The Building Blocks of a Comprehensive Estate Plan

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A Last Will and Testament allows you to decide who will receive your property, who will administer your estate, and, if you have minor children, who will serve as their guardian. It provides clear instructions for your loved ones and helps ensure your wishes are carried out according to Texas law.

While a will is often the foundation of an estate plan, it works best when paired with other important planning documents that protect you during your lifetime as well as after your death.

A Durable Financial Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone you trust to manage your financial and legal affairs if you become unable to do so yourself. Depending on the authority you grant, your agent may pay bills, manage bank accounts, handle real estate transactions, deal with insurance matters, and conduct other financial business on your behalf.

Unlike a will, which becomes effective after death, a Durable Financial Power of Attorney is designed to protect you during your lifetime by ensuring that someone you trust can step in if you become incapacitated.

 A Directive to Physicians, often called a Living Will, allows you to communicate your wishes regarding life-sustaining medical treatment if you have a terminal or irreversible condition and are unable to make your own healthcare decisions. It provides guidance to your physicians and loved ones during some of life's most difficult moments.

Unlike a Medical Power of Attorney, which appoints someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf, a Directive to Physicians expresses your own treatment preferences. Together, these documents help ensure your wishes are known and respected while reducing uncertainty for your family.

 A Declaration of Guardian allows you to designate the person you would want to serve as your guardian if a court ever determines that you are unable to care for yourself or manage your affairs. You may also identify individuals you do not want appointed. While a court ultimately makes the appointment, your written declaration provides important guidance regarding your wishes.

By making this decision in advance, you help reduce uncertainty for your loved ones and retain a voice in who would care for you if you were ever unable to make that decision yourself.

 Rather than leaving this important decision entirely to the court, you have the opportunity to express your own wishes in advance. 

A Transfer on Death Deed (TODD) allows Texas homeowners to transfer their real property directly to a named beneficiary upon their death without the need for probate. During your lifetime, you retain complete ownership and control of your property, including the right to sell, refinance, or revoke the deed at any time.

A Transfer on Death Deed can be an effective probate-avoidance tool for the right circumstances, but it is not appropriate for every estate plan. We will help you determine whether a TODD is the right solution for your goals and ensure it works seamlessly with the rest of your estate planning documents.

 A properly prepared Transfer on Death Deed can allow your home to pass directly to your chosen beneficiary without probate under Texas law when appropriate. 

A Revocable Living Trust is a flexible estate planning tool that allows you to manage your assets during your lifetime while providing for the efficient transfer of those assets after your death. Because assets properly titled in the trust generally avoid probate, a trust can simplify the administration of your estate and provide greater privacy for your family.

While a Revocable Living Trust offers significant benefits in the right circumstances, it is not necessary for every estate plan. We will help you determine whether a trust is appropriate for your goals, your assets, and your family, and design a plan that works best for your unique situation.