Until a few years ago, I didn't have a cell phone because my early experiences with cell phones were terrible. Spending hours every month dissecting my mobile phone bills and changing my rate plan was an exercise in anger management. I never knew whether my bill was going to be eighty dollars or three hundred dollars. I was disgusted, so I stopped using a mobile phone. My clients were disgusted. They offered to buy one for me. I declined; however, I finally relented when I thought I might lose clients. My new wireless rate plan was good. My clients were happy. Fast forward to today. Now, I not only have a cell phone, I also have a pocket PC that is connected to the office servers. I have a laptop with mobile high-speed internet connectivity. I have web-based server email, mobile and home VPN, Gmail, eFax, .pdf client files on the server, and the list goes on. All of this means that I can do legal work anywhere and at any time, and faster than ever before. Technology allows me to pack substantial amounts of work into each billed hour. Technology also allows me to work after hours and on weekends, which often does not get billed.
Score one for the clients!
Andrew Jones
(214) 979-0100
ajones@tiptonjoneslaw.com
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Simplified Probate in Texas
With simplified techniques allowed by Texas law, taking care of probate issues of a loved one’s estate can be relatively quick, easy, and inexpensive. This is true whether or not the deceased died with a will.
Generally, probate is the process of gathering assets of someone who has died, paying their debts, and distributing the assets to the heirs. If the deceased left a residence or other land including any oil and gas interests, it will almost certainly be necessary to do some kind of probate procedure to clear title to these properties. It may also be necessary to obtain a court's authority to act for the deceased and distribute assets of the estate. Almost universally, it is simpler and less expensive to take care of probate issues sooner rather than later.
A significant benefit in Texas is that often abbreviated procedures may be used, limiting probate within the court to as little as 3-6 weeks, and avoiding excessive cost and paperwork. The method which is most prudent depends on whether or not a Will was used and the size and complexity of the estate, as well as other factors. The attorneys at Tipton Jones handle these simplified methods very often, and have worked hard to devise systems to minimize the cost and time required. Because of this, we generally handle these matter on a flat fee basis (in the $2,000 range in an ordinary case), and the procedure is most often complete in around six weeks, depending on the courts’ schedules.
The Tipton Jones attorneys who practice in this area can quickly advise you on whether any probate procedure at all might be necessary and, if so, the applicable shortcuts that may be helpful.
Paul Tipton
(214)890-0991
ptipton@tiptonjoneslaw.com
Generally, probate is the process of gathering assets of someone who has died, paying their debts, and distributing the assets to the heirs. If the deceased left a residence or other land including any oil and gas interests, it will almost certainly be necessary to do some kind of probate procedure to clear title to these properties. It may also be necessary to obtain a court's authority to act for the deceased and distribute assets of the estate. Almost universally, it is simpler and less expensive to take care of probate issues sooner rather than later.
A significant benefit in Texas is that often abbreviated procedures may be used, limiting probate within the court to as little as 3-6 weeks, and avoiding excessive cost and paperwork. The method which is most prudent depends on whether or not a Will was used and the size and complexity of the estate, as well as other factors. The attorneys at Tipton Jones handle these simplified methods very often, and have worked hard to devise systems to minimize the cost and time required. Because of this, we generally handle these matter on a flat fee basis (in the $2,000 range in an ordinary case), and the procedure is most often complete in around six weeks, depending on the courts’ schedules.
The Tipton Jones attorneys who practice in this area can quickly advise you on whether any probate procedure at all might be necessary and, if so, the applicable shortcuts that may be helpful.
Paul Tipton
(214)890-0991
ptipton@tiptonjoneslaw.com
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