Most soon-to-be newlyweds are busy planning all the fun details of their special day. One important detail they may not be thinking of, however, is preparing a marital agreement. There are a lot of myths surrounding the topic of whether or not to have a marital agreement, such as: “I don’t need a marital agreement; […]
Myth vs. Facts on Marital Agreements Read More »
In the United States, Social Security is frequently talked about in the news, but poorly understood. As a result, most people think Social Security is a “government handout”, or some form of welfare for the poor. What people fail to understand is that Social Security is primarily an insurance program for workers. And just like
Social Security Benefits 101 Read More »
“Co-parenting”, “platonic parenting”, and “parallel parenting”–social terms to describe the reality of many modern families– is becoming the norm. But what happens when one of the co-parents dies? When a Co-Parent Dies As devastating as this is for the child, the hardship to a platonic co-parent is just as profound. Where there were two wage
Estate Planning for Co-Parents Read More »
Dealing with a government agency can be a time-consuming task, and Social Security is no exception. I frequently get calls from people who are considering applying for Social Security benefits but aren’t sure how to begin. Generally, I advise these callers to go ahead and start the application process on their own because applying for
When and How to Hire a Social Security Attorney Read More »
With the New Year approaching, people often start making plans for the future. No matter what age you are, you should consider having an estate plan. Unfortunately, we do not know what the future holds and losing your life can happen unexpectedly. In an estate plan you can include how you want your assets to
End of Year Gifting Read More »
If you have called Social Security recently, you probably heard a recorded message notifying you about ongoing social security scams. Unfortunately, scammers frequently target our most vulnerable members of society: the elderly and disabled. Thus, it is important to understand how these scams work and know what steps you should take if you, or a
Avoiding Social Security Scams Read More »
I frequently receive phone calls from friends or family members of an individual suffering from a mental health crisis. Their question is the same, “Can I get a guardianship over them and force them to take their medications, or get psychiatric care?” Or sometimes the question is whether they can get a trust or some
Mental Health and Guardianship: How to Get Help Read More »
And what you need to know about a Living Will during the COVID-19 pandemic. When you are admitted to the hospital for treatment, you will be asked if you have any estate planning documents like a “Living Will”. In Texas, we call this document a “Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates” (or “Advance Medical
What is a Living Will? Read More »
Can I estate plan to avoid probate? In short, yes, there are some ways to exclude assets from probate. What is Probate? Probate refers to the legal process for distributing the assets of a deceased person, and often requires the assistance of an attorney and a court proceeding. Not only does probate come with a
7 Ways to Avoid Probate Read More »
What are Survivors Benefits: A Brief History Economic insecurity was a social issue our nation addressed over 80 years ago with the enactment of the Social Security Act in 1935. What most people don’t realize is that the Act also provides survivors benefits: spouses, children, and dependent parents of a deceased worker can receive survivors
A Guide to Social Security Survivors Benefits Read More »
