The Palmore Law Firm, PLLCFindLaw IM Template2024-03-08T22:22:13Zhttps://www.palmorelaw.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1101064/2018/11/cropped-site-identity-32x32.jpgOn Behalf of The Palmore Law Firm, PLLChttps://www.palmorelaw.com/?p=479392024-03-08T22:22:13Z2024-03-08T22:22:13ZEffective communication
No matter who has custody of your children, make sure to share important information about your child, such as school events, medical appointments and extracurricular activities. Use respectful and polite language when communicating with your co-parent to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.
Create a co-parenting plan
Develop a detailed co-parenting plan outlining each parent's responsibilities and schedules for parenting time. This plan can include arrangements for holidays, vacations and special occasions. However, be flexible and willing to make adjustments when necessary. Life can be unpredictable and unexpected events may arise that require changes to the parenting schedule.
Respect boundaries
One thing that may have contributed to the 989,518 divorces in 2022 is a lack of respect. However, you need to respect your co-parent's boundaries and decisions regarding parenting matters post-separation. Try to work together as a team to make decisions that are in the best interest of your child.
Stay positive
Maintain a positive attitude and focus on the benefits of co-parenting for your child. Avoid criticizing or undermining your co-parent's authority in front of your child. Celebrate your child's achievements together and support each other in their parenting roles.
Seek support
Do not be afraid to seek support from friends, family members or a counselor if you are struggling with co-parenting issues. Talking to someone who understands can provide valuable insight and help you navigate challenges more effectively.
Remember that co-parenting is about what is best for your child. Children benefit from having positive relationships with both parents. Therefore, remain focused on your child's needs and well-being.]]>On Behalf of The Palmore Law Firm, PLLChttps://www.palmorelaw.com/?p=479372023-12-07T19:00:02Z2023-12-07T19:00:02ZSet the tone
Initiating a conversation about wills requires sensitivity and careful consideration of your parents' emotions. Begin by choosing a quiet and comfortable setting, free from distractions.
Express your concern for their well-being and emphasize the importance of people knowing and respecting their wishes. A calm and empathetic approach lays the foundation for a productive discussion.
Start with open-ended questions
Begin the conversation with open-ended questions that encourage your parents to share their thoughts and feelings. For instance, you might ask, "Have you ever thought about what you would like to happen with your belongings in the future?" This allows your parents to express their concerns and desires without feeling pressured.
Share personal experiences
Sharing relevant stories or examples from friends or acquaintances can help ease the tension and make the conversation more relatable. You could mention how a colleague had a positive experience discussing wills with their parents. This emphasizes the peace of mind it brought to everyone involved.
Highlight the benefits of clarity
Talk about the benefits of having a plan in place that can make their values, sentiments and intentions clear to others. Explain how having a will can prevent potential family disputes and provide a sense of security for everyone involved.
Address potential concerns
Make sure to acknowledge any concerns your parents may have about discussing their wills. Reassure them that the purpose is to understand their wishes. Be patient and attentive, listening actively to their worries and addressing each one with empathy.
Offer assistance in the process
If your parents express uncertainty about where to start, offer your support in gathering information or seeking professional guidance if needed. Assure them that the goal is to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
With 55.7 million people who are 65 and older in America as of 2020, this kind of discussion is likely becoming more common as time goes on. Addressing concerns ensures that your parents feel supported as they navigate this important aspect of their future.]]>On Behalf of The Palmore Law Firm, PLLChttps://www.palmorelaw.com/?p=479242023-09-11T15:28:10Z2023-09-11T15:28:10ZStability and routine
When parents in Texas share custody, it helps inject stability and routine into a child's life. Regular contact with both parents gives children a sense of predictability, and this predictability can help reduce anxiety related to a divorce or separation.
Strong parent-child relationships
Shared custody allows children to maintain strong ties to both parents. This ensures that they receive love, emotional support and guidance from both their mother and father. Children benefit from the unique perspectives, experiences and parenting styles of each parent, and parental differences can help children develop a better understanding of the world around them.
