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When you experience a significant life event such as marriage, birth, or loss of a family member, you may want to update your will accordingly. A trustworthy will attorney in San Marcos, TX can guide you through the process of legally amending your will in this situation. Step-by-Step Guide to Amending Your Will After a Major Life Event: Advice From Your Will Attorney in San Marcos, TX 1. Decide Whether to Revoke or Update the Will For minor changes, you can add a codicil to your old will. This legal document serves as an attachment to your will and outlines revisions you've made. If you have extensive changes, you may want to revoke the previous will and replace it with a completely new document. 2. Create the Necessary Document You follow the same process in Texas to make either a new will or a codicil. The will or codicil must be in writing and signed by you as well as two witnesses who are at least 14 years old. State law requires you to be 18 years old and of sound mind to create a will. You can make a valid will before age 18 if you're in the military or married. A valid will or codicil must be a physical document, not a PDF or digital copy. You can either type and print out the will or write it by hand, as long as it's completely in your own handwriting. You don't have to legally notarize a will or codicil in Texas. more 3. Revoke Your Previous Will Unless you decide to add a codicil, you will need to revoke your previous will. Texas gives you a few ways to cancel a will. You can include language in your new will to indicate that it supersedes the former document. You can also physically destroy your copy of the will or ask someone else to destroy it in front of you. 4. Review Periodically Keep the physical printed copy of your new will in a safe place, and give a copy to your attorney. We recommend that our clients revisit their wills every few years, or any time they have a significant life event. You should update the document if you experience marriage, divorce, the birth or death of a family member, or the adoption of a child. Out-of-state moves, gain or loss of a valuable asset, and substantial income growth may also require an update to your will. When you're reviewing your will, make sure you've chosen the right person as your executor. If you're a parent, you may want to update the person you've named as your child's guardian. You should also review the beneficiaries for each of your accounts to make sure they reflect your intentions. We make it easy to amend your will to reflect your current family structure, financial situation, and wishes for your legacy. We can also help you develop other important aspects of a comprehensive estate plan. Contact Artie Pennington Law Offices in Kyle, TX today to schedule an estate planning appointment.

​​​​The prospect of a contract with a large corporation may be exciting, but the process of navigating the various hurdles can be challenging. Negotiations with a sizable organization may even present obstacles that you haven't encountered before. A skilled business lawyer with experience of operating in Austin, TX can help to manage negotiations to deliver a compliant and legal framework that forms the basis of a successful working partnership. Here's a closer look at some of the factors that need to be considered when dealing with a larger corporation. How To Successfully Negotiate Contracts with Larger Corporations in Austin, TX Allow Sufficient Time for Every Step When you're negotiating with smaller companies, deals can be done quite quickly. This is because the decision-makers are often directly involved in all conversations and hold the necessary authority for sign-off. With larger companies, progress can be much slower, and you may find there's more red tape. This is because there may be multiple levels of approval required and information may need to be circulated to key individuals who weren't directly involved in the negotiations. Having a realistic expectation of the timescale is vital to enable you to accurately plan your resources and finances in advance. more Get the Contract Terms Reviewed By Your Business Lawyer Large corporations may have negotiated these types of deals before, and may have standard terms and conditions already prepared. There may be plenty of elements that work well for you, but don't feel obliged to accept the contract terms as they have been written. You should always ensure your business attorney is given the terms and conditions to assess in detail. Bespoke terms and conditions which are specific to your contract are preferable, and that includes the language used. The terms and conditions must be unambiguous in their meaning, and without unnecessary jargon. Your lawyer will be able to draft contract terms that deliver what you need in clear language. Prepare for Future Conflict If negotiations are progressing well, it may seem strange to think about future conflict, but there's a very good chance there will be issues in the future. Points of conflict can arise in even the very best of working partnerships, and without a clear resolution, problems can quickly escalate. Your contract negotiations should cover how often you'll review the provision, and how any issues will be raised. There should also be a clear path for dispute resolution that includes mediation to ensure conflict can be fairly resolved. Remember: You Are an Equal Party When you're dealing with a large corporation, it's easy to feel intimidated by their experience and established structure. This may be particularly the case if you're negotiating numbers that are much larger than usual for your business. However, one of the most important points to always keep in the forefront of your mind is that you are an equal partner in negotiations. No matter how large the corporation is, you have something that they want, and this gives you an advantage. They are not doing you a favor by agreeing a contract and you can simply walk away if the details don't work for your business. The lawyer that you use for business negotiations is one of the most powerful assets you have. With experience in handling complex negotiations, a skilled lawyer can ensure the deal is secured with your interests properly safeguarded. To schedule a meeting to discuss how we could help with any area of business law, contact us today at Artie Pennington Law Offices, PLLC in Austin, TX or Kyle, TX.