Below are URLs for additional internet-based readings to help you understand the importance of the legal environment

for personal financial planning and management. Although some laws and regulations are federal ones and impact all U.S. citizens, there are important ones regarding property ownership, estate transfer, marriage and divorce, and other areas that are specific to each state. Since most of you are Texans, I felt it was important to include information about Texas laws in the course. However, it is important to understand that you will need to know the laws of any state where you choose to reside because they do differ from state to state. Although some of the information in these readings is similar to what is included in the basic readings, these will add new information to enhance your knowledge about the laws and help clarify in some cases the information in the basic articles. Also, by visiting the websites, you will have an opportunity to become familiar with sources where public information is available about legal matters, which could be beneficial to you in the future because laws sometimes are modified and new ones enacted. Community Property Law (Source: Handbook of Texas Online) http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/jsc02

Separate Property Law (Source: Handbook of Texas Online) http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/mls01 Common Law Marriage (Source: Travis County Young Lawyer Association) http://www.co.travis.tx.us/dro/common_law.asp

The Basics of the Texas Homestead Law (Source: Beyer, Smith, and Owens) http://www.sbullard.com/homestead.htm - http://www.sbullard.com/homestead.htm Exemptions (Source: Window on State Government, Combs, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/exmptns.html