This seems like a slightly rude and obtrusive question, but it's a good one. If you have filed for domestic partnership instead of getting married (either because you're LGBTQ and it was previously illegal or because you and your partner wanted benefits through your jobs without being married), p...
It's that time of year again! Spring has sprung. The flowers are in bloom, and I'm sneezing all over the place (sorry). Aside from daylight saving time springing us forward, and the signs of life that come after winter, I began to wonder: how am I spending my time? Am I attempting to serve all of...
On the internet everyone is a critic. Sites like Yelp, Angie's List, Google Plus, and other platforms regularly offer people an opportunity to express how they feel about a business and describe what kind of experiences they've had. What all of these sites have in common, however, is a lack of an...
1. Write a will Nobody likes to think about the inevitable but life can change in an instant. Does anyone ever plan to have a car accident or fall ill? Of course not. But we buy car insurance and medical insurance anyway. If you have children, own a business, or anticipate having a family, a las...
It's that time of the year again! The leaves have changed colors. Folks have started wearing jackets and scarves. Fall (also known as autumn) is my favorite time of year. It's the only season with two names, and Thanksgiving (also my favorite) is the most low-pressure, feel-good holiday there is....
This weekend I attended the Legal Max seminar hosted by Dave Lorenzo, the man pictured to my right. I learned some really great ideas that I wanted to share on my blog. One of the things that struck me about Dave and the other awesome presenters was their enthusiasm. As I wind down 2014 and think...
1. You need to meet with a financial planner. Let's face it: children cost money. If you're a new parent, it's a good idea to consult with a financial planner about what kind of savings you need to begin putting in place to finance your child's education. 2. You should purchase life insurance. L...
Most of the time I meet people in the middle of a crisis. Sometimes a loved one has recently died. Other times my clients have pending criminal charges or lawsuits filed against them. In these instances, my clients are reacting to the slings and arrows of life. Crises happen and are sometimes una...
I get this question often, so it seemed like a great topic for a blog. If you live in Texas and you've successfully completed deferred adjudication (commonly called probation), you may be eligible for non-disclosure. Non-disclosure is different from expungement. The expungement of a criminal reco...
Previously, I discussed the precarious state of gays and lesbians in the state of Texas. For more information on this topic, please check out this blog. This is a follow-up to identify some basic estate planning documents that truly everyone needs, but particularly unmarried couples and domestic ...
An AirBnB host in California got a rude awakening to the reality of using the internet to turn her home into an income producing property. Cory Tschogl rented out her condo to an individual using the popular vacation rental website for a long-term stay. When Tschogl was ready for him to leave, he...
I get this question in a variety of forms from time to time and thought it would make a good topic for a blog post. To answer the question simply: no, Texas does not recognize same-sex marriage. But what does this mean to LGBTQ couples who've married in states that do recognize their unions? 1. D...
As an attorney, I often get questions from friends, family, and colleagues about what to do in certain sticky situations. If you've ever been out drinking and are worried about the possibility of a DWI, this post is for you. If you are pulled over by a police officer in the state of Texas, please...
The Law Office of Kimberly D. Moss is proud to present a new promotion effective June 2014! Cohabiting or married couples can get a great deal on a simple will by contacting us for a joint consultation. For the price of one will, two people can have their simple wills written for the low price o...
Recently, the American Bar Association Journal published an article about “sovereign citizens.” You can read it here. It goes into great detail about a group of people who consider themselves to be outside of the laws of the United States because, in their view, the United States of America was t...
Free wills month is upon us, and in honor of the promotional my firm is proudly participating in on behalf of the American Heart Association, Texas Children's Hospital, and The University of St. Thomas, I thought it would be a great idea to shed some light on important things to consider when sit...
Having practiced in the Harris county family courts for the past several years, I have learned that court dockets often move slowly due to the sheer volume of cases filed and the limited number of judges available to hear those matters. I have also learned that sometimes politics overshadow the a...
When I'm not busy solving legal problems and dealing with the day-to-day realities of running a law office, I like to support local artists, particularly local musicians. On April 19, 2013, I took off my lawyer hat, let my hair down, and thoroughly enjoyed Record Store Day at Cactus Music, one of...
Unfortunately when discussing divorce and family law issues sometimes people reveal potentially damaging information about their behavior and attitudes toward their children or, more commonly, their stepchildren. In my practice, I have encountered individuals so riddled with grief and despair thr...
The Law Office of Kimberly D. Moss is proud to announce that we are participating in Capacity Marketing for Charities' Free Wills Month during the month of May 2014. In an effort to spread the word about making charitable contributions while preparing your estate plan, we are offering simple will...
Lawyers know this but the general public may not be aware that as of January 1, 2014 the state of Texas mandated electronic filing of civil matters. The change will be completely effective in all counties as of July 1, 2016, but in the meanwhile, judges, attorneys, court staff, and administrators...
Many attorneys, local and nationwide, have taken to offering “free initial consultations.” In fact, when I first started my practice, I was one of them. I very quickly realized this was a mistake, and I'd like to share three (3) reasons why the idea of a “free consultation” is a misleading one. 1...
Texas is known to have rich natural reserves of natural minerals and oil. If you own land in Texas, it can be extremely likely that you can rich reserves of valuable minerals and oil under your land. In these cases, you can lease out the rights and collect royalty payments for mineral rights in T...
This question was posed to me by a friend recently, and to answer his question and shed some light on the topic in general, I wrote today's blog. The following six (6) points require these definitions: Testator– living person who writes a will identifying his or her wishes upon death Decedent– a ...
People often ask me about their rights as part of a common-law marriage. Here are 5 facts about this arrangement that you may not have known. 1. Common law marriage is not recognized in every state. Only Alabama, Colorado, Kansas, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Iowa, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, and ...
