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Legal BriefsWhat’s Its Current Value?• Insurance Appraisals• Appraised While You Wait & Watch • Fair Market Appraisals• Estate Appraisals• Over 35 Years of Jewelry ExperienceSchedule An Appointment!12274 Bandera Road, Ste. 236www.sanantoniojewelryappraisers.com210-316-8758Transfer On Death DeedIBy Kathleen Cassidy Goodman, PLLCt is often assumed that when a spouse dies, the title to the couple’s home automatically becomes the survivingspouse’s property and nothing needs to be done. This is a false assumption. Even if the deceased had a Will leaving his or her interest in the home to the spouse, this doesn’t mean nothing needs to be done. The title still needs to be transferred to the survivor.Frequently, following the death of a spouse, the surviving spouse may be overwhelmed with the accompanying challenges that follow the death of one’s spouse. Texas Law allows a Will to be probated up to four years after the deceased spouse’s death. But, if the Will is not probated or title to the deceased spouse’s interest is not transferred to the surviving spouse during the survivor’s lifetime – then things become complicated.If title was never transferred from one spouse to the other during the survivor’s life, the children or beneficiaries will have to “tidy up” the title before they can sell the home. This may be a costly process depending on the family structure, whether there was a Will, whether there are people who are familiar with the family history and willing to go to court to testify about the family history, and how much time has passed since the death of the first spouse.In September 1, 2015, Texas authorized the transfer of title without probate. This is known as a Transfer on Death Deed. ThisDeed allows you to pass property to your surviving spouse and eliminate probate. It works just like a beneficiary designation form on an insurance policy. You name a primary and contingent beneficiary who will inherit your home after you die. This Deed is recorded with the County so probate may not be necessary.A Transfer on Death Deed is cost effective versus probate, but you should still have a Will as your backup. There are many things that could happen or go wrong and a Will can clarify the situation. It is best to talk to a probate attorney to see if a Transfer on Death Deed is right for you.Kathleen Cassidy Goodman is an attorney in areas of estate planning, probate, civil litigation, and business law. She can be reached at her office in Helotes at (210) 949-1000 or for more information, visit www.bexarlaw.com“ Like A Good Neighbor, State Farm Is There”Serving Helotes and surrounding areas since 2001State Farm Insurance Kellie MooreMon. - Fri. 9am - 6pm • Open Sat. 9am - 1 pm • After hours by appointmentStop by for a Free quote and receive a FREE GIFT!10744 Braun Rd. San Antonio, TX 78254 (210) 688-7707 www.kelliemoore.netWHAT WE OFFERIrrigation Design Irrigation Installation for Residential & Commercial Maintenance & Repair Landscape InstallationsSod Installation System ChecksRain Bird WiFi Module New Sprinkler System Installations!* Exclusions Apply. Extra $20 Off Service Calls When You Mention This Ad.FREE CONSULTATIONS! 210-791-6788 www.benitezirrigation.com admin@.benitezirrigation.comWhy Do The Detroit Lions Always PlayOn Thanksgiving?HBy Stafftraditions, but one customcommon in many homescome Turkey Day involveswatching football. Eachyear on Thanksgiving, theNational Football Leaguehosts a handful of games,and it’s customary in manyhouseholds to gatheraround the television with friends and family and take in some of the action on the gridiron, excitement that always features the Detroit Lions. This unique tradition has endured for decades, but when did it start?According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the tradition of the Lions playing on Thanksgiving can be traced to George A. Richards, who purchased the franchise in 1933 when they were the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans. Richards felt competing in a game on Thanksgiving Day would attract Motor City fans who were more devoted to the Detroit Tigers, the city’s baseballouseholds have their own unique ThanksgivingNovember 2024www.heloteshighlights.com 11team. Fans who attended the Lions’ first Thanksgiving Day game in 1934 were treated to a nail-biter, with the hometown Lions falling 19-16 to the Chicago Bears at the University of Detroit Stadium. The Bears had won the league championship the previous year. In a quirk unique to the game in 1934, the two teams locked horns again just three days later, with the Bears once more emerging victorious in another close contest that ended with a 10-7 score. In the modern era of the NFL, the teams that play on Thanksgiving Day do not play on the following Sunday.RegisteredGemologist Appraiser