LegalTalk Texas Weekly Columnist

Virginia Hammerle

Covers: Estate planning, probate, guardianship, business law and litigation

Virginia formed Hammerle Finley Law Firm in 1984. She has been Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1995. She is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and has been named a Texas SuperLawyer from 2012 through 2019.

Latest Stories

A Texas law sets out different procedures for each type of fiduciary to follow to gain...

Fighting the digital battle: Gaining account access by fiduciaries can be daunting

Fiduciaries like executors, guardians, agents under the financial power of attorney and trustees are sucked into the increasingly complicated world of digital assets.

By Virginia HammerleTimeless in TexasNov 3, 2024

Trusts can be confusing and expensive.

Trust vs. will: Seven reasons why a trust may be right for you

If you have minor children, then you absolutely need at least a standby trust written into your will.

By Virginia HammerleTimeless in TexasOct 27, 2024Sponsored

Nearly half of all seniors either own a gun or have a gun located in their home.

Dementia and guns: Plan now to protect later

You may be a responsible gun owner now, but if you later develop Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, all bets are off.

By Virginia HammerleTimeless in TexasOct 20, 2024Sponsored

If you are in a line for an inheritance, pay attention to your mail, especially if it is...

The Great Wealth Transfer: An inheritance may be coming your way soon

A lot of distant relatives are about to become heirs to what has been called ‘The Great Wealth Transfer.’

By Virginia HammerleTimeless in TexasOct 13, 2024Sponsored

The federal government encourages Americans to save money by deferring taxes on it, but it...

Retirement plans are complicated: SECURE and SECURE 2.0 did not help

The mandatory age for starting withdrawals from your retirement account is 73, although it differs depending upon the type of account.

By Virginia HammerleTimeless in TexasOct 6, 2024Sponsored

Understanding the difference between the main types of automobile coverage is extremely...

Ten things to look for in an auto policy: Texas has resources to help

Tips on finding a good insurance company who carries the auto policy you want.

By Virginia HammerleTimeless in TexasSep 29, 2024Sponsored

While courts narrowly construe in terrorem clauses to avoid forfeiture, that doesn’t mean...

Terrorized by a clause: The Texas no-contest clause should lead to caution

Typical wording in an in terrorem clause provides that a beneficiary who challenges or disputes the validity of the will is disinherited.

By Virginia HammerleTimeless in TexasSep 22, 2024Sponsored

A pretermitted child has some protection to their inheritance if they were not provided for...

The forgotten child: Pretermitted child law fills in omission

A pretermitted child is one who is born or adopted during a parent’s lifetime or after that parent’s death, and after execution of that parent’s will.

By Virginia HammerleTimeless in TexasSep 8, 2024Sponsored

Texas law makes certain assets exempt from collection.

Credit card collections: Community property throws a wrench in generic advice

As a community property state, Texas has its own take on spouses, liability and satisfaction of a judgment.

By Virginia HammerleTimeless in TexasSep 1, 2024Sponsored

Property acquired during marriage is presumed to be community property. Property acquired...

Look what the deed has done: Community, separate property implications of the simple deed

Texas is a community property state.

By Virginia HammerleTimeless in TexasAug 25, 2024Sponsored