hope you had a great 4th. Now it’s time to settle into summer and enjoy the great pacific northwest weather. And, while you’re lounging by the pool, hopefully you’re…