Estate planning is a process wherein you decide how your assets will be transferred at your death.  A well-drafted estate plan distributes assets to your intended beneficiaries taking taxes, asset protection, marital property and personal values into consideration.  You have the ability to control how your assets are distributed on your death and to designate who should make decisions for you in the event you are unable to do so.  We will listen carefully to your needs and desires and craft a plan which meets your needs while minimizing taxes and family discord.  We utilize the following tools to assist you in this process:

• Wills and Trusts
• Powers of Attorney
• Revocable Living Trusts
• Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
• Family Limited Partnerships
• Business Succession Planning
• Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
• Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts
• Children’s Gift Trusts
• Charitable Planning

Lawsuits abound in today’s society.  There are a variety of methods available under the law which allow you to shelter assets from creditors’ claims.  We will use a variety of tools to keep your hard earned dollars working for you, including:

• Exempt Property Planning
• Marital Agreements
• Family Limited Partnerships
• Domestic Trust Planning

Probate:

Probate is the process by which title to a decedent’s property is transferred to the decedent’s heirs.  There are many different methods of probating an estate in Texas.  However, probate is not always necessary.  We can help you determine whether probate is necessary.  If it is, we will guide you through the estate administration process.  Most importantly, we will  see that your loved one’s estate is settled in a timely and cost efficient manner.

Disability Planning:

If you are incapacitated and cannot handle your financial affairs or make medical decisions, who will make those decisions for you?   We can provide you with the legal documents you need to avoid guardianship. We can provide you with powers of attorney which appoint  agents selected by you to act on your behalf if you are unable to do so.  Finally, we will help you to express your wishes with regard to end of life issues such as administering life support.

Our Fees

We do not charge for an initial consultation of up to one hour.  After this initial meeting we will make recommendations and, where possible, quote you a flat fee for our services.   We charge a reasonable hourly rate for work which cannot be performed on a flat fee basis.