Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC

Account holders and the people who assist them with end-of-life planning such as estate planning attorneys should be made aware of these tactics that can be used to grant access to digital accounts after the account holder’s death.

Apple and Google Account Management for Estate Planning - Sprouse Shrader Smith Account holders and the people who assist them with end-of-life planning such as estate planning attorneys should be made aware of these tactics that can be used to grant access to digital accounts after the account holder’s death.

Do you have non-compete agreements? Here is what just passed:

FTC Approves Final Rule Banning Non-Compete Agreements - Sprouse Shrader Smith FTC Approves Final Rule Banning Non-Compete Agreements Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024 In today’s meeting of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the FTC voted 3-2 to approve a final rule that bans new non-compete agreements with all employees. Additionally, the final rule requires employers to send...

Are you unsure if you should work with an estate planning attorney or use one of those "do it yourself" estate planning services? Check out our newest article that gives an overview of the pros and cons.

Estate Planning Attorneys vs. DIY Estate Planning Services - Sprouse Shrader Smith Estate Planning Attorneys vs. DIY Estate Planning Services Monday, April 15th, 2024 Estate Planning Attorneys Estate planning attorneys specialize in creating and implementing strategies to protect and manage assets during life and upon incapacity and distribute assets upon a person’s death. Their...

Thank you Texas Tech University School of Law for hosting a great recruiting event!

Our very own Laura Pratt spoke yesterday at the Amarillo Area Women's Bar Association Lunch.

Congratulations to our Dalhart office for being voted as the Best of the Best by the Dalhart Texan!

Excited to be part of the 7th Biennial Texas Panhandle Water Conservation Symposium!
Amarillo Civic Center

Explore the key components of a comprehensive and effective estate plan. Are you preserving your legacy?
Learn more:

Mastering Harmony: Coordinating Your Estate Plan - Sprouse Shrader Smith Mastering Harmony: Coordinating Your Estate Plan Monday, January 8th, 2024 Introduction. Good estate planning is akin to composing a symphony where the instruments must harmonize to create a pleasing and cohesive piece. To ensure that your legacy is preserved and your wishes are carried out, it is c...

We are excited to announce the addition of Collin Ziegler. Collin’s practice focuses on corporate transactions, real estate, and oil & gas.
https://www.sprouselaw.com/team/collin-ziegler/

We are excited to announce the addition of Michael Bass to our firm. Michael’s practice focuses on oil & gas, real estate, and municipal regulatory law.
https://www.sprouselaw.com/team/michael-bass/

The income tax brackets, standard deduction amounts, and many other tax items are adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases. These adjustments reflect the average chained Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all-urban customers (C-CPI-U) for the 12-month period ending the previous August 31. The August 2023 CPI summary has been released by the Labor Department. Using the chained CPI for August 2023 (and the preceding 11 months), several news services have the 2024 indexed amounts. These adjustments may be of interest to you. What follows are some of the new inflation adjusted rates and items.
Read More:

CPI Adjustments to Various Tax Items - Sprouse Shrader Smith CPI Adjustments to Various Tax Items Monday, October 2nd, 2023 The income tax brackets, standard deduction amounts, and many other tax items are adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases. These adjustments reflect the average chained Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all-urban customers (C-CPI-U)....

Preparing for future medical and end-of-life care can be an uncomfortable but necessary step in creating a comprehensive estate plan. An essential, but often overlooked consideration is the role that faith, belief, and morality play in this process. It is essential to discuss with your attorney how your deeply held religious and moral beliefs can be carried out in the midst of medical uncertainties and end-of-life scenarios.

Read more:

Prayerful Planning: Incorporating Religious and Moral Beliefs into your Medical and End-of-life Care - Sprouse Shrader Smith Preparing for future medical and end-of-life care can be an uncomfortable but necessary step in creating a comprehensive estate plan. An essential, but often overlooked consideration is the role that faith, belief, and morality play in this process. Legal documents like the Medical Power of Attorney...

Today, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule that would raise the minimum salary for an employee to be exempt from overtime pay.

Learn how this could affect you or your business.

Department of Labor Issues Proposed Rule Raising Minimum Salary for Overtime Pay Exemptions - Sprouse Shrader Smith Today, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule that would raise the minimum salary for an employee to be exempt from overtime pay from $684 per week ($35,568 annually) to $1,059 per week ($55,068 annually).

