Descent and Distribution Series, Post #1: Community Property

If you’ve been told before that “Texas is a community property state” and wondered what that referred to, this post is for you. Texas and 7 other states’ laws about inheritance and property rights derive from Spanish law, while the others derive from English Law (and Louisiana’s is from French law!).  That is significant because Spanish law considers property gained …

Estate Planning Series – Post #2: What’s the Difference Between Community and Separate Property? Why Does it Matter?

Texas is a “community property” state because our inheritance laws are based on Spanish law, as are 7 other states. At least a century before there was equality between spouses, Texas law acknowledged marriage to be a partnership. That means that if you are married, there is a presumption that all of your property, assets, and income is community property and …