Forney law pllc
Your Personal Family Lawyer for Life
Because you’re leaving your loved ones more than just assets - you’re leaving them your legacy
Welcome video
This quick guide helps you learn how to make the smart and loving choice for your family
Welcome!
Congratulations on taking the first step toward planning for everyone and everything you love. I look forward to learning your story, hearing what matters to you, and helping you discover how to keep your loved ones out of court and out of conflict when something happens to you, or them.
In one sentence, I help families avoid collapse after the death or disability of a loved one. Find out more about me here.
To find out more about how you can start on this important planning, you are invited to one of our upcoming events (schedule coming soon).
Or schedule your FREE 15-minute consultation and speak with us personally about your family. Schedule online by clicking here.
Undecided? That is totally fine. It is normal to feel a little uneasy about estate planning and business planning.
Many of our happiest clients started just where you are right now. But when they read the best selling book on estate planning for families, Wear Clean Underwear (funny name, right?), they felt more at ease, educated and informed about this important planning than they ever had before. And they love the peace of mind that comes with knowing everything is set up the right way for themselves, their future, and their loved ones.
I would love to send you a copy of Wear Clean Underwear: A Fast, Fun, Friendly – and Essential – Guide to Legal Planning for Busy Families for FREE as my gift to you for considering working with me.
Simply click here to request your free copy and it will immediately arrive in your inbox.
It's called "Wear Clean Underwear" because your mom always told you to wear clean underwear in case you were in an accident. But once you become a parent, there are important legal planning steps you need to take as well. The book gets 4.4 stars on Amazon.
Upcoming Events
ESTATE PLANNING: THE BASICS
FREE Estate Planning Workshop
MAY
16
6:00
PM
- Build Family Wealth
- Protect Loved Ones
- Preserve Your Legacy
- Avoid Court & Conflict
Spring Branch Memorial Library
930 Corbindale Rd, Houston, TX 77024
Schedule Online
This is not your average newsletter! You'll get interesting stories, cautionary tales, and tips on how to protect your family and your assets.
Congratulations on making it this far! I'm assuming you're here because you want to talk with us about how you can keep your family out of court and out of conflict when something happens to you.
Or, maybe you are the family member or close friend of a loved one, and something has happened and now you need advice. If so, our hearts are with you, and we will do our best to help you keep things as simple as possible.
We work a little differently that most estate planning attorneys, and all of the differences are designed to get your plan designed for you quickly and with the least friction possible. We want to make this easy and simple for you (even enjoyable!) so that you can go back to taking care of your family and your business. Read on for how to schedule with us.
Choose this option if you need quick guidance on whether a more in-depth meeting is right for you.
Life & Legacy Planning Session
The Life & Legacy Planning Session is a 90-minute to 2-hour working meeting during which we will guide you to look at everything you own (your assets), everyone you love (your family dynamics), and what will happen to all of it when something happens to you (your legacy).
Then you will tell us what matters to you most about your life and legacy, and if you decide to proceed, together we will design the most effective and affordable plan for you and the people you love.
The fee for this meeting would normally be $750.
But, if you would like us to waive the Planning Session fee, all you need to do is commit to getting a little educated and completing your Personal Resource Map (I call it the "homework") before our meeting, and submitting it at least 48 hours before your meeting so we make the best use of our time together.
Doing the Personal Resource Map homework is a crucial first step in estate planning. This will not only give you and your loved ones clarity about your assets, it will make the Life & Legacy Planning Session totally free for you. Even if you decide not to move forward with your plan, you will leave with clarity about your assets and what would happen if something were to happen to you today.
If you would prefer to not submit the work ahead of time, you are welcome to pay for the Life and Legacy Planning Session and we will credit the Planning Session fee to any additional work we do together afterwards.
Note: We require a credit card to hold your appointment slot. Nothing will be charged unless you cancel at the last minute, don't show up for the appointment, or don't complete your Personal Resource Map at least 48 hours in advance.
wELCOME TO THE BLOG!
Here’s a gift that keeps on giving: the peace of mind and power that comes with thoughtful estate planning. Estate planning helps you protect yourself, your children and your financial stability so you’re prepared for anything.
Having a Will is important—and all adults over age 18 should have this document in place. Yet for all but a few people, creating a Will is just one small part of an effective estate plan that works to keep your loved ones out of court and out of conflict.
Ever wondered what happens to your social media accounts after you pass away? Each social media platform has its own rules, so understanding these options is essential for managing your digital accounts responsibly.
So you got a tax refund this year. Hooray! While you may be tempted to spend it on a vacation, or put it away for a rainy day, there’s an even better way to put that refund to work for you: estate planning. Here’s why.
In an era where digital innovation shapes every aspect of our lives, it's no surprise that our teenagers are drawn to the allure of cryptocurrency. But before they venture into these waters, parents should be prepared to help them navigate this new world.
Do-it-yourself Wills and Trusts are all over the internet, with promises of saving you money and protecting your loved ones after you’re gone. But don’t be fooled! They’re often way more trouble than they’re worth.
Anyone who’s seen an episode of “Modern Family” knows that families these days come in many different shapes and sizes. Long gone are the days when a “family” was defined as a mother, father and two children. The new normal is the blended family.
Love is wonderful—joyful moments, shared dreams for the future, and yes, some legal considerations too. For married couples, the law has default provisions in place for what happens to your assets if one of you dies, but those default plans may not align with your personal preferences or the life you’ve built with your partner.
As your parents gracefully navigate their golden years, ensuring their peace of mind (and yours!) becomes a priority. One of the very best things you can do for your own future, and that of your entire future lineage - your children, grandchildren, and beyond - is to take great care of the people you were born to or raised by.