Reduced stress
Children often experience less stress when parents share custody. Knowing they have access to both parents alleviates the fear of losing one or the other. Reduced stress levels, in turn, can have a positive impact on a child’s overall well-being.
Improved academic performance
Research shows that kids whose parents share custody perform better in school and have higher grade point averages than their peers who live in single-parent homes by 0.2–0.4 points.
While divorce or separation can be challenging for families, a shared custody arrangement can help mitigate some of the negative impacts on children, allowing them to thrive in a supportive and nurturing environment provided by both parents.]]>On Behalf of The Palmore Law Firm, PLLChttps://www.palmorelaw.com/?p=478942023-04-29T00:08:40Z2023-04-29T00:08:40Zpower of attorney.
Choose someone knowledgeable
You will likely choose someone to handle your finances, someone to handle your medical decisions and someone to handle your legal matters. It is uncommon to have the same person serve all of these roles because they require very different knowledge and expertise. In addition, you would give one person significant power over your life. Therefore, consider choosing individuals with specific knowledge, education or experience in each area.
Find one or more individuals you trust completely
Your powers of attorney should be individuals you know very well. You should have developed deep relationships with them over long periods of time. They need to understand your values and desires. Carefully analyze their character. Even small actions or statements can reveal a lot about these individuals.
Identify those with internal strength
You need individuals who have internal strength and are willing to assert themselves on your behalf. Your powers of attorney may make decisions your heirs do not agree with but reflect your desires. They need to have the ability to stand up for you and themselves. They also need to understand what questions to ask and can appropriately articulate their choices and why they made them, especially during highly emotional discussions.
To choose the best powers of attorney, focus on individuals who care about you and are willing to serve in this stressful, sometimes overwhelming position.]]>On Behalf of The Palmore Law Firm, PLLChttps://www.palmorelaw.com/?p=478212023-01-19T16:41:41Z2023-01-27T16:40:22Zplay a critical role in your child’s upbringing. Many parents do not understand the factors that should contribute to that decision.
If you are trying to make a rational determination, there are a few things to think about.
Do you need multiple guardians?
One thing that you may not consider is the benefit of appointing multiple guardians for your children. Sometimes it is hard to choose a guardian because the best person to raise them may not be the most impartial with their trust fund. If you establish a trust to support the children, you may want to appoint a legal guardian to have custody of the children and a financial guardian to manage their trust.
Have you considered your prospective guardian’s capacity?
When you choose a guardian for your children, you need to consider the prospective guardian’s capacity to raise your children. For example, if the individual you are considering already has several children, you may want to consider choosing someone else. In addition, it is important to choose someone responsible enough to raise your children but young enough that your children will not be a burden.
Appointing the right guardian for your children gives you the peace of mind that they are properly cared for after your death. Talk with your prospective guardian before naming them in your estate plan so that everyone is on the same page.]]>On Behalf of The Palmore Law Firm, PLLChttps://www.palmorelaw.com/?p=478102022-10-29T14:42:39Z2022-10-29T14:42:39ZYou should start a will when you start a family
If you are unsure of when the best moment might be to start writing your will, consider doing it immediately after welcoming a new child to your family. Even if you feel that you do not have many assets to your name yet, it is in your child's best interests for you to ensure that they receive the best care and support possible if the worst should happen. You can start by drafting a very simple will that accounts for the necessities and then build onto your estate plan over the years as you acquire more assets.
Estate planning becomes more difficult the longer you wait
Waiting too long to write a will means that you will have more assets and other circumstances to consider when you finally get around to it. The guardianship of your children will also come into question upon your passing if you do not specify your intent through your will or a special needs trust.
Your 20s are certainly not too early to have a will. In fact, your younger adult years are the perfect time to start an estate plan that you can build on for decades to come.]]>On Behalf of The Palmore Law Firm, PLLChttps://www.palmorelaw.com/?p=478082022-09-17T18:25:58Z2022-09-17T18:25:58ZQualifying circumstances
In Texas, grandparents have the right to petition the family court for custody and visitation privileges under certain circumstances:
A family court judge has terminated the parent-child relationship
The child has lived with the grandparent(s) for six or more months already
The parents or guardians have neglected or abused the grandchild
The parents are incompetent, pass away or go to jail for at least three months
One or both parents try to isolate the children from the grandparents during a divorce
If your grandchild lives with you, you may have a good case for full custody and child support. However, if someone other than a legal stepparent adopts your grandchild, you cannot request visitation.
