All posts by Sara Woolford

Just Thoughts

Everyone Has an Estate

At least, almost everyone. A lot of people think that if they don’t own a condo or a house, that they don’t have “an estate“, but everyone owns something. If you own a car, jewelry, furniture, a checking or savings account, or 401(k), or other retirement accounts, you have an estate. 

No matter how small your estate, you still need a plan for your assets. It’s an act of love and thoughtfulness toward others. 

You can designate beneficiaries and contingent beneficiaries for your bank and investment accounts and your life insurance policy. You can update your Will as time passes and your assets grow. One day, you will be moving up to a trust and be saving your family the nuisance, delays, and expense of Probate. 

Just Thoughts, Pre-Probate

#1 Way to Make Probate Easier

I am a Certified Probate Expert and I am going to tell you the number one way to make Probate easier:

AVOID IT

You can get a Trust set up with a great Estate and Probate Attorney and fund the Trust with your assets for which you cannot name a Beneficiary and distribute those assets directly. It’s easy and affordable. It does take some planning and an appointment, but you can make a start.

Although I think that the Internet is a wonderful jumping off point for getting a little information, I believe the there is no substitute for meeting with an Attorney who specializes in wills, trusts, and estate planning. This is one of those areas where you really require expert guidance from someone who can not only help you put together your plan, but implement it. 

Need a great Estate Attorney in the Great State of Texas? I can help you with that. 

Bexar County, Comal County, Just Thoughts

A Little Christmas Perspective

As we are nearing for many of us, the dizzying days just before Christmas, I’m thinking of something my sister Emily told me recently, as I was lamenting what I felt were my shortcomings in coping with a big family situation which was multi-pronged and affected not only my mom, but my siblings. 

Emily said to me, “You’re only one person“.

It’s really true that you can’t do it all, without help, when the scale is so large, without really taxing yourself and possibly having regrets.

As there seem to be so many holiday things to do, please take a deep breath and remind yourself that “You are only one person“.  Either ask for help, or scale back to the things which are the most important, those that you love the most or that you do for others who can’t do for themselves.. . It’s never too late to make a simpler plan and a Merrier Christmas.