6 Common Misconceptions About Estate Planning

There is a lot of misinformation out there about estate planning. We are inundated with mixed messages telling us to “do this,” and “avoid that!” As a result, many people have a skewed understanding of the purpose and process of estate planning. In this blog we will detail six of the most common misconceptions about estate planning to help you make an informed decision about protecting your legacy and providing for Read More

10 Things to Consider Before Adopting a Child, Part II

In our last blog we detailed five important things you need to consider before you make the choice in adopting a child. The adoption process is difficult and intensive, and raising an adopted child comes with numerous challenges as well. But it can also be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do in your life. In Part II of our blog, we explain five more things every potential parent needs to think about Read More

10 Things to Consider Before Adopting a Child, Part I

Adopting a child is a complex, frustrating, emotional, challenging, terrifying, and even beautiful process. When an adoption is completed, you will have suddenly become legally and emotionally responsible for the life of another human being. Being adopted can make all the difference in a child’s life, providing them with opportunities for love and success that they otherwise may not have received. But it can also Read More

5 Reasons You Should Start Estate Planning ASAP

Many people are under the mistaken impression that, if they are young, healthy, or both, then they do not need to worry about estate planning. Why spend time and money when you don’t plan on dying any time soon, right? The key part of that last sentence is, “you don’t plan” on dying. The fact is, most people never do. It is never too early to start the estate planning process. You don’t have to be rich or have Read More

Understanding Qui Tam Lawsuits

The term “qui tam” is an abbreviation of an old Latin saying that means, “"[he] who sues in this matter for the king as well as for himself." In layman’s terms, it refers to an old common law practice whereby a citizen who aided in some form of prosecution could receive a share of whatever penalty was imposed. In modern context in the United States, qui tam is a form of civil lawsuit that can be filed under the Read More

Understanding Texas Child Custody Law

There are two important aspects of child custody in Texas. The first is conservatorship. Conservatorship is the right of parents to make decisions regarding a child’s education, medical treatment, and other important matters. One parent can make all decisions--sole managing conservatorship—or the parents can make decisions jointly—joint managing conservatorship. The court makes conservatorship decisions based on the Read More

Texas Probate: An Overview

Probate can often become a complicated and lengthy process. Texas attempts to make it simpler by using what is called the “independent administration of estates.” With independent administration, the executor doesn’t have to post a bond and doesn’t have to ask the court for permission before taking steps to settle the estate. The executor still needs to publish notices for potential creditors and make a list of Read More

Four Ways to Protect Your Kids During the Divorce Process

Divorce is often devastating for both partners, but it’s usually even more devastating for the children involved. When you’re going through a divorce it may seem as if you hardly have the emotional energy to take care of yourself, much less take care of the emotional needs of someone else, but children need extra attention and reassurance. Here are four things you can do to make divorce a little easier on them. Keep Read More

Estate Planning 101: Where to Begin with Your Will

Creating a last will and testament is difficult for many reasons. Of course, it can be emotionally challenging to have to face your own mortality, but it can also be hard to make these types of critical decisions. Many people dread going through the process so much that they never get around to making one, which can put a lot of unnecessary stress and difficulty on their loved ones. With that in mind, read the Read More

Where to Begin with Your Estate Plan

If you’re in your twenties, thirties or even forties, estate planning may be the last thing on your mind. But the truth is that neglecting your estate planning could create huge problems for your loved one should something happen to you - even if you don’t have a large estate. In addition to planning for the worst, the estate planning process gives you an opportunity to clarify your thinking about significant issues, Read More