All employers must transition to using the updated form by October 31, 2023. Read more on the changes and challenges:

https://www.sprouselaw.com/updated-i-9-form-raises-compliance-issues/

Updated I-9 Form Raises Compliance Issues - Sprouse Shrader Smith Updated I-9 Form Raises Compliance Issues Friday, August 11th, 2023 On August 1, 2023, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented significant changes to Form I-9, which all employers are required to use for verifying the identity and employment eligibility of individu...

“As we begin this new bar year, I am reminded of the quote, “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it.” The Texas Young Lawyers Association, or TYLA, is an incredible team of diverse individuals each with a specific part to play unique to them.”

In the July/August issue of the Texas Bar Journal, TYLA President Laura Pratt is committed to fostering success with her team as they begin to work on initiatives for the 2023-2024 bar year.

Read the full TYLA President’s Page here: tinyurl.com/tylaprespagejuly23

We are thrilled to be nominated in Best of Amarillo 2023's Services: Law Firm category!
Please take a minute and vote for us. Voting is open through July 31st.

2023 Best of Amarillo Community's Choice Awards If you vote in more than 25 categories, you'll be automatically entered for a chance to win a $250 gift card!

Thank you to The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Amarillo for all you do in our community!

Last week, our very own Laura Pratt was sworn in as the 2023-2024 Texas Young Lawyers Association President. Congratulations on this prestigious honor!

Do you or someone you know have a child with a disability? Our newest post, “4 Tools for Planning for Children with Disabilities,” has helpful information for parents/guardians on 1.) Public Benefits; 2.) Guardianships; 3.) Trusts and; 4.) ABLE Accounts for children with disabilities. Check out the link below to learn more about how to best protect and plan for those you love.

4 TOOLS FOR PLANNING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES - Sprouse Shrader Smith 4 TOOLS FOR PLANNING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES Monday, June 19th, 2023 1. Public Benefits for Children with Disabilities Needs Based: Supplemental Security Income: SSI SSI is a needs-based income provided as a public benefit for persons who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. As a needs-ba...

Chris Jones, Mindi Zanowiak, and Tim Williams all spoke at the 47th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course last week. The 3 day event took place at the Dallas Westin Galleria. Chris served as the Course Director and presented “Tips on How to Prepare for the TBLS Estate Planning & Probate Exam” during Thursday's Breakfast Presentation. Mindi’s presentation, “Perfectly Imprecise: Drafting and Interpreting Trust Distribution Provisions,” and Tim’s presentation, “Common Law Marriage,” were both held on Wednesday.

Yesterday was a wonderful day for High Noon on the Square! Thank you Center City of Amarillo for continuing to put on this fun, family friendly event. And thank you for letting us be a part!

We are very excited to announce the addition of Laura Pratt to our firm!
Ms. Pratt's practice focuses on business and commercial litigation, specifically business disputes, oil and gas, eminent domain, public utility law, environmental law, and agricultural law.
https://www.sprouselaw.com/team/laura-w-pratt/

Congratulations to Annie on being appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as a student regent for the Texas A&M University System!!

WT Senior Named Student Regent by Gov. Abbott for Texas A&M University System | WTAMU CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University’s immediate past student body president is now representing more than 152,000 students around the state.

Sprouse is pleased to welcome our Summer Associates!
Back Row: Lauren Ottmers (Texas Tech), Derek Israel (Texas Tech), Riley Zoch (Baylor)
Front Row: Madyson Edwards (Texas Tech), Erin Johnson (University of Texas), Caroline Thurmaier (University of Oklahoma)

Check out our new blog!

When do related business in Texas have to file a combined franchise tax return? - Sprouse Shrader Smith When do related business in Texas have to file a combined franchise tax return? Monday, May 22nd, 2023 In Texas, two or more filed entities may need to file a combined franchise tax return if they meet certain criteria. The Texas franchise tax is a tax imposed on most types of filed entities operati...

What you should know about the Corporate Transparency Act taking effect January 2024:

The Final Rule Implementing the Corporate Transparency Act in 2024 - Sprouse Shrader Smith The Final Rule Implementing the Corporate Transparency Act in 2024 Monday, May 1st, 2023 We previously alerted you to the enactment of The Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”) and the proposed rules issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN.....