Tarrant County Estate Planning – Avoiding Probate

Probate is when a will goes through a legal process to determine if it is authentic. It is a common legal procedure, but it is also very timely. Wills that go through probate takes time and money, which is why some try to avoid it altogether. There is a way to skip probate, and there may be scenarios when you would want to skip the process. Find a Tarrant County Estate Planning Attorney who will help educate you on these facts.

Wills are used to pass on property to beneficiaries once a person dies. If a will is not established, then the courts will create one and distribute property how they see fit. Wills are very beneficial for the families after a family member’s death and the testate, the person dying. The family will have a more comfortable process after their loved one’s passing. Plus, their loved one will have peace of mind when they do pass.

Ways of Avoiding Probate

There are ways of avoiding probate, but there needs to be careful planning. Firstly, it is best to have a will. Those who die without wills may also require probate. You may want to avoid probate to skip the many legal fees you will incur or avoid the estate taxes. Your reason may also simply be privacy.

Regardless of the reason, there are ways of avoiding probate. One way of avoiding this lengthy legal process is to set up a revocable living trust. Property is placed into the trust that is only accessible to the owner. Once they die, the property is given to a beneficiary, and no probate is needed.

Life insurance policies are another way you can avoid probate. They require policyholders to add a beneficiary to the plan. Once the holder passes, then the property is passed on to the beneficiary. Retirement plans may also be another option, but not all of them work the same way.

In general, you will most likely go through probate. Unless you actively plan to avoid it, the process will most likely occur. That said, probate is relatively inexpensive, and the process has been streamlined over the years.

Take the time to research what you want. Find an Estate Planning Lawyer that can help you understand what is important. Find an attorney that will make you feel comfortable.

Call for a Will or a Probate Lawyer

If you are needing to create a will or want probate assistance, get in touch with The Fetty Firm. Rashelle Fetty has years of experience with family court. Give her firm a call at (214) 546-5746. Clients should also visit her will and probate pages to find out more about the process.

Tarrant County Child Custody

Looking for a TX Child Custody Lawyer? You have come to the right place. Check out the information and see if it helps during this difficult time. We can provide you with the best child support attorney available to you.

Can The Fetty Firm Help Me?

Yes, we can! If you are ready to seek a family law attorney, visit our law firm. Rashelle Fetty is the best attorney in Colleyville as well as the sole attorney at this firm. She is highly qualified and can bring her expertise to your court hearing. She represents clients for family law issues and could become your savior in this situation.

You may not be well-versed in the ins and outs of the legal system, but Ms. Fetty is. She has been working in the legal field since 2008, which makes her experience range over a decade, so you can count on years of experience! Rashelle grew up in Enid, Oklahoma and went to college at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Clients are her first priority and they can feel the difference her attention makes.

Texas Child Custody Factors

In the state of  Texas, child custody is called “conservatorship”. Child custody battles will require the use of the courts. If you and the other parent can agree on a schedule, all they will need to do is approve a written agreement. If you two cannot agree, a family law judge will have to decide the terms.

One of the parents will be designated the primary conservator, therefore the person who decides the primary residence of the child. There are many factors which help to decide who the primary conservator should be, such as;

• Who feeds your child
• Bathes your child
• Gets the child ready for school
• Takes or pick up the child from school or daycare
• Scheduled and attended the child’s doctors appointments
• Attended school activities
• Participated in extra-curricular and homework activities
• Etc.

This may also raise the question of what else matters in a child custody case. See the list below.

• The child’s desires
• The physical and emotional needs of the child in both the present and the future
• The potential danger to the child
• The respective parental abilities of both parents
• Stability of the home environment
• Each parent’s plans for the child’s future
• Evidence of domestic violence, sexual assault, etc.
• Whether or not either parent has filed false child abuse reports

Regardless of the court’s decision, the joint parent will be required to pay child support to the primary parent until the child is 18 years of age.

Your Requirements

If you and your partner are divorcing, Texas courts will require you to take a parenting class before granting a divorce. This requirement is meant to help your children, as well as you, deal with the potential trauma of the divorce. You have the option of completing this course online.

