Estate Planning & Probate Specialists

Estate Planning & Probate Specialists

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Wills: Protecting Your Family

At our office, we believe that a properly drafted will is of vital importance to you and your family. Your will may be the final message your family will hear from you. Whether your estate is small and simple or large and complex, we don’t believe that a standardized form can adequately express your wishes.

Our lawyers believe in speaking to you as an individual and getting to know your situation and your family’s needs before helping you draft a will that will accomplish your goals. We will ask you many detailed questions during the process such as:

  • What are your estate planning goals?
  • What property and people do you want to protect?
  • Are there organizations that you’d like to give gifts to?
  • Are there any negative results or family conflicts that you want to avoid?

Drafting Your Final Message to Your Family

At the Law Office of Sharon C. Stodghill, we will help you avoid common pitfalls that can arise because of family conflicts or legal deficiencies. We will also help your family minimize the time and expense of probate.

Our attorneys will explain the more common kinds of wills available in Texas such as:

  • Simple wills: A simple will allows you to appoint an executor and express your wishes and decreases the time and expense of the probate process. This kind of will is suitable if you want to pass on all of your property to one or two beneficiaries and there are no serious family disputes to consider.
  • Complex wills: A complex will may involve the use of trusts, tax planning, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance, and provisions for other special circumstances.
  • Tax planning wills: This kind of will minimizes estate taxes and can be used to prevent your family from having to sell assets such as a business or real estate just to pay estate tax.
  • Wills with built-in trusts: A will of this kind is appropriate if you are planning on leaving your estate to a beneficiary who is young, has special needs or is not mature enough to handle the assets. You can name a trustee to manage the property on behalf of your beneficiary.

Call us today at 713-464-6412 or contact us by email to speak to us about your will or to review your last will and make any necessary adjustments.