Estate Planning Attorney in Houston, Texas

Having a thorough estate plan is crucial for personal, financial, and legal reasons. Essentially, an estate plan allows you to leave instructions regarding how your affairs and assets should be managed upon sudden incapacitation or death. In addition, estate planning can help you make adequate provisions for your surviving loved ones, give you control over what happens to your assets, and mitigate potential disputes and issues between beneficiaries during estate settlement.  

At Webb & Associates, we walk clients through estate planning-related matters, including wills, living trusts, power of attorneys, and advance directives. Our knowledgeable Texas estate planning attorney will discuss your circumstances and determine your possible estate planning options. In addition, our reliable team will evaluate your needs and help you navigate crucial decisions when drafting your estate plan.    

Webb & Associates proudly serves clients across Houston, Texas, and the surrounding communities of Katy, Sugar Land, Cypress, Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, Galveston County, Harris County, and Waller County. 

What Is Estate Planning? 

Estate planning is the process of making suitable plans in advance, naming individuals or entities you want to receive your estate, and leaving details about how you want your affairs to be handled upon your demise or sudden incapacitation. In addition, you can use your estate planning documents to provide specific instructions about how your property, financial, tax, legal, and health affairs should be handled in the event that you become unavailable or unable to act. 

The Importance of Estate Planning

Estate planning is important to individuals of all ages, health status, and gender orientations. Here are some benefits of having a well-detailed estate plan:  

• It allows you to prepare for future uncertainties.  

• It protects your assets, property, business, personal interest, and investments.  

• It allows you to convey your final wishes in the event of a sudden incapacitation.  

• It allows you to make necessary provisions for your surviving family members, spouses, descendants, minor children, dependents, and other close relatives.  

• It allows your estate to bypass the time-consuming and costly probate process (living trust).  

• It gives you total control over who inherits your assets and property.  

• It protects your assets and investments from frivolous lawsuits and creditor issues.  

• It allows you to leave clear instructions for your heritors and descendants.   

• It ensures that you do not die intestate (without a will)  

• It helps protect your minor children and ensure that they are adequately catered to.  

• It allows you to name a trustworthy person as your personal representative.  

• It helps your beneficiaries and heirs avoid inheritance, gift, and estate taxes.  

• It helps avoid or mitigate potential disputes and conflicts between family members over property distribution.  

Using your estate plan, you can state how you want your property transferred to inheritors and your final affairs settled after your demise. An experienced Texas estate planning attorney can educate you about the crucial documents to include as part of your estate plan. 

Documents to Include in an Estate Plan 

Here are some vital documents to include in your estate plan, depending on your affairs: 

Will 

A will is a legal document that allows you to leave detailed instructions about how you want your assets and property distributed to inheritors or disposed of when you die. Also, you can choose a personal representative to help settle your estate when you die. 

Trust 

A trust is a fiduciary arrangement that allows you to designate another person (trustee) to manage the trust property for the benefit of the beneficiaries. Upon your death or sudden incapacitation, the trustee will distribute trust property to beneficiaries according to the provisions of the trust document. 

Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows you (the principal) to appoint someone else (an agent or attorney-in-fact) to help manage your property, legal, financial, health, or tax affairs should you become incapable, unable, or otherwise unavailable to make decisions on your own. 

Advance Healthcare Directive

An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that allows you to leave specific instructions about your preferred medical treatments and procedures should you become unable to make such decisions by yourself as a result of a sudden incapacitation, terminal illness, or disability. 

Special Needs Planning

Special needs planning is a fiduciary arrangement that allows you to choose a trusted person to help manage any property, asset, or funds left behind for your minor child or incapacitated adult who is unable to manage such assets and money due to their mental or physical impairment. 

Work With Seasoned Estate Planning Attorneys

Whether you have a large, moderate, or small estate, establishing an estate plan can help protect your interests, assets, and surviving loved ones, and help you prepare for the uncertainties of life. For reliable legal assistance, speak with a seasoned estate planning attorney to help you make informed decisions.  

At Webb & Associates, we enjoy guiding individuals and families in various estate planning matters. As your lawyer, we can work to understand your unique situation and determine the right solution for your specific needs. Also, our trusted legal team can walk you through the estate planning process, help draft crucial and enforceable documents, and assist with trust administration, probate, and estate administration. 

Estate Planning Attorney Serving Houston, Texas 

Drafting a comprehensive estate plan may seem complex and overwhelming. However, you don't have to do it all alone. Contact us at Webb & Associates today for legal advice. Our dedicated attorney can offer you the brilliant advocacy you need to make intelligent decisions in your estate planning matters. We proudly serve clients across Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, Brazoria County, Harris County, and Waller County, Texas.