Estate Planning and Probate

Our lawyers can help you during this most difficult time of your life. Proper planning can make life much easier for the family and friends we leave behind. Our lawyers are located in Bryan-College Station, Texas, less than two hours from Houston, Austin, and Waco, Texas. Whether your loved one dies with or without leaving a Will, our probate and estate administration services will give you the guidance you need to steer your loved one's estate through probate while minimizing taxes, court costs and expense.

Our lawyers provide a full range of probate and estate litigation representation. We will apply for probate of your loved one's Will and help you through the administration process. Effective representation in disputes involving the validity of a will, the legality of terms in a will, or the appropriate division of assets requires an experienced probate litigation attorney. Likewise, many complexities may exist when someone dies without leaving a Will or when someone in a "blended family" dies.

Our lawyers represent businesses in the probate process by securing payment of outstanding debts from the estates of people who die before satisfying outstanding financial obligations. Estate claims by businesses provide the mechanism by which a business can seek to have its debt satisfied out of the Decedent's estate. Businesses who can properly establish their claims receive priority in being paid prior to any distributions to the decedent's family. On the other hand, businesses that are not properly represented in making their claims may face losing any potential for recovery of the debt owed by the Decedent.

To schedule an appointment with an attorney, call (979) 846-9608 or contact us online today.

Dispute Resolution

Finding the Best Resolution Strategy

No two cases are ever the same. While some can be resolved between the parties, others are better suited to a traditional litigation approach. At Meece & Associates, our lawyers will help you find the resolution strategy that is best for achieving your goals in light of your circumstances.

Attorney C. Patrick Meece is a certified mediator. While our lawyers are fully able to handle tough adversarial litigation and trials, we recommend our clients explore more cooperative options first.

To meet with one of our attorneys, call (979) 846-9608 or contact us online.

Child Custody / Possession

For most parents, nothing is more important than their children. Child custody issues can be among the most emotionally sensitive: the more time the child spends with one parent, the less time he or she spends with the other.

Located in Bryan-College Station, Texas, less than a two-hour drive from Houston, Austin, and Waco, our lawyers will work hard to meet your goals for your child custody arrangement. We provide caring, honest, personal service and we strive to maintain the highest standards of integrity.

To schedule an appointment to discuss child custody, call (979) 846-9608 or contact us online.

Alternative Ways to Resolve Child Custody Disputes

Our law firm works to resolve child custody disputes without damaging the family relationships that make child custody disputes matter. Since contentious adversarial litigation between parents can have negative psychological effects on children, our lawyers encourage more cooperative forms of family dispute resolution.

Child Support

Children are a joy and a responsibility. All parents have a legal obligation to provide support for their children.

In Bryan-College Station, as in many areas in Texas, most child support claims are resolved through specialized child support court proceedings. At Meece & Associates, our lawyers help clients from families of all backgrounds handle child support issues. We provide personal, honest and experienced service, listen to your story and work hard to achieve your goals.

To schedule an appointment, call us today at (979) 846-9608 or contact us online.

Modification of Court Orders

Occasionally, Court orders can be modified. This most commonly occurs in family law cases involving:

• Payment of child support
• Access to children for custody and visitation
• Payment of debts
• Liquidation of certain assets

Enforcement of Court Orders

Texas Courts have broad discretion and power to enforce their orders. All Court orders are generally enforceable; however, the most common enforcement proceedings occur in family law cases involving:

• Failure to pay child support
• Failure to pay spousal support
• Refusal to allow access to children for custody and visitation
• Failure to pay down certain debts
• Failure to liquidate certain assets

Whether you seek to initiate modification or enforcement proceedings or must respond to a request to modify or enforce an existing Court order, our attorneys will work with you in a personalized, one-on-one setting. By listening to your story and understanding your circumstances, our lawyers can determine the best strategy for achieving your goals.

To schedule an appointment with a lawyer at our firm, call (979) 846-9608 or contact us online today.

Termination of Parental Rights

Our lawyers have helped families in Bryan-College Station, and throughout Texas, with the serious problems associated with the State's intervention into the family unit and with other situations that puts a parent's relationship with their child at risk.

The right to parent is a right of Constitutional proportions. When a parent is unable or unwilling to meet their parental responsibilities, it is sometimes necessary to terminate that parent's right to the child. Termination of a parent's rights is a serious and extreme matter. If your child needs protection, or if the State or anyone else is threatening to terminate your parental rights, you need help. At Meece & Associates, our lawyers help clients from families of all backgrounds handle parental rights issues. We provide personal, honest and experienced service, listen to your story and work hard to achieve your goals.

To schedule an appointment, call us today at (979) 846-9608 or contact us online.

Adoptions

Every child deserves a loving, secure, and stable home. When you have the opportunity to provide that for a child, don't let the complicated legal process prevent the formation of your family. The adoption process can be relatively quick and proceed smoothly – with the right help. At Meece & Associates, our lawyers help clients from families of all backgrounds handle adoption issues. We provide personal, honest and experienced service, listen to your story and work hard to achieve your goals.

