Probate is a necessary, but sometimes complicated process that can be costly and frustrating. In some situations, avoiding elements of probate is a welcome and convenient way of making it easier for heirs and executors of the estate to manage in a difficult time. When drafting your will, or even as you obtain assets during your lifetime, here are four things to consider doing to avoid having those assets be subject Read More
Texas Establishment of Paternity
For obvious reasons, the identity of a child’s mother is quite obvious at the time of the child’s birth. Thus, mothers are automatically granted legal parental rights over their child, including all of the benefits and obligations inherent in those rights. However, establishing paternity and a father’s parental rights is not always such a clear-cut process. While no one would be able to argue the identity of the Read More
7 Key Indicators of Elder Abuse or Exploitation
Most of us grow up being taught that we should always respect our elders. Those who have reached an advanced age in their life are deserving of no less than dignity and kind regard. Unfortunately, due to the physical and mental decline inherent in the aging process, seniors are also one of the most vulnerable segments of our population, and there are always going to be people out there who seek to prey on the Read More
A Brief Introduction to Transfer-on-Death Deeds
For most average Americans, their home is their most significant asset. Few people will ever make a purchase larger than that of their home, and thus it is one of the most important assets to consider when you start planning your estate. You may want to consider understanding more about Transfer-on-Death Deeds. Many people go to great lengths to keep their home from passing through the probate process in order to Read More
Avoid Falling Through the Long-Term Care Cracks
In the US, millions of people require long-term care assistance every year. Long-term care is a wide variety of services, both medical and personal in nature, that are provided in skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities to those who are unable to manage these needs independently. These facilities are usually incredibly expensive. According to a 2015 Genworth Financial Cost of Care Read More
Military Benefits & Divorce in Texas
The US military provides some of the best on-the-job benefits of any industry in the country, including excellent healthcare, retirement plans, and access to military base privileges like commissaries. By virtue of marriage, spouses of military service members are also granted access to these benefits. But what happens when the couple gets divorced? Divorce always stirs up difficult questions with regard to the Read More
7 Things to Think About Before Naming a Guardian for Your Children, Part II
In our last blog, we discussed the vital importance of naming a guardian who will care for your minor children should anything ever happen to you. It’s a topic that no one likes to think about, but every parent should. Accidents happen every day, and you must do your best to plan for the unexpected. You owe it to your children to ensure that they will be kept safe, be loved, and be provided for if you are ever Read More
7 Things to Think About Before Naming a Guardian for Your Children, Part I
It is a scenario that no parent wants to think about, but every parent should: who will raise your children if something were to happen to you? For parents with children under the age of 18, naming a guardian is one of the most important aspects of creating a will. The guardians you name will be responsible for raising and providing for your children, and it is a decision that should not be taken lightly. In this Read More
Texas Estate Planning: The Advance Healthcare Directive
Death is one of the only universally shared aspects of human existence. We live in a diverse world full of people from various cultures, backgrounds, and belief systems, but one thing we all share is that none of us is immortal. However, while the eventuality of death is one of the most predictable aspects of life, when and how the end comes for each of us is rarely predictable. Nonetheless, though we may be Read More
Texas Employment Law: 5 Common Illegal Wage Practices to Watch For
So, you just received your paycheck and it’s looking a little light. You thought you worked way more hours than that! And what are those deductions? Far too many employers attempt to cut corners and cut costs by depriving their employees of the fair pay they are legally entitled to for the work they did. Illegal wage practices are pervasive, and it takes a vigilant eye to ensure you do not get taken advantage of Read More
