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20 Jul TRUMP ACCOUNTS – IMPACT ON REPORTING GIFT TAX AND PUBLIC BENEFITS

Posted at 09:00h in Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Public Benefits Protection, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Taxes

As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill, the U.S. government is permitting the establishment of Trump accounts whereby the government will give $1000 to children born in the U.S. on or after January 1, 2025 until January 1, 2029. Others can generally contribute up...

13 Jul “COSBY SHOW” KID’S WIDOW SUES MOM AND ESTATE CITING POST-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT

Posted at 09:00h in Estate Planning, Inheritance, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played the role of Theodore Huxtable on “The Cosby Show”, died July 20, 2025 in a drowning accident. He had not updated any of his estate planning documents since 1996 when he established the Warner Family Trust (the “Trust”) which left 70%...

06 Jul THE INK WAS DRY ON ZAPPOS CEO’S DEATH CERTIFICATE BUT THERE IS STILL A BATTLE OVER HIS ESTATE – CASE TO BE DETERMINED BY INK

Posted at 09:00h in Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Wills

Although it was originally believed that Tony Hsieh, Zappos CEO and founder, died without a Will, the Wall Street Journal has reported a Will may have been found. A man from Pakistan called and sent a copy of the purported will to Las Vegas...

29 Jun 30 Common Mistakes When Completing A Nursing Home Medicaid Application Or Planning For Eligibility

Posted at 09:00h in Disability Benefits, Elder Justice, End of Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Home Equity, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Miller Trust, Mortgage, Nursing Home, Probate Administration, Social Security, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Taxes, Trusts

The cost of long-term care is great (average is around $7,900/month in Texas). As a result, many apply for long-term care Medicaid for governmental assistance to help pay the facility and drugs. It is not unusual for us to receive calls after either a facility...

22 Jun “X” MARKS THE SPOT – MARK WITHOUT INITIALS SUFFICIENT FOR ACCOUNT TO GO TO SURVIVING SPOUSE (NOT CHILDREN)

Posted at 09:45h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Inheritance, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate

A Texas appellate court has determined that a signature card whereby an “X” in a box titled “JTWROS” on an account of a married couple was sufficient for the account to pass to the survivor even though it was not initialed by them and the...

15 Jun WOULD YOU GAMBLE YOUR ESTATE IF BRENDAN SORSBY WAS YOUR BENEFICIARY?

Posted at 09:41h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

Brendan Sorsby has a gambling addiction. The 22-year-old was set to be the starting quarterback at Texas Tech University this year – until it was discovered that he placed thousands of sports bets totaling around $90,000 (including on his own college football team). First, he...

08 Jun ROB REINER’S SON SUES TO GET FUNDS FROM TRUST PARENTS ESTABLISHED FOR HIM– IS HE A MEATHEAD?

Posted at 09:38h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

Rob Reiner’s son, Nick, has sued to obtain funds for his criminal defense for the murder of his parents. While this may sound outlandish on first blush as usually you should not benefit from killing someone under the Slayer Statute of most states, Nick could...

01 Jun IF JELLY ROLL AND BUNNIE XO HAD ANY FROZEN EMBRYOS, WHO WOULD BE ENTITLED TO THEM IN THEIR DIVORCE? EVERYBUNNY NEEDS SOMEBUNNY SOMETIMES

Posted at 08:37h in Divorce, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Trusts

Country star, Jelly Roll (who is 41) and his wife 46-year-old former sex worker wife, Bunnie XO, are getting divorced after 10 years of marriage. Notwithstanding the same, Bunnie XO stated in her last Dumb Blonde podcast that the couple planned to continue their IVF...

21 May Study Reveals Lifestyle Interventions Reduces Dementia Risk

Posted at 15:46h in Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Elder Justice, End of Life Care Planning, Long Term Care, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer

A study of over 2,000 Americans between the ages of 60–79 shed light on how the risk of dementia can be reduced if 4 categories of lifestyle habits are utilized. As we age, dementia risk increases. The U.S. Pointer study, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association,...

21 May Murder She Wrote Update: Will Convicted Husband Killer and Children’s Grief Book “Author” Kouri Richins, Profit by Murder?

Posted at 15:46h in Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Wills

Kouri Richins (hereinafter, “Kouri”) was found guilty of aggravated murder of her husband, attempted aggravated murder, forgery and two counts of insurance fraud on March 16, 2026. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on May 13, 2026. Shortly after murdering...

