Learning the Wills of Texas

Posted by Pearl Jordan | Investing | Saturday 14 November 2009 11:17 am

For each person who wishes to leave everything in order in the event of their passing, a documented last will and testament is the proper and necessary option. There are those who have accumulated assets over the years and would like to divide it according to how they deem it fit.

In the state of Texas, there are governing laws as to the creation and execution of these wills. They follow strict bylaws and probates to be able to make sure that everything is done legally and will be executed the same way.

The author of the will or the testator must be at least eighteen years of age from the date of the creation of the will. They must be married or are serving active duty in the armed forces. This is the most important requirement for a will to be legally binding in Texas.

Another requirement would be the testator’s state of mind during the creation of the will. Their capacity to rationally make decisions and practice reason with their own free will is what makes the testator credible. No claims can be made should the testator be forced to create the will.

Witnesses are also vital in Texas Wills as well as in any other state. These wills must be attested by two witnesses who are at least fourteen years of age. They must also sign the allotted portion of the will in the presence of the testator as a sign of their credibility and attendance. And of course, the beneficiaries are the recipients of the properties or any other inheritance a testator may wish to give them. As well as an administrator or an executor who is appointed by the testator to execute their final wishes.

A handwritten will which must appear to be personally written by the testator, a typewritten will which has been given ample time and preparation by the testator with or without the help of their lawyer and an oral will which is only applicable for personal property are the three types of wills recognized in Texas.

In regard to the three accepted wills, there are corresponding requirements and provisions to be met for these to become legally binding. The handwritten and typewritten wills must be presented to the court within a four year timeframe from the date of the testator’s demise for it to be proven valid. Oral wills on the other hand are only binding when it has been made by the testator in his death bed ? unless the testator had to be transferred to a facility as a result of sickness and have died before being able to go home. For this kind of will, it is most likely that a specific number of witnesses be required to give validity to the claim.

Texas Wills are not only meant for real estate and other assets. These are also meant to be used when a testator has minor children to be left behind and would need to appoint a legal guardian to provide care for them. Other purposes such as the transfer of ownership of pets and to appoint an individual to manage certain property are also accepted in these wills.

When you are starting out with filling in the first Texas wills form you find, it might not be the best strategy to write your own will. A professional can help you out and save you from potential mistakes.

A Little Known Technique to Cash in on EVERY Short Sale Real Estate Deal You Find

Posted by Michael Kimble | Real estate | Saturday 14 November 2009 10:53 am

As you know, it’s recently been discovered that a lot of people bought very nice houses they simply couldn’t afford. Now many of these people are facing foreclosure. For those that have experienced foreclosure, it can be a harrowing ordeal. The banks have their problems too. They have to get these big expensive homes off their books. otherwise they pay for the foreclosure process and attorney’s fees and opening costs etc. Foreclosing is something the banks would prefer NOT to do.

But today I want to show you a little tip on how to earn cash on short sales that would usually be passed over by the banks. And believe me this happens all the time. Its something called the “Deed in Lieu.” What you may not be aware of is that many banks will actually accept the deed for a house as a settlement for what the borrower owes.

What most people don’t realize is that
many banks will actually accept a deed in cancellation of the borrower’s mortgage as a settlement for what the borrower owes. So most banks will actually accept the deed so they won’t have to put money up for the foreclosure process and attorney’s fees and opening costs etc. (they typically pay anywhere from $1000 – $3500 for the deed).

So what does that mean for you? A lot of investors stay away from short sales, claiming they are too difficult to make
money with. These are the uneducated investors who are not familiar with the Deed in Lieu. You can actually profit from
EVERY single short sale deal that comes your way when you understand how the Deed in Lieu process works. (Even the
deals that most people would typically pass up as being unprofitable).

Its great because if its a fantastic deal you make BIG dough on the short sale. If its not, then you can easily get a cool $1000-$3500 per deal using this little known wholesale real estate marketing trick.

For wholesale real estate marketing inteviews and videos, go to Michael Kimble’s blog atWholesale Real Estate blog. For 4 free marketing systems that find deals for you, go toWholesale Real Estate.

Invest In Gold During Periods of Inflation

Posted by Garrett Strong | Investing | Saturday 14 November 2009 10:53 am

Gold is the go to money in times of inflation and economic crisis. Gold is a hedge against inflation. If you are saying to yourself right now that gold is not money, and that it is just a shiny relic that people wear around their necks, then you are dead wrong.

Gold has been a unit of exchange for nearly 6,000 years. Gold and silver were historically the first relied upon money that agreed with the standards of good money. Aristotle spoke of reliable money to have the following characteristics.

