To assist states in improving guardianship and data collection, Congress recently re-introduced H.R. 4174. The house bill is identical to the Guardianship Accountability Act, currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee. As McKinney estate planning attorneys, we stay up-to-date on developments in estate planning law that impact our clients. Primarily about education, the bills require the Elder Justice Coordinating Council to create a National Online Resource Center on Guardianship for the publication of resources and data relating to court-determined adult guardianships. Many agencies, including the AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association have expressed their support for the legislation.    

A postnuptial (or postmarital) agreement is essentially the same as a prenuptial agreement, except that you and your spouse enter into it after you have already gotten married, rather than before. Postnuptial agreements, also known as partition agreements, allow spouses to specify how they will divide their money and property in the event of a divorce. Texas is among the states that recognizes the legal enforceability of postnuptial agreements. As McKinney divorce attorneys, we are experienced in assisting our clients with the preparation of postnuptial agreements, to ensure that they are legally enforceable, address all ancillary issues, such as creditors’ rights and estate planning considerations, and meet your family’s immediate and long-term needs.

Everyone should have an estate plan, regardless of wealth. And thanks to modern medicine, Texans are living longer lives. As we age, however, it is important to take time to make decisions about how our property and our healthcare should be managed in the event of a health crisis, as well as after we are gone. From powers of attorney to advance directives and living wills, McKinney estate planning attorneys can help ensure that your wishes are respected, giving piece of mind to you and your loved ones during a stressful and difficult time in your lives.  

The legal right of a non-custodial parent to spend time with his or her children and to now their whereabouts are commonly referred to as “access and visitation” or “possession.” As McKinney family lawyers, we are experienced in helping our clients to understand their parental rights and duties. 

Following a divorce, your circumstances or those of your ex-spouse are likely to change over time, whether financially or personally.  Fortunately, Texas law allows the parties to a divorce to seek modification of the terms of the divorce.  As McKinney divorce attorneys, we are experienced in assisting our clients with post-divorce modification relating to income and financial needs, child custody, as well as enforcement issues.  Here are the basics of post-divorce modification in Texas.

As McKinney estate planning attorneys, we stay up-to-date on developments in estate planning law that impact our clients.  Recent developments include the increase in the federal estate tax exemption from $5 million to $10 million under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and the Texas legislature’s improvement of the law on durable powers of attorney, making it easier for beneficiaries to avoid costly and time consuming guardianship proceedings.  Our Estate Planning Practice is experienced in preparing numerous estate planning tools, including durable powers of attorney, health care directives, trusts, wills, family living partnerships, and giving and asset protection strategies. 

As McKinney family attorneys, we stay up-to-date on developments and trends in family law that impact our clients.  Two significant developments in Texas family law came from the Supreme Court in 2018.  First, the Court applied a broad definition of “actual care and control” over a child,  thereby making it easier for a nonparent, such as a grandparent or step-parent, to sue for custody.  Second, the court reinforced the binding nature of premarital agreements.

When preparing for a divorce, one of the first steps in the process is to familiarize yourself with the terminology involved. During your divorce, you will likely become intimately familiar with a number of terms that you don’t know now. Clearly understanding these terms will be important to making informed decisions; and, while your divorce lawyer can explain everything you need to know, many people find it helpful to familiarize themselves with some of the key terms prior to their initial consultation.

Do you need an estate plan if you are single? What if you are in your 20s or 30s? Is it okay to buy an estate plan online? These are all common questions about estate planning; and, unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there. Here is the truth behind five common myths about estate planning in Texas: