Houston Wills and Trusts Attorneys
Do you want to ensure that your assets are passed down efficiently and effectively to the people you care about? Do you want to build your estate plan in a way that minimizes costs associated with probate court? Do you want to plan for estate taxes in order to reduce their impact on the property that goes to your heirs? No matter how complex your estate may seem, the lawyers at the law firm of Patel Warren & Ervin can help you create a plan.
We offer wills and trusts that are customized and cost-effective. People in Houston and the surrounding parts of Texas turn to us when they want to be certain that their Estate Plan will be based on their unique needs. You can count on us to provide wills and trusts that are designed to provide an outcome that is right for you and your loved ones.
Estate Planning Lawyers in Texas
- Wills: The State of Texas has a system determining who will receive your property. A will allows you to direct to whom and how your property will be divided. Texas allows you to name an executor (the person who handles your estate) to serve without court supervision. A properly planned will can allow you to name guardians for your children, create a testamentary trust and determine the manner in which your property is distributed to your heirs. However, a will is just one component of an estate plan and, along with other ancillary documents.
- Trusts: Trusts are extremely flexible. Like a will, a trust's goal is to plan and outline who gets what. Unlike a will, a trust is valid upon its execution. Trusts can be used to hold assets for loved ones who, due to age or experience can no longer care for themselves. Unlike other states with cumbersome probate systems, living trusts are rarely necessary in Texas; however, a trust is a powerful tool in any estate plan to ensure the preservation of assets for a particular purpose. Certain types of trusts are also particularly effective at minimizing estate taxes.
- Durable Power of Attorney: These are important and often overlooked components in estate planning. A Durable Power of Attorney allows a designated person to handle your finances.
- Medical Power of Attorney: A Medical Power of Attorney dictates a spokesperson to communicate with your doctors and make medical decisions on your behalf when you are unable to do so. A Medical Power of Attorney is often drafted in conjunction with an Advanced Directive to coordinate communication regarding end of life decision making.
- Advanced Directive: Often referred to as a Living Will, this document informs your loved ones of your wishes regarding end-of-life care. In the absence of an Advanced Directive your doctors and loved ones will have to try to ascertain what your wishes are regarding end of life care. Many people are concerned with putting in a document their wishes regarding such a personal and important decision. An Advanced Directive can be drafted in coordination with a Medical Power of Attorney to allow a trusted person to inform doctors of what care you want or do not want in emergencies and during end of life decision making.
- Probate and estate administration: Our lawyers can assist executors and administrators with the handling of a loved one's estate. We handle routine, uncontested matters, as well as complex, contested probate matters.
Tell Us About Your Case
Contact us for a thoughtful and professional review of your case from a dedicated Houston wills and trusts lawyer. We will provide you with an estimate to create and maintain your estate planning documents.
