​By Attorney Kelly Jesson

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has struck down the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s (“FinCEN”) new residential reporting rule.

FinCEN’s “Anti-Money Laundering Regulations for Residential Real Estate Transfers” final rule went into effect on March 1, 2026. That rule required individuals to report non-financed transactions of residential real estate where the real estate was being transferred to a legal entity (such as an LLC or Corporation) or certain types of trusts to FinCEN.

Flowers Title Companies, LLC, filed suit in Texas, and on March 19, 2026, the District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued its final ruling, calling FinCEN’s explanation of the rule “vague, conclusory, and unpersuasive” and ultimately holding that the FinCEN rule conflicts with the Bank Secrecy Act and that vacatur of the rule is the only proper remedy.

Accordingly, as of March 19, 2026, FinCEN’s rule requiring reporting related to real estate is no longer in effect. It is highly likely that an appeal will be filed and, much like the BOIR rules from 2024, the status of this rule will go back and forth for quite some time until we get a final decision on this matter.

Jesson & Rains will strive to keep its clients updated on this as the situation unfolds. 

By Senior Associate Jeneva A. Vazquez

In recent news, an article highlighted something we see frequently in meetings with clients. There is a real demographic shift happening in the United States. More adults are choosing not to have children, or they are delaying parenthood. That shift carries meaningful implications for how people structure their estate plans.

At the same time, we are seeing immediate families spread farther apart geographically.  Extended families become more separated earlier in life. As a result, many people find themselves with fewer obvious choices when it comes to selecting trusted decision makers, whether that is a trustee, a personal representative, or a healthcare agent.

Historically, estate planning has often centered around one primary idea: leaving assets to children. For a growing number of individuals and couples, however, that simply is not the path. When that default assumption disappears, the planning conversation becomes more creative.

For clients without obvious beneficiary choices, we spend time counseling them through bigger questions. Who has shaped your life? What organizations matter most to you? Are there nieces, nephews, extended family members, or even chosen family you would like to benefit? Would you like to create a charitable legacy? Should a university, church, or nonprofit continue your impact long after you are gone?

These conversations are often surprisingly freeing. Many clients carry a quiet weight about what will happen to everything if they do not have children. One of the heaviest burdens we see is not about who receives assets, but who serves in important fiduciary roles. Clients do not want to impose on a friend or distant relative the time commitment, logistics, and stress of administering an estate or managing a trust.  

That is where thoughtful structuring becomes so important. In some cases, clients elect to use a corporate trustee so that a professional entity can step in and handle administrative responsibilities smoothly. In other cases, we build in support systems so that no one person feels overwhelmed.

We also help our clients make their fiduciaries’ jobs more manageable. Even the most willing trustee or executor can struggle if they cannot find accounts, policies, passwords, or key documents. That is why we do not just draft documents. We can help inventory assets, align beneficiary designations, and create systems so that the right people can quickly locate what they need in an emergency or after a death. Clarity reduces stress. Preparation protects relationships.

Estate planning in today’s world looks different than it did a generation ago. With thoughtful guidance and intentional conversations, it can be even more meaningful.  If you are unsure who would step into important roles in your life or how you would like your legacy to unfold, we would be honored to help you think through those decisions with clarity and confidence. Contact us today to get started.

​By Attorney Kelly Jesson

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has adopted a new residential real estate reporting requirement, effective March 1, 2026, targeting non-financed transfers of residential property. Purchases involving bank financing already fall under anti-money laundering regulations, but if a bank is not involved, there’s very little oversight at all.  The new law is designed to prevent the use of entities and trusts to conceal illicit funds.

The reporting requirement applies when residential real property is transferred to a legal entity, such as an LLC, corporation, or trust and no bank or other institutional financing is involved.  The rule applies regardless of purchase price and captures transfers made without payment.

Luckily, certain transfers are excluded. An individual transferring property into their own revocable or irrevocable grantor trust does not require reporting. Transfers resulting from death (like transfer from a life estate) or inheritance (like transfer from probating a will) also do not trigger reporting.

