James Balen – Shareholder | Practice Group Leader – Probate & Guardianship James Balen is a partner at Pyke Balen & Moncure, P.C. and serves as Practice Group Leader for the firm’s Probate and Guardianship practice. He has dedicated his entire legal career to probate-related matters, bringing deep procedural knowledge and steady [...]
A trust is a legal arrangement that allows you to place assets under the control of a trustee for the benefit of someone else. Instead of distributing assets outright, a trust provides structure, oversight, and long-term planning. Trusts are often used to: Protect beneficiaries from creditors Provide for minor or incapacitated beneficiaries Preserve needs-based government [...]
In Texas, contesting a will is a serious legal step that involves specific deadlines under state law. If you're wondering how long you have to contest a will, the answer depends on the stage of the probate process, but the key statute of limitations is generally two years. The Primary Deadline: Two Years from Admission [...]
Pyke & Associates, P.C. is pleased to announce that James Balen and Herman Moncure have been admitted as partners, effective January 1, 2026. In recognition ofthis milestone, the firm will be known going forward as Pyke Balen & Moncure, P.C. consisting of six attorneys, four legal assistants, and two support staff, with continued growth [...]
For many families, the word probate sounds like a drawn-out, complicated, and expensive process that traps loved ones after someone passes away. While that may be true in some states, Texas law provides a modern and efficient probate system that’s designed to simplify the process rather than burden families. But what is probate really for? [...]
Many of our clients manage their own investments through discount brokerage accounts or low-cost mutual funds. Some have done exceptionally well on their own. However, nearly all of them share the same concern - they don’t believe anyone else in their family has the same financial knowledge or confidence to take over when [...]
David Pyke, probate and estate planning attorney and founder of Pyke Balen & Moncure, P.C., joins host Melinda Eitzen on The Melinda Eitzen Show to discuss where family law and estate planning intersect—and why proactive planning is essential to protecting your assets, your family, and your future. Together, Melinda and David explore how [...]
Texas offers some of the strongest debtor protection laws in the country. In fact, it’s the only state that provides an unlimited homestead exemption, as most of you may know. Beyond that, Texas law includes several other valuable exemptions, and with smart legal planning, you can protect almost all of your assets. One key area [...]
Here’s a helpful, often over-looked tax tip for your estate planning if you want to make a charitable gift. If you have an IRA, it may be best to make that gift directly from the IRA to help save taxes. Normally, when you withdraw funds from an IRA, you (or your beneficiaries) must [...]
In Texas, the courts have a system in place to protect people who can no longer care for themselves due to physical or mental incapacity. When someone is legally found to be incapacitated by clear and convincing evidence, and the court determines that a guardian is in their best interest, the court may appoint a [...]