Applying for grandparents’ rights
If your family structure is changing significantly, and you worry about being able to spend quality time with your grandchildren, you have the opportunity to step in and provide necessary support. Courts recognize the value of close family relationships, and they often grant requests to modify and enforce custody and visitation when it serves the children's best interest. You will need to provide evidence of your bond with the children.
You cannot control everything in your family, but you have the right to protect the little ones in your life who have very little say in what happens to them when their world falls apart.]]>On Behalf of The Palmore Law Firm, PLLChttps://www.palmorelaw.com/?p=474922022-05-04T14:57:21Z2022-05-04T14:57:21Zdrafting a will with a competent individual, elementary questions will arise. Regardless, contemplate these queries independently ahead of meeting with a professional.
What are your objectives?
Just like families, every will is different. The one you write must be specific to your goals. Make a list of every issue yours needs to cover. Do you have minors in your household? If so, it is incumbent on you to specify who will have custody of them. What about social media? You can give instructions on how to handle your digital presence after you are gone. Funeral wishes are another concern that bears discussion.
What is your family situation?
Are your parents still alive? Perhaps they will need nursing care or medical attention in the future. If you have the means, you might earmark a particular fund for achieving this. The same goes for offspring with disabilities. You can determine what percentage of funds will go toward their situational care.
What assets are yours?
Every possession of value needs consideration, not just financial holdings. Do you have a home? Your document should specify to whom it will belong. The same goes for vacation properties. Don't forget to account for vehicles, including recreational ones.
Preparing a will requires reviewing everything it might need to cover. Make sure these topics are part of your estate planning experience.]]>On Behalf of The Palmore Law Firm, PLLChttps://www.palmorelaw.com/?p=474592022-02-04T23:36:47Z2022-02-04T23:36:47Zlegal documents that specify your desires and control the distribution of your assets. Your assets need to be correctly set up for your will to control their distribution.
Financial accounts
When you set up a bank account or investment account, the documents usually include an option for you to designate a person or multiple persons as the owner after your death. If you have financial arrangements that include a payable on death designation, your will does not control the distribution of these items. Likewise, if you name a joint owner on your assets, the accounts will not pass through your probate estate. If you want your will to distribute your financial accounts, you need to ensure that these accounts do not have a payable on death designee or joint owner that is not your estate.
Life insurance policies
Life insurance policies usually require you to designate a beneficiary of the proceeds payable after your death. If you want your estate planning documents to control the distribution of any life insurance proceeds, you will need to name your estate as the policy's beneficiary. You should also check your retirement assets as these accounts provide for a beneficiary designation.
To ensure your will controls the distribution of your assets, you need to review your accounts to verify they are appropriately titled to go through your probate estate.]]>On Behalf of The Palmore Law Firm, PLLChttps://www.palmorelaw.com/?p=474582021-11-08T18:00:43Z2021-11-08T18:00:43ZOnly rich people need wills
If you are an adult, you should have a will, regardless of your assets. Property like vehicles, real estate, furniture and family heirlooms can all become subject to property division. Keep in mind that financial matters are not the only issues involved in estate planning.
Only older people need wills
It is an unfortunate fact of life that tragedy can befall anyone at any time. Illnesses, accidents and injuries do not discriminate based on age.
My family can make my estate decisions
Estate disputes can happen even in the closest, most loving families. Maybe your family will manage to agree on how to settle your estate, but adding difficult decisions like asset division and burial plans can create more stress for your grieving loved ones.
I do not need to update my existing will
Updating your will periodically is a necessary strategy if you want to ensure your estate is properly handled. Marriages, divorces, births and new property acquisition are all causes for a revision. Even in the absence of any life-changing events, giving your will a review is a good idea to make sure you still agree with the choices you made in the past.
Every adult needs a will and every will needs occasional updating.]]>