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 […]
An important element of creating an estate plan is choosing a responsible party to handle your legal, medical, and financial affairs if you become unable to manage them yourself (i.e., become incapacitated) or die. The individual or entity you choose must be someone whom you can trust to make crucial and often time-sensitive decisions, who is […]
Annual exams are a part of life. As we age, these appointments grow more and more important to catch potential issues before they become serious. Similarly, due to ever-changing tax laws and interpersonal relationships, it’s a good idea for clients to review their estate plan regularly. When your estate plan is written, it reflects the situation […]
When a family member or other loved one dies, grief and shock can sometimes be overwhelming. You will need this time to grieve. The last thing most people want to think about is making plans or decisions. Some things do not need to be done immediately, but there are some steps that should be taken soon […]
Who Should Be Your Successor Trustee? If you have a revocable living trust, you probably named yourself as the initial trustee so you can continue to manage your financial affairs. Eventually someone else will need to step in when you are no longer able to act due to incapacity or after your death, however. Your successor […]
It is very important to regularly review and update all of your estate planning documents. However, your financial power of attorney, also known as a Statutory Durable Power of Attorney in Texas, is one document that should be reexamined more frequently than others. Revisiting your financial power of attorney will help ensure that the person you […]
Many believe that estate planning is simply instructions on how to distribute your assets upon your death, but the reality is that proper estate planning can do much more. While one major benefit of estate planning is to provide for your family and friends when you are gone, there are many benefits for you as well. […]
Every day we make hundreds of decisions from what to eat for breakfast to where we go on vacation. With each passing day, there are more choices to be made. But, what will happen if you can’t make decisions for yourself? Before that time comes, there is one important decision you need to make. Who do […]
