Probate is the legal process that proves a will is a valid document. Typically, the probate court appoints a representative to handle the estate and distribute the assets according to the details of the will. You may want to avoid probate to minimize costs, reduce the...

The U.S. News & World Report states that while sources approximate $15,000 as the median cost of a divorce, once you add up all extraneous expenses it ends up being considerably higher. It also warns that court filing fees alone may rack up to several hundred...

In Texas, most types of assets that either spouse acquires during marriage automatically become “community property” that both spouses own equally, including real estate, retirement accounts and investments. During divorce, the court tries to divide community assets...

A guardian is responsible for the health and welfare of another. Guardians are mostly associated with an adult caring for a child after a parent's passing.  Under Texas law, a guardianship may extend to another adult. There are circumstances when petitioning the court...

If you have joint custody of your kids, known in Texas as a joint managing conservatorship, you must swap the kids when your parenting time begins and ends. During your divorce, you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse likely have wide latitude to negotiate the location of...

 Your will is a legal document that outlines how to distribute your assets after your death. If you die without a will, the court may decide how to allocate your belongings instead of abiding by your personal wishes. Your estate will undergo probate after you die,...

The Texas Family Code states that allowing both parents to jointly share custody is in the best interests of their children, unless other circumstances could hamper the children's emotional or physical well-being. This is one of the reasons you may consider...

Depending on the age of your son or daughter, he or she may have strong personal opinions about which parent to live with after a divorce. As a parent, though, just how much attention and consideration should you give to your child’s personal preferences?  Many...

Although probate has a lengthy, costly reputation, the term simply refers to the distribution of a person's estate by his or her executor under court supervision. Texas offers various options for probate depending on the size of the estate, the type of assets and...

If you are the primary breadwinner in your family, you may worry about how a divorce may affect your finances. Will Texas’ community property laws force you to split everything you own 50/50 with your spouse?  Community property state laws do mandate 50/50 splits, but...