You have to be able to provide the child with a place to stay whether you are the primary or joint conservator. Some federal standards include cleanliness, running water, electricity, and the like. You will likely have a court representative make home visits or look into your finances to determine whether or not you are a competent caretaker.

Any history of domestic abuse will hinder your parental rights. Similarly, a history of sexual assault. If you or someone you intend to cohabitate with is a registered sex offender, you are required to notify the court and the other parent. How this affects your case will be up to the judge and what your charges were.

If you are in prison, probation, or parole, you are not entitled to child visitation. This is left up to the court and the other parent, once again.

The Fetty Firm Practices Family Law

There are many aspects of family law. Here is a list of the family law matters that The Fetty Firm covers.

• Adoption
• Child Support
• Child Custody
• Divorce
• Enforcement of/Modification of Orders
• Spousal Support
• Termination of Parental Rights

There may be many irresponsible attorneys who are seeking to profit from this potentially painful situation. Representing clients sympathetically and effectively should be their focus. You deserve the best family law attorneys available to you.

Situations That Call For A Law Firm

To move on, let’s look at some examples of situations that may be similar to yours. It can be helpful to take a glance at some hypotheticals. Also, we know life isn’t always clear-cut. Because of this, we want to help you to the best of our ability.

Julia is married with two children. She has reported domestic abuse and is trying to separate both herself and her children from her husband. If possible, she wants to prevent her husband from seeing their children. He has the intent to fight her in court. This is an unfortunate reality that many women and children face. Julia needs a law firm on her side, who understands the situation and will do their best to help Julia and her kids escape.

Keith and his girlfriend, Lucy, break up after 10 years of living together. Lucy had children prior to them meeting, but Keith participated in raising them for 10 years and very much wants them in his life. While he is not their legal parent or guardian, he petitions the court for custody. He and Lucy reach a written agreement their attorney can help them put together.

Mary is the birth mother in an open adoption with extenuating circumstances. She wants to seek out visitation rights for her child, but the child’s adoptive parents are not cooperating. Given that her parental rights were legally terminated, she is unsure about what steps she can take. She should seek representation.

How Do I Contact The Fetty Firm?

It sounds like you are ready to proceed. You can call today to schedule a consultation with Ms. Fetty, at (214)-546-5746. If you would like to email instead, you can send your message to rashelle@thefettyfirm.com. Thank you for your time and consideration. You can also visit the firm website here. 

Take the next steps to alter your life for the better. You’ve found the Colleyville TX Child Custody Lawyer and it’s time to set off!

Are you currently online searching for “TX Divorce Attorney Near Me”? If so, you should contact Rashelle Fetty and The Fetty Firm at your earliest convenience. Our family law attorney office is experienced in representing clients in all sorts of family law cases.

We’ve helped clients from smooth divorce proceedings to other very high-conflict divorce cases. Furthermore, our law firm can help clients with legal matters regarding estate planning, spousal support, child support, child custody, and related legal matters.

All in all, divorce cases can be very stressful to deal with for a number of reasons. With careful planning and attention to detail, we can provide top-quality legal representation to all of our clients.

We use the experience and knowledge of Texas Family Law to achieve the best resolutions for their legal cases. We understand that doing the correct thing is important when dealing with matters that’ll affect your family’s future.

The Fetty Firm is here to provide compassionate, skillful and committed legal services from top-rated family law and divorce attorney for legal issues including:

• Adoption
• Child support
• Enforcement of modification of orders
• Spousal support
• Child custody
• Divorce
• Modification of order
• Termination of parental rights

Our Firm

Our firm has one sole attorney, Rashelle Fetty. Ms. Fetty has been working in the legal sector for over a decade. This vast experience has seen her specialize in cases such as estate planning, probate, divorce, modifications, child support, muniment of title, and small estate proceedings. The Fetty Firm is a great choice for clients looking to receive top-rated legal representation.

Rashelle grew up in Enid, Oklahoma, attending college in Norfolk, Virginia, at Old Dominion University. During her studies at ODU, Rashelle also played on the school’s division 1 golf team.