Unfortunately, transfers from individuals to their own LLCs for asset protection purposes DOES trigger the rule.  So what might this mean for you?  FinCEN requires the disclosure of the names, dates of birth, addresses, citizenship, and taxpayer identification numbers of the transferee and the “beneficial owners” behind an entity. To be a beneficial owner, an individual must directly or indirectly exercise “substantial control” over the entity or own or control at least 25 percent of the entity’s ownership interests. This definition is the same as the definition of a beneficial owner in FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting (BOIR) Rule that was repealed last year.

Reports must be filed through FinCEN’s Bank Secrecy Act e-filing system by the later of the last day of the month following the transfer or 30 calendar days after the transfer. It only applies to transfers occurring after March 1, 2026, so there’s no retroactivity, unlike the prior BOIR rule that was repealed.

Like the old BOIR rule, FinCEN assigns responsibility to the “reporting person;” generally the professional most directly responsible for the closing or recording of the deed. This means that we will be asking our clients engaging in such transactions to certify their information.  Costs for closings and recordings is likely to go up.

Don’t overlook this rule or try to do it yourself: the penalty for failing to file the required report could be as high as $1,394 for each violation, and an additional civil money penalty of up to $108,489 for a pattern of negligent activity.  Willful violations of the final rule could result in a term of imprisonment of not more than five years or a criminal fine of not more than $250,000, or both.

Please contact Jesson & Rains for more information!  We will continue to draft deeds for our clients for asset protection purposes and comply with the federal regulations.

If you’ve ever dealt with the probate process, you’ve probably heard the same concerns again and again: unexpected bills, unclear timelines, and legal fees that seem to grow every month. At our firm, we believe clients deserve better.

That’s why we’re pleased to announce that we now offer flat-fee probate services for many probate matters.

What Does “Flat Fee Probate” Mean?

Instead of charging by the hour, our probate fees are based primarily on the value of the estate, with the total cost discussed up front before we begin work. While certain variables may affect the final fee—such as the complexity of the estate or the nature of the assets involved—the most important difference is that clients will know the fee in advance. This eliminates the uncertainty and surprise that often accompany hourly billing.

Why We Moved Away From Hourly Billing

Hourly billing can create unnecessary stress at an already difficult time. Clients are often left wondering how much the process will ultimately cost, whether they should avoid calling their attorney to keep fees down, or why their bill has increased even when the case appears to be moving slowly.

Experienced and efficient attorneys do not like to measure their value with their time, either.  The hourly billing model incentivizes some attorneys not to work quickly or some firms to have multiple people working on the same issue.

With a lot of thoughtful research and study, we’ve found a way to offer flat-fee probate services. Clients can ask questions and seek guidance without worrying that every phone call or email will increase their legal bill. This approach allows us to focus on efficiently guiding the estate through the probate process, rather than monitoring time spent on each task.

Flat-fee billing also better aligns our interests with those of our clients. Our goal is to resolve probate matters as smoothly and quickly as possible, while keeping expectations clear from the start.

Are All Probate Cases Flat Fee?

Many probate matters are well suited for a flat-fee structure, particularly uncontested estates where assets are clearly identified and beneficiaries agree to the billing model. However, probate is not one-size-fits-all. Certain factors can affect pricing, including the total value and type of assets or complications such as missing beneficiaries or unclear documentation. 

Transparently, we may not accept as many cases as we once would.  The flat fee must be paid in advance, and all beneficiaries must agree to this structure (eliminating cases involving disputes among heirs), although we can sometimes reach alternative arrangements such as getting paid out of the proceeds from the sale of a house that is involved in probate (one of the main reasons why families have to go through this process in the first place).  

For that reason, we evaluate each case carefully before agreeing to proceed and explain how these factors may impact the flat fee before moving forward. Our goal is always to ensure clients understand both the process and the cost from the outset.

A Better Way to Handle Probate

Our goal is simple: to make probate more understandable, more predictable, and less stressful for the people going through it. If you have just suffered the loss of a loved one and may have to serve as the executor, or if you work in an industry where you are frequently involved with executors, we invite you to contact our office to learn more about flat-fee probate services.

Probate is a process that typically occurs while people are grieving the loss of a loved one. Financial uncertainty should not make that experience more overwhelming. Contact Jesson & Rains for assistance. While You Build, We Protect®.