Real Estate Deeds Made Easy Since 1997
Recent legislative changes in Texas, specifically Senate Bill 1612 and amendments to the Estates Code, have brought significant adjustments that impact real estate deeds and the probate process. These changes are essential for professionals in real estate, law, and estate planning to understand and incorporate into their practice.
Continue reading “Texas Real Estate Deed Recording Fees and Estates Code Updates”
No homeowner should die intestate. In plain English: Every homeowner needs a will.
By now, everyone knows life is fragile. Nobody has forever and a day to put an estate plan down in writing.
And if you do leave things hanging, and you do pass away without a will, or without some combination of a will and other instruments to convey property, you’ll leave assets to be distributed under the state’s intestacy laws. States try to send everything to your closest relatives, and if you’re single without children, the state will contact siblings and so on, and pass your property to them. That might be OK with you. But if you’re like most homeowners, you’d prefer to decide for yourself.
If you’re a parent, it’ll be hard for your family to agree on what to do without your written guidance. You also need a will to bequeath assets to non-family members or nonprofits. You need a will, too, to explain why you are not giving your home to a close family member if you choose not to. Otherwise, you might be setting up a will contest after you pass.
When a person’s wishes are logically thought out and expressed through a will, though, messy scenarios are far less likely to unfold.
Continue reading “Don’t Be the Intestate Homeowner: Write Your Will”
Mortgages can span decades. Naturally, not all homeowners outlive these long-term loans. Here, we discuss what happens when a homeowner passes away with a loan still on the home. This can be a tough topic to confront, but reviewing the potential scenarios will help you prepare for the possibility.
Continue reading “What Happens If the Mortgage on Your Home Outlives You?”
You’ve just gotten married, and already own a house in your own name. You want to share everything with your spouse, including your real estate, so adding their name to the title is part of being married, correct? Well … maybe. Much depends on the terms of your mortgage, and whether your spouse has serious credit issues. Before adding your spouse to the deed, speak with your attorney.
Continue reading “Adding Your Spouse to the Deed”