February is a month notoriously marked by love and romance. While many people are struck by cupid’s arrow, others think Valentine’s Day is just a scheme created by greeting card companies to make a buck. Regardless of your stance, there’s no denying that your loved ones deserve nothing but the best. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, leaving a Will is one of the most generous and thoughtful gifts you can Read More
A Complete Guide to Selecting the Right Executor, Trustee or Agent for you
It’s hard to believe 2017 is here already. The new year marks a special time when many people both reflect on the past and plan for the future. Whether you are a planner or not the setting of New Year’s resolutions is a tradition many people observe much like eating black-eyed peas or kissing someone at midnight. The standard resolutions are getting organized or in better physical shape. This year consider adding Read More
2016 Charitable Contributions
Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program Toys for Tots Wounded Warrior Project Irving Schools Foundation Read More
What You Need to Know About Disinheriting a Child or Grandchild
With Halloween behind us, it’s time to look forward to the holiday season. Thanksgiving may be your first chance in months to gather with loved ones to catch up and overstuff your bellies. It is also an excellent time to think about planning for the future. While reuniting over turkey, you may notice that some loved ones have changed, and not for the better. Maybe they have made some irresponsible life choices or Read More
Disinheriting a Child or Grandchild
With Halloween behind us, it’s time to look forward to the holiday season. As North Texans, we may not be able to reap the benefits of a long, chilly and colorful fall, but it’s finally starting to cool down. That means we can bust out those boots and scarves, appropriately drink a pumpkin spice latte, and start making plans to spend time with family. Thanksgiving may be your first chance in months to gather with Read More
Estate Planning for Blended Families
Not every blended family is going to look like the Brady Bunch. There are numerous aspects of forming a new family that can create challenges. Everything from the number and age of the children to the attitudes and actions of the other biological parents as well as the respective financial statuses of the new couple. The new couple will have separate property and may or may not be planning to have community property. Read More
Blended Families – How It Affects Planning
If you found that your first marriage didn’t end in a “happily ever after” and you have another chance at it, hopefully you’re a little bit wiser. Second marriages and blended families present their own set of issues. A blended family is any family where the children in the home are not the children of the two parents also living in the home (commonly known as step-children). Any time you are faced with multiple Read More
Guardianships: Everything You Need to Know
We’ve all seen those tragic turned inspirational movies where parents die and leave behind an orphan – insert just about any Disney movie. Sometimes it’s a more thought-provoking flick where an adult has lost their ability to care for themselves. Either way, this is a tale as old as time, yet so little is known about guardianship. A "guardian" is someone who is chosen or appointed to make legal decisions for another Read More
Everything You Need To Know About Guardianships
We’ve all seen those tragic turned inspirational movies where parents die and leave behind an orphan – insert just about any Disney movie. Sometimes it’s a more thought-provoking flick where an adult has lost their ability to care for themselves. Either way, this is a tale as old as time, yet so little is known about guardianship. A "guardian" is someone who is chosen or appointed to make legal decisions for another Read More
Back-to-School Season: A Wise Time for Estate Planning
As summer winds down parents and kids are preparing for a brand new school year. Whether your kids are little or headed off to college, you’re busy settling into a new routine. Estate planning is probably the last thing on your mind. But the beginning of a new school year can actually be the perfect time to give your estate planner a call. During the first week of school most parents have to fill out an emergency Read More
