If you hire an estate planning attorney, one of their top priorities should concern probate. You want to ensure they draft documents that allow your loved ones to bypass probate court once you pass. This way, they can avoid lengthy court proceedings and expensive fees associated with the process. However, in many cases, your legal options may prove costly and

A critical thought facing many families is the question of who will care for their parents in the long run. If your parents are elderly or live with a disability, the question becomes even more important. They may not be able to go about their everyday activities independently. As a result, they may require long-term care. Many times, relatives or

Older adults or persons with disabilities may require long-term care. This can include nursing homes or other assisted living facilities. Medicaid can help with this often overwhelming endeavor — but you might not know where to begin. However, if you know that you (or a loved one) will need care in the immediate or distant future, you can save yourself

As a minor, your child does not have the authority to make their own medical or financial decisions. You act as their representative in these matters until they turn 18. In the state of Texas, once your child hits that age, you no longer have the legal authority to make those decisions for them. But if they are in a

The last thing you want to worry about is what will happen to your family and estate when you pass. Maybe you have been concerned about this idea for a while or maybe it is a passing thought you have never considered deeply. Regardless of how many assets you possess, small or large, an estate plan can give you peace

There’s rarely an ideal time to file for divorce. While a family law attorney can handle your case’s legal aspects, the ensuing emotional weight and stress create plenty of tension between spouses. You might worry about asset division or child custody. Maybe you need to find new work or living arrangements. Whether you have had an amicable or bitter split,

When determining child custody in Texas, a court will seek to determine what living arrangement is in the “best interests” of the child. The trial court is given wide discretion in making its decision. The court considers the following factors in its analysis: 1. The parental abilities of the individuals seeking custody; 2. The programs available to assist these individuals

Guardianship is a legal proceeding in which the court gives a responsible party (usually a family member) full or partial decision making-power (authority) for an adult to make decisions on behalf of an incapacitated person (the ward). There are two types of guardianship in Texas—guardianship of the person and guardianship of the estate. The guardian of the person must provide

As a Texas Estate Planning Attorney, I can tell you that you don’t have to be rich or own a lot of valuable assets to have an estate plan. That’s good news for millennials, most of whom haven’t had the time or financial means to save for retirement. Many of them are still paying down their student loans. But even

The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. – George Bernard Shaw Estate planning is a touchy subject for many families. It’s not fun to think about death, and it’s even less fun to talk about it with your parents or your children. Going about the talk the wrong way can lead to conflict,