If you live in Texas and are thinking about adopting a child, it is important to do your research. The process can be challenging if you do not know what to expect; and, if you need financial assistance, there are resources available – provided that you know where to look. You can use the resources linked below to learn more about adopting in Texas; and, if you live in the McKinney area, we encourage you to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our experienced family lawyers.  

Whether you are going through a divorce or separation or struggling to collect payment from a former spouse or partner, if you are dealing with a matter that involves child support, you need to be careful to avoid costly errors. From improperly calculating child support to stopping payment without court approval, there are a variety of mistakes can have long-term consequences for you and your children.

When preparing your estate plan, a crucial – but often overlooked – part of the process is planning for your health care in the event of incapacity. If you get sick or injured and are unable to make decisions about your own medical treatment, you will need someone to make these decisions for you. While planning for incapacity is a relatively straightforward process, if you don’t have a plan in place, your loved ones could face extraordinarily challenging circumstances down the road. Planning ahead provides critical certainty for you and your family, and it is more than worth the time and effort involved.

If you are wondering what information you need to prepare your will, you already have one of the most important pieces: You know that you need to put an estate plan in place. Having an estate plan is important for a variety of reasons, and a will is a fundamental component of almost any estate planning strategy.

If you and your spouse agree that it is time to end your marriage, you may be considering an amicable divorce. An amicable divorce is a low-stress and cost-effective way to end a marriage, and it is a method that spouses in Texas are using with increasing frequency. Texas law allows spouses to file for a no-fault divorce; and, if you and your spouse are both ready to move on, filing on the basis of “insupportability” is the first step toward achieving an amicable resolution.

While many estate planning tools offer the flexibility to automatically address certain changes in your life (such as the accumulation of wealth or the death of a family member), there are a variety of circumstances under which it may still be necessary to revisit your estate plan. Failing to address significant changes can leave your loved ones without guidance to resolve difficult questions; and, in many circumstances, it can result in your estate plan not accurately reflecting your final wishes.

As a parent, adjusting to a custody and visitation schedule and maintaining regular contact with your former spouse are likely to be among the most-difficult aspects of life early after your divorce. While certain challenges are going to be inevitable, there are steps you can take during and after your divorce to make this transition as comfortable for you and your children as possible.

When President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law on December 22, several aspects of the federal tax code changed significantly. For spouses contemplating divorce, one of the most sweeping changes is a reversal of the tax treatment for spousal support (commonly referred to as “alimony”).

Why should you have an estate plan? While having an estate plan is crucial to ensuring that your assets will be distributed according to your final wishes, this is only part of the equation. A comprehensive estate plan will serve a number of other important purposes as well, all of which are focused on providing certainty and financial stability for your loved ones no matter what the future holds.

If you are seeking the legal right to care for an adult friend or family member with special needs, you potentially have a few different options available. Choosing between these options requires an assessment of your unique circumstances, and it requires you to have a clear understanding of how each option will impact you and your loved one’s lives.