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27 Jan WHO GETS YOUR PROPERTY IF THE GRANTEE/BENEFICIARY OF YOUR LADYBIRD DEED PREDECEASES YOU?

Posted at 16:38h in Estate Planning, Lady Bird Deed, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration

A Ladybird deed is an enhanced life estate deed whereby the named beneficiary (grantee) is to be entitled to the property upon the death of the property owner (the grantor). It is considered a transfer subject to divestment (grantor changing his or her mind unless...

22 Jan WHAT RISK DOES A SON HAVE FOR ABUSING MOM’S POWER OF ATTORNEY? Never take advantage of person who does the most for you!

Posted at 16:25h in Elder Justice, Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer

A financial durable power of attorney gives an agent authority to make financial decisions on behalf of the principal (the one giving the authority). However, sometimes the agent exceeds the authority granted by the principal. The repercussion may be greater than the agent may realize. Facts: Son,...

19 Jan WHAT ASSETS DO NOT GO THROUGH PROBATE?

Posted at 16:15h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration

Probate is the process of going to court when the deceased owns an asset in his or her individual name so that asset can be collected, evaluated, and distributed to heirs or beneficiaries after the payment of the debts and taxes of the deceased has...

12 Jan PURCHASE OF HOME BY A TRUST MAY REQUIRE REPORTING TO FinCEN FOR CLOSING AFTER MARCH 1, 2026

Posted at 16:08h in Business, Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has a new reporting requirement for closing of some residential property on or after March 1, 2026 in an effort to prevent money laundering. The reporting requirement only is applicable if the following conditions are met: Residential property –(i.e. homes, townhomes,...

05 Jan “LOVE AT FIRST BARK”: DIANE KEATON’S REPORTED $5 MILLION PET TRUST

Posted at 15:58h in Estate Planning, Success Story of the Month, Trusts

After Diane Keaton’s death in October 2025, it was reported that the famous actress left $5 million of her estimated $100 million estate in a pet trust for her furry friend, Reggie, a golden retriever. Since trusts are private (unlike wills and it’s likely Diane...

15 Dec HOME SWEET HOME – EQUITY LIMIT INCREASED FOR 2026

Posted at 14:58h in Home Equity, Lady Bird Deed, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Transfer of Death

As of January 1, 2026, the homestead equity limit for a Medicaid applicant who is not married and who either applies for the nursing home Medicaid program or “waiver” home care Medicaid program will increase to $752,000 ($730,000 in year 2025). Thus, if the home...

08 Dec COULD ROB REINER’S SON BENEFIT FROM KILLING HIS PARENTS? How does California & Texas law differ?

Posted at 14:31h in Inheritance, Lawsuits, Probate Administration, Trusts, Wills

Nick Reiner, the son of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, has been charged with violently stabbing his parents to death. Is there any way Nick could benefit from killing his parents? Like most states, California (where the Reiners were murdered) has a slayer statute...

01 Dec 10 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT POWERS OF ATTORNEY IN TEXAS

Posted at 14:23h in Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Guardianship, Power of Attorney

If you trust someone, you should have a power to attorney to give an agent the authority stated in the document. However, there a various types of powers of attorney. The following are 10 of the most frequently asked questions about powers of attorney in...

24 Nov IS JEFFREY EPSTEIN’S ESTATE HANGING BY A THREAD?

Posted at 14:56h in Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Probate Administration, Taxes, Trusts

The impending release of the Epstein files, including his “Birthday Book” and the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance’s investigating the IRS failure to audit his tax planning on others, could have an impact on Jeffry Epstein’s estate. When Jeffrey Epstein died in 2019, his estate...

17 Nov IF TOM BRADY CLONED HIMSELF, WOULD HIS HEIRS SUFFER A SUPER BOWL LOSS?

Posted at 14:51h in Estate Planning, Inheritance, Lawsuits, Probate Administration

Tom Brady announced in November that his present dog, Junie, is a clone of his former dog, Lua, who died in 2023. This was done through the use of withdrawing blood from Lua (prior to her death) and cloning technology. Although cloning technology has not...