Afterward, Rashelle began law school at the Regent University of Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She completed her law degree during her time at Texas Wesleyan School of Law (now Texas A&M School of Law) in Fort Worth, Texas.

In 2013, she took and passed the Texas Bar Exam, founding The Fetty Firm, shortly after. With over a decade in the legal sector, Rashelle is proud to have vast experience in all things family law. The Fetty Firm specializes in cases regarding estate planning, probate, divorce, child custody, child support, muniment of title, and small estate proceedings.

All in all, legal services are great for several reasons. Here at The Fetty Firm, we believe in providing clients with big firm results, while giving the individualized and personal attention of a small firm.

Divorce Cases in the State of Texas

Every now and then, marriages just don’t end up working out. Regardless of the reason, divorce proceedings can end up being stressful, complex, and painful. For residents in and around Tarrant County seeking a divorce, contact The Fetty Firm for top-rated legal services.

By turning to the law offices of Rashelle Fetty, you’ll acquire the services of an experienced family law attorney. We’ll do our best to get you the best divorce settlement possible for you.

The Fetty Firm has the expertise necessary to help clients through divorce, child custody, support, spousal support, alimony, modifications, acts of family violence, division of property, and other family law issues. Our consultation and legal assistants are here to provide the best for all of our clients.

We understand how important family is, and we’ll do the best when it comes to providing high-quality legal representation.

For legal matters such as divorce or related matters, it’s important to have experienced assistance by your side. Rashelle Fetty and The Fetty Firm has managed cases of all sorts. We’ve helped clients through complex, difficult, and high-conflict litigation. Overall, our extensive knowledge of divorce laws in Texas can help with:

• Effective divorce planning
• Uncontested and contested divorce cases
• High-asset/high net worth divorce cases
• Financial issues regarding divorce, such as establishing financial stability, filing for bankruptcy, and dividing assets and debts
• Marriage annulment
• Child custody and child support orders and modifications
• Temporary orders
• Appealing court orders
• Post-divorce relocation
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
• Military divorce
• Paternity tests
• Protective orders

Filing For Divorce

One thing you’ll definitely want to make sure is that you are eligible to file for divorce in Texas. In order to be eligible, at least one of the spouses must have been a continuous resident of the state for at least six months.

Furthermore, people seeking a divorce have to file in a specific county within the state. To be eligible to file for divorce in Texas, at least one spouse must have been a resident of the county for a minimum of 90 days.

Grounds for Divorce

In Texas, courts allow for no-fault divorces. This essentially means that the person requesting divorce doesn’t have to present evidence to prove that the other spouse did something wrong. With that being said, judges do take fault into account when deciding on property division.

If you’re the one filing for divorce, include fault if you can. The reasons that are legally recognized for fault divorce include adultery, cruel treatment, abandonment for at least a year, incarceration for over a year, and confinement to a mental hospital for more than three years.

Process for Divorce

In Texas, the process of divorce is actually pretty straightforward. First, a spouse will file with the court, and the other person will consequently be served with papers. The spouse who files for divorce is the petitioner. On the other hand, the spouse receiving the papers is called the respondent.

The petitioner can get a standard temporary restraining order, which prevents either party from disappearing assets prior to the division of said assets by the court. This order also officially requires both parties to conduct themselves in a civil manner towards each other.

Contact Us Today

If you’re thinking about filing for divorce, you should definitely contact Rashelle Fetty and The Fetty Firm. You can reach us by calling (214) 546-5746. Moreover, you can learn more about our divorce law firm by visiting our website. With our services, you’ll never have to search for “TX Divorce Attorney Near Me”

Tarrant County Estate Planning

It’s important that you make arrangements for medical care before you really need it. However, there are a few ways that you can go about this. Two of the most common options are the living will and the medical power of attorney. Which one is better? We’ll explain each option in more detail to kelp you pick the best plan.

What is a Medical Power of Attorney?

