Dallas Elder Law Attorney

Texas has raised the penalty divisor for uncompensated transfers starting September 1, 2025, meaning gift-making strategies can now result in longer private-pay periods. Learn how this update could affect your long-term care eligibility and smart planning options.

Although beneficiary designations avoid probate, it is often best to have your assets pass by will or trust since protection is often needed for your beneficiaries ranging from disability to tax planning.

Disinherited Barney's New York heir seeks vengeance against his siblings by using New York's whistleblower law claiming that they moved his mother to Florida to evade payment of New York income and estate taxes.

One of the allegations in a $50 million lawsuit by former business partners of Priscilla Presley is that she withheld life support on her daughter, Lisa Marie, so that Lisa Marie could not remove Priscilla as trustee over a Trust that owns Graceland.

There could be a legal battle between Hulk Hogan's surviving wife and heirs due to Florida's spousal elective share rules. His dysfunctional family may just increase the chance of litigation.

If you die without a will in Texas, the state decides who inherits your property and it might not be who you think. In this episode, Michael Cohen explains how Texas law handles separate and community property, and why those assumptions can create costly legal issues. Learn how proper planning can help you avoid probate nightmares and protect your loved ones.

In Texas, there will be less covered by traditional Medicare starting on January 1st, 2026 as the government has announced 17 categories of care that will now require prior authorization due to the government concern of fraud by healthcare providers. The government will pay companies on how much they save resulting in more coverage rejection.

The FDA approved a blood test for early detection of Alzheimer's disease that should, for the first time, open the door to testing accessibility for more of those at risk.

Michael discusses how estate planning for copyrights, trademarks, licenses, name, image, and likeness can differ depending on the goals of the client and where they reside.

O.J. Simpson and his son purchased a Las Vegas home where O.J. lived and made payments, but the home was actually owned by a corporation controlled by his son, meaning O.J.'s creditors could not collect against the home after his death.

Everyone is looking for Jimmy Buffett's lost shaker of salt! Michael B. Cohen goes over the ongoing dispute for his assets as Buffett's co-trustees sue each other over his $275 million estate. Life isn't just a beach for these Parrot Heads!

What happens to your frequent flyer miles or points after you've passed? Let's discuss the policies of four major airlines.

"Wouldn't it be nice" if you knew how to protect yourself and your family in the event of disability? Michael B. Cohen goes over how Brian Wilson's estate planning was a mixed bag.

What happens to our digital footprint when we pass? What options do you have to protect your loved one's online legacy? Or would you prefer to delete the Facebook account of the deceased? Maybe do nothing with it all?

The father of the late "American Pickers" star, Frank Fritz, has challenged his son's will due to lack of capacity. Frank Fritz was under guardianship at the time he signed the will.

A California Appeals Court has ruled that the illegitimate grandchildren (including Elizabeth Hurley's son) of late billionaire, Dr. Peter Bing, could not inherit from the grandchildren's trusts established by Bing since they were illegitimate and did not live as a minor with their father, (Stephen), as a regular member of Stephen's household.

The homestead is usually the most valuable non-countable resource when applying for long-term care Medicaid eligibility. However, sometimes the equity value exceeds Medicaid's limit or the property must be sold. Options for protection are discussed.

As a result of the spencer family's tradition of following male primogeniture, it is likely that Princess Diana's childhood home will be inherited by her nephew (the son of her brother, Charles) instead of her sons.

Discussion of how each American baby born in a certain time frame will be given $1,000 by the government that can grow with tax deferral

The difference in the last wills and testament of the last 4 popes are discussed.

If an asset of a long-term care Medicaid recipient passes by his or her will or by intestacy, the government has a right to be reimbursed to the extent Medicaid benefits have been advanced. Additionally, there are situations where there is a reimbursement request for government benefits advanced outside of probate. This discussed 5 of those situations.

If you can't split the baby, why should you be able to partition frozen human embryos? A Virginia court rules that human embryos are a special type of property that cannot be partitioned since each embryo is graded differently.

Over 3 million Americans who received a lesser amount or no Social Security due to work not covered by Social Security are now or will soon be receiving an increase in Social Security due to the Social Security Fairness Act passed earlier this year. However, is it fair to all?

