Dallas Elder Law Attorney

The Cascio family once defended Michael Jackson publicly. Years later, after a multi-million dollar settlement ran its course, they tried to take new abuse allegations to open court.

This episode covers the arbitration ruling that kept their case out of public view, why a 2021 federal law meant to void old settlement agreements didn't apply here, and what the timing of a settlement can mean for how enforceable it stays years later.

Jeanie Buss's five siblings just voted to sell the family's stake in the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion, a deal that could cost her control of the team she has run for over a decade.

In this episode, we break down the 2017 court order that was supposed to guarantee her authority, why that order may now conflict with the trust's own language, and what happens when a court order and a trust document point in two different directions.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy can only be confirmed after death, but questions about whether someone had the mental capacity to sign a will have to be answered while they're still alive.

With CTE showing up in a large share of former NFL players, this episode walks through the four legal elements of testamentary capacity in Texas, how memory loss and impulsive behavior can raise red flags during the signing of a will, and what families and attorneys should document at signing to protect it from a later challenge.

Nick Reiner asked a court to release $1.5 million from the trust his parents set up for him, money he wanted to use to pay for his own criminal defense after being indicted for their murders. The court said no.

In this episode, Dallas estate planning attorney Michael B. Cohen breaks down how California's Slayer Statute works, why it can freeze a beneficiary out of a trust long before any criminal conviction, and what Texas families should know if a similar situation ever touches their own estate plan.

Trump Accounts are a new savings vehicle designed to help children build wealth, but they also introduce important estate planning, gift tax, and public benefits considerations. This article explains how the new rules work, when gift tax reporting may be required, and what families should know before contributing.

Can a court determine whether a multi-million-dollar will is genuine simply by analyzing the ink? The ongoing legal battle over Zappos founder Tony Hsieh's alleged will highlights the complexities of will contests, forgery claims, and the critical importance of creating a properly executed estate plan to avoid costly disputes.

Applying for nursing home Medicaid can be far more complicated than many families realize, and even a small mistake can lead to costly delays or a denial of benefits. In this article, we highlight 30 of the most common Medicaid application and planning errors, along with practical insights to help families avoid unnecessary financial hardship. Whether you're planning ahead or facing an immediate need for long-term care, understanding these pitfalls can make all the difference.

When life changes, your estate plan should too. The lawsuit involving Malcolm-Jamal Warner's decades-old trust highlights how failing to update estate planning documents after marriage and children can lead to costly litigation and uncertainty for loved ones.

This article describes how you can plan if your beneficiary has a gambling addiction.

Even though you generally cannot benefit from slaying someone, Reiner’s son could prevail to get some funds from a trust in which he was to be already be receiving benefits before their death. Language of the trust will dictate whether he succeeds or not.