Personal Legal Matters

Probate law addresses the legal concerns of an estate when a person dies or becomes incapacitated. Whether or not a person has a will when he or she dies, probate laws determine the manner and procedure in which a person’s estate will be distributed. With proper planning, one can execute a will, trust, and other documents, which ensure that an estate is distributed as desired. Naturally, this process of planning often includes consideration of the estate tax consequences related to the distribution of the estate.

Additionally, another major area of probate law concerns guardianships over incapacitated people. This is used to determine who has the legal rights to make financial, health, and personal decisions for individuals who cannot do so for themselves.

Family law addresses a variety of issues that arise in family relationships. These can include marriage and pre-marriage issues such as agreements between couples. Divorce and the subsequent property division are other major issues that are addressed by family law. Family law is also concerned with the relationship between children and their parents, including the rights to visitation and the duty to support a child. Other children related family law issues included termination of parental rights and adoptions.

Consumer Issues involve your rights as a consumer, Texas has laws that protect these rights.  The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act was specifically enacted to protect consumers.

Many personal transactions today involve a lease or contract, and it is very important to understand your rights and remedies under these agreements.  Sometimes, the agreement is drafted in a way that it unfairly favors one party over the other.