1. The ability to be durable. It must stand the test of time and not wither.

2. The ability to be portable. Good money needs to hold value in a small space.

3. The ability to be divisible. Real money should have the ability to be divided evenly and still hold its value. Also known as fungibility. Diamnonds are not fungible because each diamond has it’s own value.

4. It must hold a rare value or quality.

Aristotle was aware of something about money that most people today would struggle to comprehend. Paper money has no value, and that is what Aristotle described in his qualities of money.

Paper has very little value. It can be printed on demand. Paper has no rare or durable features. The value that the dollar has is only held up by our faith in it.

A piece of paper with ink stamped on it is essentially what our dollar bill is. That’s all. If someone gave you some a sheet of paper to wash their car, it is the same thing as receiving a paper dollar. Ink is the only thing making a difference. Both are paper.

It would be different if someone gave you something with real value like oil, copper, silver, or gold to mow their lawn. Those are hard assets. It means that someone’s blood, sweat, and hard work went into it so you could use it.

Since our government can produce as many dollars on demand as they want, the more they print the more worthless our money becomes. This means that a dollar collapse is happening under our noses. That is the sole reason gold and silver were the first and only currency used for thousands of years. Gold and silver can not be produced at will.

Mining companies have to put lots of money and resources to even get close to producing any gold or silver. Energy and time is consumed in this process. Paper currency is a relatively new thing in world history. Since the start of using paper as currency, and there have been hundreds, all of them have failed.

Gold and silver coins are the only way to protect yourself from rising inflation. While paper money falls in value, gold will continue to soar higher.

Gold is in the middle of a 20 year bull market, and the dollar will continue to plummet. The most recent gold high is around $1,100/ounce. Inflation means that people will flock to gold. Why do they do this? Gold cannot be printed or inflated. What does that even mean?

Think of a balloon that you inflate. Basically, you are making that balloon bigger by blowing air into it. Well, our dollars are being inflated in much the same way. The more dollars that our government prints at will means more dollars in circulation. In this situation you have more dollars chasing the same amount of goods, which results in higher prices.

If you print more money then you have inflation, but inflation does not mean higher prices. Higher prices are the result of inflating the money supply. Basically, you should be diversifying out of dollars as soon as possible.

You should only be invested in gold bullion, silver bullion, gold coins, silver coins, and mining stocks over the next few years at least. India, China, Arab states, and several other countries are dumping dollars and buying gold. You decide if it’s time to get invested in gold and silver.

God bless.

Garrett Strong can give you more information on how to buy gold.

Water Floating Paper Lanterns

Posted by Cody Scholberg | Real estate | Saturday 14 November 2009 9:27 am

It was in Japan that ground pool paper lanterns appeared for the first time. The Japanese people would pay their respects to the dead by leaving them to float gently on the surface of the water. Other civilizations have borrowed ground pool paper lanterns, their uses varied with the passing of time. They are still used in Japan to this day as a gesture full of rich meaning. Not surprisingly, people in America have found themselves powerfully attracted to ground pool paper lanterns, using them in weddings and other important events. Nowadays, seeing ground pool paper lanterns set afloat on the surface of the water is not something out the ordinary.

More beautiful than you could ever imagine, ground pool paper lanterns makes the atmosphere of any wedding or important occasion even more special. The number one choice when it comes to floating paper lanterns is the lotus flower, which is considered a holy symbol in many parts of the world. The materials chosen for the making of ground pool paper lanterns are water-resistant. Designers use innovative designs and intricate patterns to guarantee the popularity of these decorations. It’s no wonder that ground pool paper lanterns made in the form of a lotus are popular, especially when it comes to those lit with LED lights available in various colors. Just by seeing these beautiful decorations floating on the surface of the pool, you will feel that this is an elegant event to attend.

Some of the finest wedding ceremonies and parties are held outside. Ground pool paper lanterns are definitely preferred as elegant decorations for these outdoor settings. They are especially elegant when gliding on the water, the colors changing consecutively, creating a charming atmosphere. You can either go with ground pool paper lanterns that function with LED lights or choose the ones that have candles as sources of light.

The palette of available colors is incredible and the beauty of the light reflected through the colors is impressive.

You only marry once in your life, or at least that is how it should be. Everything should be just the way you want it. Ground pool paper lanterns are a stunning choice for your perfect day. Outdoor weddings are definitely the perfect occasion to use such paper lanterns, but keep in mind that so are plenty of other important events in your life. When seeing ground pool paper lanterns gliding on the water, you will definitely appreciate their glow and feel suddenly festive after experiencing their beauty.

The answer is quite obvious and definitely affirmative. Check out the latest ground pool paper lanterns for your own wedding!

Cody Scholberg, a lighting expert, writes about chinese paper lantern. Check out this post on using white paper lanterns !

BRIC ETF

Term of the Day for Friday, November 13, 2009

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