DeFord Law Firm Articles
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Recent Articles
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What Happens to Your Estate Plan After a Divorce in Texas?
Review what divorce changes and what still needs to be updated.
5 Common Custody Mistakes Texas Parents Make
Understand common custody errors that create avoidable conflict.
Relocating After Divorce
What parents should know before moving after divorce.
How Divorce Can Affect Your Business
Divorce Planning for Business Owners How Divorce Can Affect Your Business Divorce may begin as a personal matter, but for a business owner it can also affect cash flow, ownership interests, financial planning, operations, and the people who depend on the company. For...
Should You Update Beneficiary Forms After Divorce?
Estate Planning After Divorce Should You Update Beneficiary Forms After Divorce? Divorce often marks the beginning of a new chapter. Whether you are rebuilding, planning for remarriage, or simply looking ahead, your estate plan should reflect the life you are living...
How Marital Property Is Divided in a Texas Divorce
Going through a divorce in Texas often raises immediate questions about who gets what. Understanding how the state treats property acquired during a marriage can make the entire process feel less overwhelming. Texas is a community property state, which means the rules...
Family Law Articles
Divorce, custody, child support, relocation, mediation, and parenting guidance for Texas families.
5 Common Custody Mistakes Texas Parents Make
Practical custody guidance for Texas parents.
The Real Cost of a Texas Divorce
Compare mediation, litigation, and strategic cost factors.
5 Common Custody Mistakes Texas Parents Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Table of Contents Common Custody Mistakes in Texas Speaking Negatively About the Other Parent Failing to Document Problems Ignoring Missed Visitation Communication & Legal Delays FAQs Conclusion 5 Common Custody Mistakes Texas Parents Make (And How to Avoid Them)...
Relocating After Divorce: What Parents Must Know
Table of Contents Relocating After Divorce With Children The Hidden Timing Problem What Happens When Relocation Goes Wrong A Practical Relocation Framework What a Strong Outcome Looks Like FAQs Conclusion Relocating After Divorce: What Parents Must Know Relocating...
When a Spouse Leaves Without Warning
Table of Contents When Stability Disappeared Overnight The Financial Reality No One Prepares For The Moment Everything Became Urgent What Real Legal Support Looked Like From Fear to Stability FAQs Conclusion When Stability Disappeared Overnight There was no warning....
Estate Planning Articles
Wills, trusts, guardianship, beneficiary updates, and planning after major life changes.
What Happens to Your Estate Plan After a Divorce?
What divorce does not automatically fix in your estate plan.
Do You Need a New Will After Moving to Texas?
Why an out-of-state will may still need review.
Five Estate Planning Myths
Common misconceptions that leave Texas families exposed.
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Myth vs. Reality: Houston Couples & Common Law
Myth vs. Reality: Unmarried Couples in The Woodlands, Texas Table of Contents The Common Law Marriage Myth What Texas Actually Requires The Risks Most Couples Overlook What Happens During Separation How Couples Protect Themselves FAQs Conclusion The Common Law...
Who Inherits When There Is No Will and Multiple Children?
Table of Contents Introduction The Core Problem Most Families Miss It Depends on Family Structure What Can Go Wrong Between Siblings What To Do Next What a Strong Outcome Looks Like FAQs Conclusion Who Inherits When There Is No Will and Multiple Children? When a...
What Happens If a Parent Dies Without a Will in Texas?
Table of Contents The Core Problem Most Families Misunderstand The Court Takes Control What Can Go Wrong What To Do Next What a Strong Outcome Looks Like FAQs Conclusion When a parent dies, most adult children expect there will be a plan. Not a perfect one. Not a...
Probate Articles
Resources for families, executors, and beneficiaries navigating probate after a death.
What to Do After a Spouse Dies
Clear next steps after sudden loss and probate uncertainty.
Understanding the Texas Probate Process
A starting point for families trying to understand probate.
Will Contests in Texas
What families should understand when an estate dispute begins.
What Happens If a Parent Dies Without a Will in Texas?
Table of Contents The Core Problem Most Families Misunderstand The Court Takes Control What Can Go Wrong What To Do Next What a Strong Outcome Looks Like FAQs Conclusion When a parent dies, most adult children expect there will be a plan. Not a perfect one. Not a...
What to Do After a Spouse Dies: Clarity After Sudden Loss
Table of Contents When Everything Changed Overnight The Hidden Reality of Probate The Turning Point What Real Guidance Looked Like What Changed FAQs Conclusion When Everything Changed Overnight There was no warning. One moment, life was moving forward as expected. The...
Unmarried Couples: The Hidden Risk of Joint Accounts
Table of Contents The Hidden Risk of Joint Accounts The Assumption Behind Shared Accounts What Happens Immediately After Death What’s at Stake How Unmarried Couples Can Reduce Risk What a Strong Outcome Looks Like FAQs Conclusion Unmarried Couples: The Hidden Risk of...
High-Net-Worth & Complex Matters
Complex estates, business ownership, significant assets, fiduciary risk, trusts, and high-value family matters.
How Business Owners Lose Control of Their Company in Divorce
Why valuation and settlement structure matter in complex divorce.
What Happens to Your Estate Plan After a Divorce?
A crossover issue involving beneficiaries, control, and asset protection.
Blended Families and Trusts
Planning for inheritance, remarriage, and family complexity.
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How to Ensure Your Will is Executed Properly and Avoid Estate Disputes
Having a valid and accessible will is the cornerstone of proper estate planning. When you pass away, your estate will be managed according to your wishes, provided you’ve made these wishes clear and easy to find. But what happens if your will can’t be found? Or if...
50/50 Custody in Texas: How Career Moms Can Create a Parenting Plan That Actually Works
In Texas, more parents are walking into courtrooms and mediation sessions to discuss child custody schedule ideas for 50/50 parenting in Texas than ever before. For a career-focused mother, this shift brings both opportunity and challenge. Equal parenting time can be...
Business Owners and Child Support: How Texas Courts Calculate Income When You’re Self-Employed
Texas courts calculate child support for business owners by examining multiple years of business records, adding back personal expenses disguised as business costs, and using income smoothing to determine actual earning capacity rather than relying solely on reported...