Last week we explored seven ways to show your finances and your family some love with smart, tax-advantaged financial tips for the new year. This week, we are continuing the financial love with 6 more tips you can use to benefit your family.
While thoughtful financial planning doesn’t sound as fun as a fancy night out or a night in with Netflix, making smart planning decisions with your assets is one of the best gifts you can give – and a gift that keeps giving over time.
As parents, we're hardwired to prioritize our children's well-being above all else. We work tirelessly to provide for them, nurture them, and ensure they have every opportunity to thrive.
Navigating your financial journey with the heavy burden of student loan debt on your back can feel overwhelming.
Love is undoubtedly the most profound and cherished thread that weaves us all together, and there are many different ways to express our love to the people who mean the most to us.
If you’ve given any thought about estate planning, you probably associate it with preparing for death. But there are critical reasons for and significant benefits to planning while you’re still alive and well.
A comprehensive Life & Legacy Plan is about creating a strategy that lets you enjoy your life to the fullest while protecting your loved ones' future when you can no longer be there.
Want to contribute to your grandchild’s future college education? The FAFSA Simplification Act, which went into effect in December, now makes it possible for grandparents to do even more to help finance their grandchild’s education.
As we welcome the New Year, filled with hope and resolutions for a brighter future, one commitment should be at the top of your list– creating a Kids Protection Plan™.
wELCOME TO THE BLOG!
Last week, we started our discussion on estate planning for a loved one with a dementia diagnosis and what this means for their ability to protect their wishes through an estate plan.
Caring for a loved one with dementia is a challenge that millions of families undertake each year. As a caregiver, understanding how a dementia diagnosis affects your loved one’s legal decision-making is crucial to ensuring their wishes are honored.
Losing a loved one is an incredibly challenging experience, and the journey through grief can be both complex and overwhelming. Unfortunately, we all experience grief at one time or another, and knowing how to manage your own grief and how to be there for others who are grieving is an important skill that can improve your life and relationships.
In December 2022, Congress passed the SECURE 2.0 Act, bringing significant changes to the world of retirement savings and student loans. Two key parts of the Secure 2.0 Act are in effect, and they could substantially impact your family's financial future.
When creating an estate plan, people are often most concerned with passing on the “big things” like real estate, bank accounts, and vehicles. Smaller items, like family heirlooms and keepsakes, which may not have a high dollar value, frequently have the most sentimental value for our family members.
As a parent, you’re likely hoping to leave your children an inheritance. In fact, doing so may be one of the primary factors motivating your life’s work. But without taking the proper precautions, the wealth you pass on is at serious risk of being accidentally lost or squandered due to common life events.
Business ownership is a fulfilling and exciting endeavor, but it also comes with rules, responsibilities, and reporting requirements that can be hard to track. If you own a small business or have a Trust that owns a business interest, you’ll need to comply with the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).
If you’re part of a blended family (meaning you are married with children from a prior marriage in the mix), you’re no stranger to the extra considerations and planning it takes to keep your family’s life running smoothly. You’ve also probably given some thought to what you want to happen to your assets and your family if something happens to you.
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About Me
I earned a bachelor's degree from Rice University and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, and I've been a practicing lawyer for 20 years. But that's not all you need to know. You need to know who I really am, and how I can help you.
I practiced law for 17 years before realizing the true value of my law degree. You see, for the longest time I wasn’t sure why I went to law school in the first place. After I graduated, I represented clients against the IRS and I was good at it. We won consistently. But I didn’t feel like I was making a difference in people's lives, and that’s really important to me.
I had done some wills and estate planning for clients, but I thought estate planning was mostly for rich people with complicated assets and steep estate taxes. People who could afford to pay the high hourly rates my firm charged -- $600 per hour and up. I didn’t realize that everyone needs estate planning, and that it’s about so much more than just financial wealth. It’s also about preserving family relationships after you’re gone.
"Because you’re leaving your loved ones more than just assets - you’re leaving them your legacy. And you don't want it to be a fight."
And then, I had a personal experience that made me realize everyone needs to prepare for what happens when they die. While my mother was bedridden and suffering from dementia, a family member took advantage of the situation (as well as a lack of proper estate planning documents) to try and "re-title" some assets (some people would call it fraud). During the court fight that ensued over both the assets and my mom, I realized that everyone needs to think about what will happen when they die or become incapacitated. This is true if you have $100 or $100,000,000, and is especially true if you have children. Because you’re leaving your loved ones more than just assets - you’re leaving them your legacy. And you don't want it to be a fight.
After my experience was over, I realized that I was in a unique position to empower people to handle their affairs with such competence and thoughtfulness that it actually brings about harmony at the end of life. Who wouldn’t want that?
That’s why I pivoted my law practice to advise clients on their personal wealth, family and legacy. Our firm goes beyond traditional estate planning by helping people to not only take care of their assets and put the right documents in place, but to protect their children and families from conflict, creditors, and court. I’m honored to be able to put my law degree, my training, and my own personal experience together in a way that has the power to bring families closer together. Now, I know I'm making a difference in people's lives.
At Forney Law, our services are for everyone, not just rich people. For example, we help you preserve the assets you have, even if you think that you don't have much. We also make sure your kids are fully protected, which every parent wants. And we do it all (and so much more) for a fixed fee that you choose, based on your situation and the results you want to achieve. So you never have to worry about the cost when you pick up the phone and call us.
These are just a few of the things that make our practice different.
Let's keep in touch!
Forney Law
5615 Kirby Dr., Suite 416
Houston, TX 77005
