Family

Disinheriting a child in a will can be tricky. You have every right to do so, of course, but your action will be seen by outsiders as unnatural. That is why you want to take the right steps to make the disinheritance stick.   While no method is litigation-proof, there are a couple of strategic points that you may want to consider. Make Your Intentions Clear on Disinheriting You want to be clear...

By Kendra Rey Just what is your relationship with your Valentine?  In this month of l’amour, do you know if that person you are cozying up with is your spouse or just a close friend? And what is the legal effect of that? (Leave it to a lawyer to make “Love” something debatable!) If you have gone through a ceremonial marriage with your significant other, then you know you have a...

Off With Their Heads:  5 Myths about Texas Divorces Has your divorce case spiraled into the underhanded and ugly? Do you loathe your ex?  Do you ever think to yourself, “they cannot possibly act any more crazy”? Let me tell you, they can. In January of 2020, an Iowa man named David Ostrom requested that the judge presiding over his divorce case enter an order allowing Ostrom and his ex-wife to...

What a strange and difficult year 2020 has been for families! Determining whether to home school children or send them back to a face to face learning environment in the midst of a pandemic has been challenging. Loss of earnings and stability has been something parents and children alike have been forced to handle. And through it all, parents have the obligation to emotionally and financially support their minor children,...

As we have discussed in earlier articles, divorce is a very common occurrence in Texas, with about 75,000 couples in the state ending their marriages each year. That’s an average of almost 290 divorces every weekday. However, the fact that it is a common occurrence does not mean it is uncomplicated. There are always financial issues to be addressed in every divorce proceeding, which experienced family law attorneys can...

Sometimes despite our best intentions and the initial seriousness of our vows, marriage just does not work out, and divorce becomes the wisest course of action. In fact, approximately 75,000 couples divorce every year in Texas. If this is a situation you’re facing, we would like to provide answers to some of the more commonly asked questions about securing a divorce in Texas. 1. Do I have The Grounds to...

With all the different kinds of trusts available, as well as the specific ways they differ from state to state, it can be hard to figure out exactly what a marital trust is, much less whether or not you and your spouse need one. What is a martial trust? Let’s start with the basics. A trust is a legal arrangement that allows a third party to hold valuable assets — like...

Planning A Must Have you priced nursing homes lately?  In Texas, you are looking at an average annual cost of $50,000.  And we are on the low end; nationally, the average annual cost is closer to $75,000.  New Jersey costs a whopping $109,500 annually.   Who the heck can afford that?    Hello Medicaid.     Medicaid provides several programs that are funded through a state-federal agreement.  One of the programs provides long-term nursing home care benefits...

Crisis Planning at its Finest.. There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned pandemic scare to bring up the specter of entire family units perishing at the same time.     If this idea is keeping you awake at night, then you need to take a moment and map out what would happen to your estate in the event of a catastrophe.  Review your will, trust, and the beneficiary designations on life insurance, financial accounts...

Did you know that you are no longer the legal guardian of your 18-year-old son or daughter?  Eighteen is the age of majority in Texas, meaning that at age 18, young adults are presumed competent to make decisions about health care, finances, and other important areas of life. What does that mean for your child graduating from high school?  For one thing, it means that you are not able to...

Paying For Long Term Care Through Medicaid and VA Pensions There are two primary public benefits programs that can help pay for nursing home or long-term care:  VA Pension and Medicaid (there is another VA program for veterans with a service-connected disability).  Both programs have strict requirements for qualification and they are, to put it mildly, complicated. What is a VA Pension and How Is A Veteran Eligible? VA Pension is a federal...

The Body in the Library Clues to Your Next Step There are few things more disconcerting than waking up to find a dead body in your home.  It might be helpful to know what you should do next.   What To Do If Someone Dies If you are certain that the person is dead, then do not move the body or otherwise disturb the scene. If the deceased was enrolled in hospice, then call the hospice...