A recent article brings to light at least one more example of how the foresight of an estate planning attorney benefits clients. This article (“Florida businessman, 48, adopts adult girlfriend, 42, as his daughter“) recounts the story of a man who legally adopted his adult girlfriend. This man adopted his adult girlfriend to shield assets in the midst of a lawsuit against him.
The morale of this story from Florida does have implications for Texas individuals considering living trusts, Texas wills, or other Texas estate planning documents.
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Did you know that, even in Texas, an adult can legally adopt another adult?
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This is relevant to estate planning in this context: Let’s say you’re making your Last Will and Testament, and you want your adult son to inherit part of your estate. Let’s also say you add a provision that says if he’s no longer alive when you die, that his heirs should inherit his portion of your estate. Oh, and your son is dating a girl that you do not get along with at all.
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That sounds pretty typical of an estate distribution. However, a Texas estate planning lawyer may also add a clause to your Will that says any beneficiary of the will must adopt children before a certain age (often, the lawyer will stipulate age 14). Why?
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Because your son could legally adopt that girlfriend, and she could wind up inheriting a big chunk of your estate! The moral of the story is that estate planning attorneys have specialized training and unique experience that benefit clients in ways the clients sometimes couldn’t even imagine.
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Would you like your existing Last Will and Testament reviewed for free by a Dallas estate planning attorney? Would you like to speak with a lawyer in Dallas, TX about creating a Texas Last Will?
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Visit www.ShuttLawFirm.com for more information on how to get your Will reviewed by an estate planning attorney in Dallas, TX, how to get started with an affordable Last Will and Testament in Texas, about living trusts, or about other Texas estate planning documents – or email ishutt@shuttlawfirm.com.
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You can also call the Shutt Law Firm Texas Estate Planning Attorneys at (214) 302-8197 for more information on the topic discussed in this blog or to discuss a different legal matter. Please consider the Shutt Law Firm if you’re looking for a Plano lawyer for probate, Plano Wills Lawyer, Plano estate planning attorney, power of attorney in Plano, TX, or guardianship attorney in Plano area.
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