Law Offices of Brian Hill PLLC

12/24/2024

Happy holidays 🎄
To be on the safe side, if you have an irrevocable trust (or a revocable trust where the original grantor is deceased) or any entity such as an LLC, PC, Corporation, Partnership, etc. you may be required to file a BIR. The deadline is 1/13/2025. Big daily fines if you should register but have not registered.

More information here:

Under the Corporate Transparency Act, small businesses in the US are required to file beneficial ownership reports with the Treasury Department. Stay compliant and informed with our guide.

07/25/2023

Have you ever wondered where or how to find a loved one's missing 401k? The story below offers tips on finding that missing retirement account!

Whether retirement is years away or right around the corner, workers may not have a handle on all their 401(k) accounts left behind at past jobs.

03/22/2023

Happy to announce that Mr. Hill has been named on the Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers for 2023 in Estate Planning & Probate - again!

The Rising Stars list consists of lawyers who have been practicing less than 10 years and/or are under age 40. This list recognizing less than 2.5% of all attorneys in Texas.

Thank you to all our clients and fellow colleagues for recognizing us!

03/10/2021

Our physical address is changing from Downtown Dallas to:
4131 N Central Expressway, Suite 900, Dallas, Texas 75204.

08/07/2020

Common misconception regarding probate in Texas.

If you buy a house or personal property as a single person (even though you are with your boyfriend, girlfriend, partner, etc.) and then later get married, the interest in the property does not automatically go to your spouse at your death. In Texas, generally, this would be classified as your separate property.

For example, boyfriend and girlfriend buy a house together. Two years later, they get married. Husband dies without a will and with no children, but is survived by his parents. According to the intestate (i.e. without a will) laws of Texas, the wife would retain her separate property share of the house (1/2) and husband’s 1/2 would go to his parents. Wife would retain a homestead, but ends up owning the house with Husband’s parents, i.e. awkward.

Moral to the story is - get your estate plan done.

Here is the chart:

https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/probate/Docs/DnD_diagrams.pdf

Of course, this is not legal advice and you should seek legal advice for your specific situation. Probate law is a creature of state law - if you don’t live in Texas, your state may be different.

12/18/2019

The More You Know. Check with your financial advisor to see if this applies to your situation.

The most important provision of the SECURE Act – removal of the stretch RMD provisions – is a tax revenue generator, meaning a tax hike on many Americans.

09/26/2019

A new alternative to traditional cremation or a burial.

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – A Santa Fe start-up is changing the way we think of death, creating a new alternative to receiving ashes after a loved one dies. The company Parting Stone partnered wi…

06/14/2019

05/13/2019

Have you ever wondered what happens to a person with limited means who can not afford a burial or cremation? For more information about Dallas, Denton, Tarrant and Wise Counties, please see below.

Chapter 697 of the Texas Health and Safety Code provides possible help or financial assistance to families for disposing of fetal tissue or remains.

Dallas County
In the past, Dallas County has contracted with UT Southwestern to provide burial assistance to the indigent.

More information here: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/dallas-county/2018/11/21/liquid-cremation-ruled-dallas-county-seeks-new-home-unclaimed-bodies

And here:
https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/research/programs/willed-body/

Denton County
In Denton County, please contact the Medical Examiner’s office. Body pickup and county cremations are available based on financial need.

More information here:
https://dentoncounty.com/Departments/Health-Services/Denton-County-Public-Health/Medical-Examiner

Tarrant County
This program is available when no family members are available to provide financial assistance in conjunction with the UNT Health Science Center’s Willed Body Program. A simple graveside service (or cremation) is provided through funeral homes.

More information here: http://access.tarrantcounty.com/en/human-services/burial-assistance.html

Wise County
This program is subject to several restrictions. Please see the following link for the requirements:
http://www.wcmessenger.com/2015/news/new-indigent-burial-policy-approved/

Other articles:
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/investigations/2012/09/06/dmn-problem-solver-few-options-available-for-poor-needing-help-burying-loved-ones

Their final resting place used to be here, under a canopy of trees between a busy road and a lush bird sanctuary tucked away inside the UT...