We explore how the classification of property (community vs. separate) could determine whether Hackman's children or a charity walks away with the fortune. Estate drama and legal nuance collide—listen now to hear how this one might unfold.

This podcast updates celebrity estate planning or court cases contesting planning previously discussed regarding Rupert Murdoch, Charley Pride, Richard Simmons and others.

Six options are discussed when a senior refuses to stop driving even though safety may be an issue.

A houseboat can be a home under the Internal Revenue Code and under Medicaid eligibility rules, but it has no protection under bankruptcy or Texas Medicaid Estate Recovery rules. The various treatment of houseboats under different laws are discussed.

8 different property tax exemptions are discussed for those to qualify for less or no property taxes.

Texas is a strong homestead state. Protection from seizure by creditors is greater under Texas law than under the federal bankruptcy plan. Differences are discussed in addition homestead protection under public benefits laws.

When one lives in another state at the time of death but owns assets in Texas such as real estate, there are several ways to probate a will in Texas so the property passes under the terms of the will.

The 7-year estate battle over Charles Manson's estate continues as the court had a hearing rescheduled to determine if one of the contestants is an heir.

Proof of common law marriage is often required to be entitled to marital benefits. This article/podcast describes evidence needed.

There are beneficiary designations for vehicles, real estate, bank accounts, life insurance policies, but mobile homes are often only created as personal property and there is no present law permitting beneficiary designations in such event.

The will of Little Richard gave specific instructions of how to handle the publicity rights of his estate. His brother, who was also named as an executor in addition to being a beneficiary, failed to follow the terms of the will resulting in his removal as an executor and losing a share of the publicity rights.

This case discusses why the court ruled that the daughter of the decedent, who was specifically disinherited in the decedent's will, was entitled to her entire estate. This demonstrates how important will drafting can be.

Tony Bennett's daughters have sued their brother, who is the trustee of the family trust that Tony Bennett established for trust mismanagement. They allege he used trust funds for his own personal benefit.

Medicaid assistance was retained even after the sale of the homestead (an exempt resource) which became cash by merely using rules on what is non-countable on using an exception under Medicaid transfer penalty rules.

If a Medicaid applicant is single, there is an equity limit for your homestead for eligibility. This podcast not only explains the limit, but also how to protect your homestead for your beneficiaries should you even get government assistance for your care through Medicaid.

Kellie Pickler is in a fight with her in-laws over certain personal property items. This discusses how to plan for distribution of personal property after your passing.

New numbers for: (1) how much can be passed at death with estate taxation; (2) How much can be given annually per person without reporting to the IRS, (3) how much can be to a charity from an IRA to a charity without income taxation and (4) income tax brackets are discussed.

Relationships change. Health changes. Money changes. Laws change. Some of the items to consider are discussed.

Differences between a Ladybird deed and a Transfer on Death Deed are discussed.

Information Reporting Requirements Under the Corporate Transparency Act are discussed.

Change is coming. Potential changes, impact and plannings are discussed.

Sometimes it is better to have a Will or sometimes it is better to have a Revocable Living Trust. The decision tree chart generally discusses situations when it is better to have one or the other (other factors are sometimes considered).

Richard Simmons' brother and his housekeeper are fighting over who can control the trust estate of the late weight loss guru.

Eligibility for long-term care Medicaid which helps pay for some or all of the cost of care of the institutionalized spouse, is often determined by the amount of income and countable resources of the couple. This explains how this can be achieved.

When is a bank liable for making payment to the "wrong heir"? A bank is not liable for following a court order or determining if the order was obtained by forgery or fraud of an applicant.

A special needs trust trustee has many roles as a trustee/fiduciary ranging from how to distribute funds to investing and filing tax returns. The various roles are discussed.

This discusses some of the pros and cons of beneficiary designations (i.e. naming an individual as a beneficiary of a retirement account, life insurance policy, bank account, etc.)

The determined efforts of a niece resulted in locating her uncle who had been abducted 73 years ago. Inheritance rights to and from him are discussed if he were a Texas resident.