In Texas, as in most states, the law presumes that it is in a child’s best interests to be raised by both parents, at least in a limited capacity. However, in appropriate cases, the Texas courts will take away parents’ custody rights. As in all child custody matters, the key focus is on protecting the “best interests” of the child involved.

Whether you already have an estate plan or you have been putting off putting a plan in place, the start of a new year is always a good time to reexamine your goals and needs. While there have not been any significant legal developments that are likely to have a drastic impact on currently-existing estate plans, changes in family, financial and health circumstances could warrant re-examination of your estate plan for 2019.

As 2018 comes to a close, we thought we would take the time to revisit some of our articles from earlier in the year. The following are 10 articles we published on our blog discussing topics related to filing for divorce in Texas.

Each year, we publish numerous articles on the topic of estate planning. Here are 10 of our top articles from 2018.

When going through a divorce, one of your primary goals should be to ensure that you will have adequate financial resources to support yourself and your children once your marriage is over. For many divorcing spouses (both parents and non-parents), a key financial consideration during the divorce process is health insurance. While health insurance is something that some divorcing spouses are lucky enough to take for granted, for others, ensuring access to coverage can be a critical component of a successful outcome.

As a parent with minor children, planning your estate involves certain special considerations. While it is difficult to think about not being around to watch your children grow, this is unfortunately a possibility; and, as a parent, you owe it to yourself, your children and your other loved ones to have a plan in place.

When the world lost Aretha Franklin on August 16, one of the more-surprising stories to make headlines was the fact that she did not have an estate plan. While many of the details of the administration of Franklin’s estate are likely to remain private, with an estimated net worth of $80 million, it is fair to say that her surviving family members will likely face some struggles along the way.

For many married couples, getting divorced is an amicable process that involves working together to reach a mutually-agreeable resolution. While the spouses may have their differences, they share the same ultimate goal of ending their marriage as quickly and inexpensively as possible, and this goal can be a powerful motivator when it comes to negotiating in good faith and with an eye toward the future.

Preparing an estate plan is important regardless of your age, wealth and medical condition. While becoming incapacitated due to an illness or injury or dying without an estate plan will leave your loved ones mired in uncertainty, putting a plan in place will minimize the burden on your family while ensuring that your final wishes are carried through.

When going through a divorce, acknowledging and addressing the various tax implications involved in the process can result in significant savings for both spouses while also opening up more opportunities for compromise during settlement negotiations. Although often overlooked, there are numerous ways in which a divorce can trigger tax liability or tax-savings opportunities, and understanding all of the various tax implications of your divorce is critical to avoiding unnecessary tax liability.