To schedule an appointment, call us today at (979) 846-9608 or contact us online.

Grandparents' Rights and the Rights of Others

Grandparents' Rights in Texas

In Texas, being a grandparent doesn't automatically give you any special rights regarding your grandchild. If you believe that the child's parents are behaving dangerously or are unfit to guard the children, you can file a complaint with the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services (formerly, Child Protective Services (CPS)) to investigate the circumstances in which the child lives. Since CPS usually looks to extended family members as alternatives to foster care placement, grandparents are often attractive candidates to take care of the child.

In addition, if your ability to spend time with your grandchild has been blocked, you may be able to obtain rights to see your grandchild through a court order.

To schedule an appointment with a lawyer, call us today at (979) 846-9608 or contact us online.

Fathers' Rights in Texas

In theory, fathers have the same legal rights as mothers. In practice, a variety of social and biological factors often prevent fathers from being recognized as legitimate parents. At Meece & Associates, our lawyers believe fathers are more than a child support check. Before you take any action that affects your relationship to your children, talk to an experienced family law attorney.

To schedule an appointment with a lawyer, call us today at (979) 846-9608 or contact us online.

Parental Relocation

There are a number of forces outside our control that can compel us to move to a new place. But when the children of divorced or unmarried parents are involved, legal restrictions can complicate things: both parents have the right to have access to their children.

If you are a divorced or unmarried parent and wish to move, or if you oppose the move of your child's other parent, our lawyers can help.

To schedule an appointment to discuss parental relocation with an attorney, call us today at (979) 846-9608 or contact us online. We help families from all backgrounds in Bryan-College Station and throughout Texas resolve their family law disputes in a way that diminishes conflict and always keeps the best interest of the children in mind.

Paternity

When Is It Necessary to Establish Paternity?

Any time a child is born to a mother who is married, the mother's husband is automatically assumed to be the father. Whenever a child is born to unmarried parents, the identity of the father is in question. In these cases, the father can sign a form to acknowledge that he is the father. If the father doesn't voluntarily sign the form, the courts can determine paternity conclusively by running DNA tests.

Why Should I Establish Paternity?

Both parents can reap benefits from establishing paternity. For fathers, establishing paternity guarantees that their parental rights will be respected. Fathers who have established their paternity have the right to child custody, support, and visitation. They also have the right to protest if the mother tries to relocate or move far away with the child.

For mothers, establishing paternity means that you will receive help in raising the child. Even if the father is largely absent, he will still be required to contribute child support and health insurance for the child.

To schedule an appointment with a lawyer to discuss paternity, call (979) 846-9608 or contact us online today.

Construction

Construction projects are often faced with legal issues, from environmental issues to contractual matters. Meece & Associates can help you with your construction related issues. Our lawyers have handled cases in Bryan-College Station and throughout Texas, involving:

• Owners and lenders
• Engineers, architects, and designers
• General contractors and subcontractors
• Construction companies
• Homeowner's associations
• Developers and suppliers

To schedule an appointment with a lawyer to discuss your construction related issue, call (979) 846-9608 or contact us online today.

Collections/Creditors Rights

There are few situations more frustrating than debt collection. There are time constraints that may affect your collection efforts. If you fail to meet those time limits, you could lose your ability to collect your debt altogether. Whether you need to collect a debt owed to you or you are unable to pay a debt you owe, don't let this problem overwhelm you. Our lawyers, located in Bryan-College Station, Texas, can help you.

To schedule an appointment with a lawyer to discuss your collection related issue, call (979) 846-9608 or contact us online today.

Collections Defense

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), consumers have rights that protect them from illegal debt collection practices. If a creditor violates your rights by engaging in illegal debt collection tactics, it is considered creditor harassment, and the creditor can face significant legal consequences. The prospect of foreclosure leaves many homeowners feeling frightened, helpless, and alone. Our lawyers, located in Bryan-College Station, Texas, understand how devastating going through a foreclosure can be. Your home, after all, is more than just a residence – it's the place where you and your family have built your lives.

We've Got Answers

An attorney at Meece & Associates can answer your questions regarding collection matters. When you work with our team, we'll determine an appropriate course of action for your unique situation. If you're already in the midst of the foreclosure process, a lawyer from our team can assess your financial outlook and negotiate on your behalf with your lender. By speaking to a lawyer early, before your first missed mortgage payment, you'll have a better understanding of your options. And in some cases, early legal intervention may even help you keep your home.

Let Us Help

We can help alleviate the stress of trying to collect a debt. Our lawyers can help protect you when you are too frightened or frustrated to deal with your creditors on your own. Once engaged, we will intervene on your behalf and inform your creditors of your rights under the FDCPA and other applicable laws. If your creditors continue to unlawfully harass you, our lawyers will take legal measures to put an end to their abuse and report their illegal behaviors. If you are attempting to collect a debt, our lawyers can work to effectively preserve your collection rights.

To schedule an appointment with a lawyer to discuss your collection related issue, call (979) 846-9608 or contact us online today.