A medical power of attorney designated a person to act on your behalf. If you become incapacitated, this is the person who will make all of your healthcare decisions, including surgeries, medicines, and even termination of life. This privilege doesn’t kick in until you become incapacitated and are unable to make the decisions yourself.

You and your medical power of attorney should have the same wishes regarding your healthcare. You both will have your best interests at heart, but you both may have different ideas of what that means.

What is a Living Will?

A living will provides instructions for end-of-life care. This document goes into effect if you enter a totally vegetative state and addresses concerns such as resuscitation and life support. A living will make it easier for your loved ones to make the most difficult decisions. That because you’ll actually be the one giving that call.

Why Not Both?

A living will outline your wishes when you are in a severe medical state. Up until the point where there is practically no hope of recovery, someone else will be responsible for your medical decisions. If you don’t appoint a medical power of attorney, the hospital staff might make those decisions. In that case, it’s never certain which decisions will be made. Even if this doesn’t concern you much, your family may have additional peace of mind if you appoint someone special to make those decisions. However, when it comes to deciding whether to terminate your life, you can spare your loved ones lots of grief with a living will. As you can see, having both ensures that you receive the care that you want, up to the very end.

The Fetty Firm can help you prepare and legalize both your medical power of attorney and your living will. Call us today at (214) 546-5746 to learn how to get started with drafting these documents. You can also click here to contact us online, and click here to learn more about living wills.

Board Certified Family Law Attorney

AUSTIN ( 7/26/2021 ) − Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) announced Rashelle Fetty received Board Certification in Family Law. Rashelle Fetty currently
practices in Tarrant County where she is owner of The Fetty Firm, P.C.

Board Certification is a voluntary designation program certifying Texas attorneys in 25
specific areas of law. Board Certified attorneys must be licensed for at least five years,
devote a required percentage of practice to a specialty area for at least three years,
attend continuing education seminars, pass an evaluation by fellow lawyers and judges
and pass a 6-hour written examination.

Board Certification is offered in 25 specific areas of law to attorneys. Initial Certification
is valid for five years. To remain certified, attorneys and paralegals must apply for
recertification every five years and meet substantial involvement, peer review, and
continuing legal education requirements for their specialty area.

To learn more about Board Certification or find a certified attorney in your area visit
www.tbls.org .

 

 

Creating a Trust in Texas

If you haven’t thought about how a trust helps you pass your desires and wealth on, you could be making a critical error in your estate planning. Especially for individuals with substantial assets, protecting wealth for future generations should at the top of your priority.

Benefits of a Trust

An effective trust is carefully drafted by a qualified attorney and takes into account your specific circumstances and as well as current laws. Not having proper documentation could result in you not reaping the benefiting from the benefits of a trust.

Protecting Wealth with a Trust

One of the most powerful and straightforward ways to use trust is by ensuring that your heirs have timely access to your wealth. When transferring assets through a will, your estate undergoes a procedure known as probate, conducted in state courts.

This probate process can carry some unforeseen negative consequences for the administration of your estate, such as:

• Delays – Probate proceedings can be lengthy, with some taking longer than others. Additionally, if you own property several states, probate may be required in each state.
• Costs – The fees included in probate can be quite substantial. The fees are hefty, even in basic cases, with no conflict between beneficiaries.
• Publicity – The probate process is public. A will becomes a public record once admitted to probate. This means that anyone who wishes to view it can do so. Such transparency can create unwanted scrutiny.

Control the Distribution of Your Assets

Trusts establish possible ways to transfer assets. Such as:

• Distributions for specific purposes – Ability to stipulate that the trustees shall make money available to children or grandchildren only for college tuition or maybe future health care expenses.
• Age-based terminations – The assets in a trust can also be distributed to heirs at periodic intervals. For example, 30% at the age of 40, 30% at the age of 50, and so on.

Building Your Legacy

The purpose of a trust is to help people realize a vision for their assets. With that being said, you should guide the discussion with your attorney with the goals you have for your estate. Overall, trusts can definitely help build your legacy the way you want it. Contact The Fetty Firm today at (214) 546-5746, for more information on our estate planning services.