When a couple gets divorced, there are financial matters that need to be dealt with – in the absence of a settlement agreement, the family court must divide up the couple’s property in a way that is fair to both parties. Sometimes, this division can be tricky, especially if the…
Having discussions with a romantic partner about a prenuptial agreement can be tough. The reality is, however, that marrying someone is, in part, a financial commitment. When talking through a possible prenup with your future spouse, it can be helpful to understand how the agreement might affect each person’s estate…
At McCulloch & Miller, we always advise our clients to begin their estate planning processes on the early side. The reality for many clients, however, is that life circumstances change as time goes on, which is why it is important to update your estate plan as you experience significant shifts…
A divorce is no doubt a challenging time in the lives of all who go through one. Even for the amicable splits, the time spent doing paperwork and discussing the best division of assets can be draining. Unfortunately, the issuance of a divorce decree or separation agreement is not the…
Divorces are often emotionally difficult and draining—big life changes are occurring, which are stressful enough on their own. But when people are going through this process, often the last thing on their mind is updating their estate plan. However, estate planning nightmares may occur if individuals do not update their…
Creating an estate plan is an important task when thinking about the future. However, there are often mistakes that can be made if these documents are created without the assistance of an estate planning attorney. Some of these most common errors include unintentionally leaving assets to former partners or spouses…
When going through a divorce, there are many complex emotions. And of all the tasks a person must accomplish during this process, updating their estate plan is often not the first thing on the list. However, it is critically important for recently divorced people to speak with an estate planning…
Many Texans plan for the future, including planning their estates with their spouse. Married couples may find it easier to plan together, or may enjoy picturing their life together years, maybe even decades, down the road. But, unfortunately, not every marriage survives until the end of time. Texans may find…
The Houston estate planning process can be complicated at any point during a person’s life. Generally, when relationships are altered—either in the case of a marriage or a divorce—changing the estate plan is not the first thought in a person’s mind. However, it is imperative to address the estate plan…
Blended families are almost the new normal in America. A Pew Research Center analysis shows that as many as 40% of all new marriages include at least one person who had been married before. For another comparison, in 1960, 13% of all married adults had been married before, compared to…