10 Nov 2026 MAXIMUM RESOURCE LIMITS FOR SPOUSAL MEDICAID (HOW TO KEEP MORE FOR THE WELL SPOUSE IF ILL SPOUSE NEEDS TO GO INTO NURSING HOME)

Posted at 14:43h in Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Public Benefits Protection

As we live longer, there is a greater likelihood of disability and the need for long-term care. However, most Americans have inadequate resources or income for such care and also lack long-term care insurance or similar insurance products. As a result, some elderly and disabled...

03 Nov 2026 LONG TERM CARE MEDICAID INCOME CAP INCREASE – WHEN AND HOW TO USE A MILLER TRUST

Posted at 14:34h in Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Nursing Home, Public Benefits Protection

Applicants for long-term care and Star+ Medicaid must be below an income cap as one of the requirements for Medicaid eligibility. If the applicant’s income exceeds the income limit of $2,982 (as of January 1, 2026), the eligibility solution for this particular requirement is the...

27 Oct WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU INHERITED ITEMS STOLEN FROM THE LOUVRE? POSSESSION ISN’T ALWAYS 9/10ths OF THE LAW

Posted at 13:11h in Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Probate, Taxes

Precious jewels (including the Crown of Louis XV) were stolen from the Louvre on October 19, 2025. What if you inherited from a loved one some of the stolen jewels? If you knew the inherited item was stolen and you made no efforts to notify...

20 Oct PETE ROSE’S ESTATE PLANNING STRIKES OUT

Posted at 13:06h in Estate Planning, Intellectual Property, Probate

Fabled and infamous baseball legend, Pete Rose, will never enter the Estate Planning Hall of Fame. He had no will when he died last year. The only “planning” he did was to sign (6 months prior to his death) a licensing agreement with his agent,...

13 Oct JOHN AMOS’ DAUGHTER SUES BROTHER ALLEGING DAD’S LAST YEARS WERE NOT “GOOD TIMES”

Posted at 12:56h in Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate, Wills

Shannon Amos, daughter of the late actor, John Amos (best known for his acting roles in “Roots” and “Good Times”), has sued her brother, Kelly “K.C.” Amos, for fraud and elder abuse and accelerating his death (wrongful death). According to Amos’ death certificate, he died...

06 Oct CELEBRITY UPDATE: MURDOCH’S FLAWED SUCCESSION PLAN COST BILLIONS

Posted at 12:46h in Estate Planning, Probate, Trusts

It is official! Lachlan Murdoch will be king over the media empire created by his iconic father, Rupert Murdoch, as a result of a multi-billion-dollar settlement agreement with his other children. Rupert, now 94, wanted to give Lachlan the keys to the kingdom since Lachlan...

22 Sep WILL ANY OF HULK HOGAN’S HEIRS BE BODY SLAMMED IN ESTATE BATTLE ROYALE?

Posted at 11:52h in Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills

The combination of a large estate, a dysfunctional family, and Florida’s laws giving a surviving spouse the right to elect a portion of the deceased spouse’s estate (even if not named as a beneficiary) could result in a battle over Hulk Hogan’s estate, estimated at...

15 Sep PRISCILLA PRESLEY SUED FOR “PULLING THE PLUG” ON DAUGHTER, LISA MARIE, TO CONTROL GRACELAND

Posted at 11:43h in Elder Law, Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills

Priscilla Presley has been accused of not honoring the living will of her daughter, Lisa Marie Presley – Elvis Presley’s only child, so that she could control Graceland which is owned by the family trust. Lisa Marie’s living will (directive) stated that she wanted her...

08 Sep CLOTHES DON’T MAKE THE MAN – DISINHERITED BARNEY’S NEW YORK HEIR SEEKS VENGEANCE IN A UNIQUE WAY

Posted at 11:33h in Bankruptcy, Estate Planning

Bob Pressman, grandson of Barney Pressman (Barney started the first retail clothing store that bears his name), is cut from a different cloth. He is seeking revenge after his mother, Phyllis, disinherited him. Her will stated “Bob doesn’t get anything for reasons he well knows”. ...

01 Sep 10 REASONS WHY WILLS AND TRUSTS ARE OFTEN BETTER THAN BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS

Posted at 11:11h in Beneficiary, Trusts, Wills

It is not unusual for many to merely focus on avoidance of probate – the process where the court decides whether the will is valid so that the executor can pay the bills and distribute the assets of the deceased. So many just name the...

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