People execute wills in various ways. Some sign formal documents prepared by attorneys with witnesses present. Others handwrite simple documents disposing of their property. Texas law accommodates both approaches through different requirements for attested wills and holographic wills. However, one question frequently arises: what constitutes a valid signature on a will? The Texas Estates Code...KEEP READING

Estate planning often feels like just another item on life’s to-do list. People meet with attorneys, sign documents, and assume everything is properly handled. The lawyer witnessed it. The notary stamped it. The documents go into a drawer or safe deposit box. Years later, when someone dies, the family discovers that a small technical error...KEEP READING

What happens if someone leaves a will based on a mistaken understanding about something outside of the will? For example, a surviving spouse that assumes that the deceased spouse left a will when the deceased spouse did not–then the surviving spouse dies. Can the surviving spouse’s will be challenged and set aside based on the...KEEP READING