21 May Deathbed Incomplete Beneficiary Designation Form Determined Valid Benefitting Ex-Spouse Instead of Spouse

Posted at 15:46h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Wills

A Federal Court of Appeals recently ruled that a failure to complete the entire beneficiary designation form did not invalidate the designation since it was in writing, signed, witnessed and received by the proper office before his death. Gary Herbert (“Gary”) and Kathleen (“Kathleen”) Herbert were...

21 May Anna Nicole Smith’s Poor Estate Planning Gives Daughter Free Rein on Derby Day

Posted at 15:44h in Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Trusts, Wills

Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, Dannielynn, has reached the age of majority, leaving her in full control of the money she inherited from her mother. It is often recommended by estate planning attorneys that inherited assets be held in trust (i.e., for education, maintenance or support)...

27 Apr WHEN TO “LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH” – DISCLAIMING A LADYBIRD DEED

Posted at 17:32h in Estate Planning, Lady Bird Deed, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Transfer of Death, Wills

A Ladybird deed is an enhanced life estate deed used to avoid probate after the death of the grantor (the one who signs the deed). As an example, if you own a home and you sign a Ladybird deed, you retain all the benefits of...

15 Apr “WASTING AWAY IN MARGARITAVILLE” UPDATE: COURT PERMITS JIMMY BUFFETT’S ESTATE TO DIMINISH OVER TRUST MANAGEMENT DISPUTE

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

A Florida court has recently ruled a co-trustee’s legal fees of $2 million in suing the co-trustee could be paid from Jimmy Buffett’s trust notwithstanding the petition opposition of the other co-trustee (who is Jimmy Buffett’s widow). Buffett’s widow has appealed and legal fees continue...

09 Apr MICHAEL JACKSON’S ESTATE ATTORNEYS TELL HIS ACCUSERS TO “BEAT IT”

Posted at 16:15h in Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Music, Probate Administration

Michael Jackson’s Estate is involved in another lawsuit. Four siblings of the Cascio family have sued Jackson’s estate alleging he was a child sex predator who raped, drugged and sexually assaulted them at Neverland over ten years starting when they were as young as seven...

02 Apr I AM NOT MY SISTER’S KEEPER – JUDGE PERMITS AGENTS UNDER THE POWER OF ATTORNEY TO MAKE OFF WITH $5.576 MILLION TO THEMSELVES

Posted at 16:07h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Financial Powers of Attorney, Inheritance, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Taxes, Wills

A Massachusetts court of appeals has recently ruled that a gift of $5.576 million dollars by agents to themselves under a power of attorney was made in good faith. Frances Fern had a roller coaster relationship with her 4 children – Frank, Tony, Chris and Tracey. ...

19 Mar WHO CAN MAKE A CLAIM AGAINST THE ESTATE OF CARTEL LEADER, “EL MENCHO”?

Posted at 12:12h in Asset Protection, Business, Estate Planning, Lawsuits

Infamous drug trafficking king Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera was killed by Mexican security forces last month. It is estimated that he may have had at least a $50 billion estate. There is a difference on who can make a claim versus if collection could be made. ...

11 Mar PROBATING A COPY OF A WILL – WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY (ALTHOUGH MORE DIFFICULT)

Posted at 12:04h in Estate Planning, Probate Administration, Texas Bar Today Top 10 Blog Posts, Wills

What happens if your loved one dies and you need to collect their assets and pay the debts of the deceased if you only can locate a copy of the will (not the actual will that was signed)? Of course, even if you have an original...

05 Mar HUGH HEFNER’S WIDOW THREATENS HIS FOUNDATION OVER DISTRIBUTION OF EXPLICIT PHOTOS GIVING TOO MUCH EXPOSURE

Posted at 11:58h in Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Lawsuits

Crystal Hefner, widow of the famed Playboy tycoon, Hugh Hefner, has threatened the Hugh Hefner Foundation over concerns that over 3,000 thousand lewd private videos and photos of women in Hefner’s “scrapbooks” could be distributed. The explicit photos of countless nude women (including possible images...

02 Mar HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE FOR NANCY GUTHRIE (A MISSING PERSON) TO BE PRESUMED DEAD?

Posted at 11:41h in Estate Planning, Probate Administration, Texas Bar Today Top 10 Blog Posts

There were more than 500,000 persons reported missing in the United States last year. The high-profile missing person case of Nancy Guthrie (mother of “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie) is unusual since most missing persons are younger. It is also different since there is a...

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