Inheritance is difficult for many families to process for a variety of reasons, not all of which are legal. Amidst their grief, family members must decide who the deceased’s belongings should go to and matters of inheritance can become significantly more complicated...
Stepparent adoption is a formal legal process. A stepparent who has already opened their home and their heart to a stepchild can ask the courts to recognize them as one of the legal parents of the child. Stepparent adoptions require an investment of time and money....
Children who have always lived with both parents have to make a big change if their parents decide to divorce. Even if their parents aren’t together, children still count on their parents to provide them with stability and their needs. This means that the adults will...
Many adults have debts throughout their lives, but they may not think much about what will happen to those debts if they die. Unfortunately, that would mean that their loved ones would have to deal with the debts. A person’s debts don’t automatically die when the...
During a divorce, financial issues often take center stage because people debate how to divide their assets – income and earnings, investments and savings, retirement benefits, real estate, etc. But even before the divorce, it can be important to consider the couple’s...
Marriage is an exciting chapter, especially when you are a young professional building your career and future. Talking about a prenuptial agreement may feel uncomfortable, or even pessimistic, but it is really about protecting what you have worked hard to earn. Here...
Many people hoping to adopt have heard concerning stories about the process. Claims about adoption costing tens of thousands of dollars or taking years to complete can leave people hoping to become parents feeling unsure about their options. Some aspiring parents use...
Parents who must share custody may have years of working together ahead of them. They cannot make the same clean break that those without children or with older children can expect at the end of a relationship. The younger the children are, the longer the parents can...
When a loved one passes away, their estate must be managed and distributed according to their wishes and applicable laws. This process can feel overwhelming for grieving families, especially when it involves lengthy public probate proceedings. Private estate...
Divorce can result in feelings of instability and emotional trauma in a child. From when their parents tell them they are getting a divorce to when they start moving between two homes, a child may experience emotional distress. And this can be expressed in their...