The thought of planning for the end of life may seem intimidating at first, but legacy planning can help cultivate peace of mind for you and your heirs. Having an organized, carefully thought out plan for the administration and the distribution of your estate is an important first step to taking care of your loved ones later in life.
Unlike traditional law firms that charge by the hour and approach estate planning as a one-time transaction, we provide custom, flat-fee estate plans that are carefully designed to ensure that your estate is administered, that your final wishes are met, and that your loved ones are looked after. We are honored to be your trusted legal advisor and can help plan for additional support for yourself and your family in the case of incapacity or disability. We also work to protect your assets and beneficiary’s inheritance from creditors, lawsuits, spouses, and estate taxes, and will be available to assist them with your estate or trust administration (as applicable) when the need arises.
- Comprehensive Estate Plans
- Revocable Living Trusts
- Powers of Attorney
- Advance Health Care Directives
- Last Wills and Testaments
Q. What is a Will?
A. A will is a legal document that gives instructions as to how a person’s property should be transferred after the decedent’s death. The person who wrote the will, who’s known as the “testator,” details their wishes in the will and also designates an executor to execute their instructions.
Q. What's Necessary for a Will to be Valid in Texas?
A. For a will to be valid in Texas, the testator must have legal capacity, testamentary capacity, and testamentary intent. Plus, the testator must follow specific formalities. If a will fails to satisfy all legal requirements, a court will declare it invalid and the estate will be distributed pursuant Texas intestacy statutes.
Q. What is an Executor?
A. The executor is the individual named by the decedent in their will who’s tasked with the administration of the estate. In Texas, an executor must be:
- 18 years old or older;
- Of sound mind, that is a court has no reason to believe he or she is mentally incapacitated;
- A U.S. resident; and
- Not convicted of a felony (unless you’ve been pardoned and/or had all your civil rights restored).
Typically, the executor is a family member, a close friend of the decedent, or an attorney.
Q. When is the Best Time to Plan My Estate?
A. NOW is the ideal time to draft your estate plan. Too many people don’t want to think about their own mortality. As a result, they delay, and ultimately never get around to this extremely important task. If you fail to make an estate plan, you create added stress and delays for your loved ones in an already difficult time when you pass away. Schedule a Free Consultation to get started on your estate plan today.
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