As a family protection planning and elder law firm, professionals at Frisco-headquartered Haiman Hogue, PLLC, say their foundational belief is to "faithfully serve God, clients and community" in legal projects they handle.
"Our focus is to use our unique God-given talents and abilities to help and serve others," says founding partner Fred Haiman.
“We treat our clients with dignity and respect while ensuring they're in full control of their money and assets," adds founding partner Rex Hogue.
This legal assistance spans wills, trusts, trust administration, college planning, probate, guardianship, special needs, powers of attorney, deeds, business planning and asset protection, with services tailored to each client's unique needs.
"There's no such thing as one-size-fits-all estate planning," says Susan Barnett, Haiman Hogue estate planning and elder law attorney.
Estate planning is the process of making arrangements for how assets and affairs will be handled if one becomes incapacitated or passes on. This planning is important because it helps ensure assets go to the intended beneficiaries, reduces family strife and avoids expensive and time-consuming court proceedings.
This law team assists clients with defining and understanding necessary steps for estate planning. For example, the probate of someone’s estate is a court-supervised process used when a person passes on with or without a will. Trust administration is a more private process, and is used when a decedent has a trust.
Asset protection planning involves making current prudent decisions to protect oneself, business, and hard-earned assets from loss due to lawsuits, creditors or bankruptcies.
Sometimes, a guardianship is needed, which allows a person or entity to make decisions for an adult who can no longer take care of himself/herself due to mental or physical disability or incapacity.
Sheila Williamson, Haiman Hogue director of community services, says the team offers free educational events each year, regarding topics such as 'Does a Trust Make Sense in Texas?' and 'Estate Planning 101.' They also participate in community resource fairs.
They have done webinars on these topics: Trusts Including Special Needs; Guardianship In Texas; Strategies For Mediating and Avoiding Family Fights; Blended Families: A Brady Bunch Nightmare; Addiction In The Family/How It Affects Care and Planning; My Loved One Just Passed…Now What; Elder Abuse and Adult Protective Services; and Preparing For Cognitive Incapacity.
"And we're always willing to provide a guest speaker for professional organizations and civic groups," Sheila adds.
She says she and her colleagues truly live out their faith, offering complimentary phone consultations to potential clients, because "we believe it shouldn't cost people something just to find out if we can help them."
Meals on Wheels is one nonprofit initiative supported by the Haiman Hogue staff. Sheila says it's the combination of checking on homebound residents and bringing them nutrition that is most inspiring. "This cause fits perfectly for the way we do business."
Additional charitable groups that Haiman Hogue professionals have sponsored or actively are participating in include Grace To Change; Latter House Décor; Lift R & R; Treasured Vessels; Melody of Hope; Camp Craig Allen; Alzheimer's Association; McKinney Repertory Theatre; Frisco Family Services; Prosper Education Foundation; The Fairhill School; and 29 Acres.
In addition to its headquarters within the Comstock Building, 5300 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 200, the firm also has locations in Arlington, Sherman and Gainesville.
214.618.3160
HaimanHogue.com
Estate planning can be complex; it also provides opportunities for empowerment and peace of mind.