Marriage as a legal institution has taken a variety of forms throughout history. As society evolves, how we identify marriage in our society also changes. While not lawful everywhere, in Texas a couple may be deemed married without having participated in judicial or religious ceremonies. These marriages are called common law marriages. Their existence creates some […]
When you met with an attorney a few weeks ago, perhaps all you expected was a simple will. Maybe you thought that, with your situation, the work should be easy and the documents should be few. But now that you have finished working with the attorney, your parting gift is a large binder filled with hundreds […]
Despite what some believe, children born to unmarried parents are commonplace. Historically, children in this category have been treated poorly by both society and the law. In many cases, they had no right to inherit from either parent. This legal scheme eventually changed and provided means for these children to inherit from their mothers, but rarely […]
In honor of the recent Teacher Appreciation Week (the first week of May), we are taking this opportunity to say a bit “thank you” our teachers for their time and dedication to teaching the future generation. Teacher, you provide the foundational knowledge necessary to ensure the success of tomorrow’s leaders. We are here to make sure […]
The impact of our lives, and even our deaths, is becoming a growing concern for many people. Cemeteries have been described as “landfills for bodies,” which year after year are filled with wood, metal, concrete, and embalming chemicals. Moreover, the graves are then covered with grass, which must be watered, fertilized and cared for to preserve […]
Cremation has been part of human history since ancient days. Archeological evidence from around the world show cultures following the practice as early as 8,000 B.C.E. The practice has gone through times of favor and disfavor, depending on religious acceptability. However, in the 21st century, as concerns about lack of burial space and environmental impact of […]
When making an estate plan, one important decision is what you want done with your mortal remains. That’s right, it’s not just your estate which needs planning for, but also your body when you’re no longer using it. Like most aspects of estate planning, the decision about what to do with your body is often an […]
According to a 2019 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 7 percent of surveyed adults were living with an unmarried partner. This number is up from 3 percent in 1995.[1] More people, such as yourself, are entering long-term committed relationships without getting married. Unfortunately for unmarried partners, married couples tend to enjoy greater protection from […]
