Divorce

Call it the law of unintended consequences.  A final divorce, which is certainly consequential, can have all sorts of surprising consequences. Some might be welcome, while others can result in havoc. Revocation of Beneficiary Designations One surprising consequence is the statutory automatic revocation of beneficiary and agent designations made before the divorce is final.  Life insurance is a perfect example. If you named your spouse as the beneficiary of your life insurance, then...

There is no question that divorce is a difficult, complicated process. Individuals going through a divorce must wade through mountains of documents, answer a flurry of questions, and in some cases, endure years of litigation before they receive their final decree. However, there are steps a divorce client can take to help the process flow more smoothly. When it comes to a lawsuit, preparation and organization go a long...

(This is the fourth in a series regarding probate procedures in Texas.) It took four courts and several years but, by gosh, justice was done in the case of Hennig v. Didyk. This story is about divorce, death and money. Matt and Wendy married and then divorced. In the divorce decree, Matt was awarded his employment benefits, including his life insurance. After the divorce, Matt logged onto the employer’s benefits system...

Revenge Of The Divorcing Spouse and Why Estate Planning Is A Must Warning: if you or a loved one are going through a divorce, this column contains content that might elicit a strong emotional response.    In Texas, you are either married or you are not; there is no half-way mark.  A marriage can only be ended by divorce, annulment or death. Estrangement, separation, divorce pending – none of those matter.   To say...