Ruth-Ann E. Toups
Five Scary Estate Planning Mistakes That Will Leave Your Loved Ones Haunted
Come October witches, ghosts, and scary faces start popping up all over the place. No pharmacy or front yard is safe! While we may enjoy...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Feb 21, 2019
- 2 min
Four Important Steps to Take Before Downsizing
This year, I am proud to partner with other knowledgeable business owners to bring community members our “Downsizing Workshop.” These...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Jan 25, 2019
- 2 min
In Our First Year
Next week, The Toups Law Firm will celebrate our first anniversary of being in business. Anyone that has started a business understands...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Jan 17, 2019
- 2 min
3 Reasons to Update Your Will
So, you have an old will; does it need to be updated? There is no hard and fast rule that every x number of years you should update your...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Dec 6, 2018
- 3 min
Five Things You Will Leave That Are More Important Than Money
Most of estate planning involves very serious matters like where your assets will go when you pass away and who would take care of the...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Nov 15, 2018
- 2 min
Is Guardianship Relevant to Me?
A declaration of guardian document allows you to indicate who your guardian would be in the rare scenario that you ever need a guardian....
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Nov 8, 2018
- 2 min
Understanding Your Advance Directive
In my experience, one of the least understood estate planning documents is an advance directive to physicians. This might be because the...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Oct 30, 2018
- 1 min
What is a Medical Power of Attorney and Why Do I Need One?
A medical power of attorney allows the person of your choice to make medical decisions on your behalf, if you are unable to do so. This...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Oct 25, 2018
- 1 min
What is a Durable Power of Attorney and Why Do I Need One?
A durable power of attorney—or a statutory durable power of attorney—allows the person of your choice to handle financial, legal, and...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Sep 20, 2018
- 3 min
How to Choose Someone to Act On Your Behalf
First and foremost, someone you allow to act on your behalf is generally called a fiduciary. When you plan your estate you choose several...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Aug 13, 2018
- 2 min
Navigating the Long Term Care Maze
Mom started having some troubles last year. At first, you and your sister were able to go visit her a few days a week and make things...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Jul 19, 2018
- 2 min
What is a Trust and Why Would I Need One?
Trusts are commonly thought to be complicated, but in reality trusts are often used to simplify matters. Think of a trust as a bucket. If...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Jul 2, 2018
- 2 min
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Talking to Your Kids About Your Estate Plan
A recently published study claimed that while nearly three-fourths of parents thought they had discussed their estate plan with their...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Jun 18, 2018
- 2 min
Why Texas Has Two Powers of Attorney
You know you need a power of attorney, but did you know you need two? Although there are many different types of powers of attorney, in...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- May 29, 2018
- 2 min
Three Reasons Why Everyone Needs a Power of Attorney
We often think powers of attorney are only for our aging parents, but many younger individuals discount their own need for a power of...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- May 24, 2018
- 2 min
Don't Spend Your Retirement on Mom's Nursing Home
Mom and Dad saved for retirement. Each month, they diligently contributed. After they retired, they received social security and even a...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Apr 12, 2018
- 2 min
Why You May Need an Attorney to Help You Apply for Medicaid
Medicaid is a complex public benefit that many elderly individuals rely on to help pay for long-term care. Medicaid can be a wonderful...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Apr 2, 2018
- 3 min
Let’s Talk Deeds: Lady Bird Deed vs. Transfer on Death Deed
There are many types of deeds out there. Two types of deeds that have been getting a lot of attention in the estate-planning world are...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Mar 12, 2018
- 2 min
What is the Difference Between Medicare and Medicaid?
Have you ever been confused about the difference between Medicare and Medicaid? It can be difficult to navigate the many different...
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Ruth-Ann E. Toups
- Mar 5, 2018
- 2 min
Why You Need a Team
Have you ever Googled something and either received a wrong answer or so many different answers that you are not sure which one is right...
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