When preparing your estate plan, it is important to choose the right tools for your family and financial circumstances. While a will, revocable living trust and healthcare planning documents will be sufficient for many people, for others, tools that serve more-specific estate planning purposes will be necessary.

With everything else going on in 2020, it is easy to overlook the fact that the holiday season is upon us. But, while this holiday season will be unlike any other, it is still important for families to take time to give thanks, celebrate together and do their best to get some much-needed rest and relaxation.

If you have decided that you no longer want to be married, you have two potential options for bringing your marriage to an end: If your circumstances permit, you can file for an annulment. If you are not eligible to file for an annulment under Texas law, then you will need to file for a divorce. Here, our McKinney family lawyers explain the differences between annulments and divorces and provide an overview of the circumstances in which each of these options is available.

Everyone should have an estate plan, regardless of age, health and financial condition. If you are ready to put together an estate plan, below is a sampling of the types of information you will need to share with your McKinney estate planning attorney.

These days, it is easier than ever to get divorced. In fact, you can even do it online. Right? Unfortunately, while this is what some document preparation companies would like you to believe, the reality is that getting divorced is still a formal legal process that requires careful planning and a thorough understanding of the laws that apply. And, no, you cannot actually get a divorce online.

When you get divorced in Texas, as part of the process you and your spouse will be required to divide your community property. You may also have to pay spousal support (or alimony); and, if you have children, you will be required to continue to support your children in accordance with the Texas Child Support Guidelines (or other applicable law). While getting divorced inherently involves compromise, it is important not to give up more than your fair share. So, how can you avoid giving away too much in your divorce?

As a licensed professional, getting divorced presents some unique financial and property-related considerations. If you have children, you will need to think carefully about how best to pursue your desired post-divorce parenting rights as well. In order to make informed decisions, you will need to rely on the advice of experienced counsel, and we encourage you to schedule an initial consultation with one of our McKinney divorce lawyers to discuss your personal circumstances in confidence.

When you get divorced in Texas, your “separate property” is yours to keep, while your “community property” is subject to division. All of your assets will fall into one of these two categories (or partially fall into both)—including digital assets that you acquired before and during your marriage. In order to protect your digital assets during your divorce, it will be important to work with a McKinney family lawyer who is experienced in handling these types of matters.

Among its many other effects, for many people, the COVID-19 crisis has brought the importance of estate planning into sharp focus. It is now clear that unexpected – and unprecedented – events can happen during our lifetime; and, in case they do, we need to be prepared.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread throughout Texas and the rest of the United States, the importance of estate planning has come into sharp focus for many individuals and families. While the mortality rate remains relatively low, the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 is still hugely significant; and, for families who have lost loved ones, the effects of the virus are all too real.