At the Law Office of Sharon C. Stodghill, we offer our clients an extensive amount of estate planning, estate administration and probate litigation experience. As legal advisers, we feel that one of our primary responsibilities is to use our prior experience and in-depth knowledge of the law to educate you about the legal processes that relate to your situation. By understanding the law, you will be more likely to understand our estate planning advice and make the wisest decisions for yourself and your family.
Texas estate planning law is extremely flexible, and no matter what an individual’s family or economic situation happens to be — and no matter what his or her goals are — a suitable estate plan can be developed to meet those needs. That said, estate planners do need to be educated about the full spectrum of options available. From wills, trusts and different kinds of powers of attorney to the chances of an estate plan getting challenged by a disgruntled family member, we will make sure you know what all your legal options are.
In a lot of situations, effective estate planning is just as important at the familial level as it is at the legal level. In this respect, we are available to offer our clients advice on suitable distribution strategies if they are having a hard time deciding how they wish for their estate to be divided among their heirs. For example, it may be that an individual has a child to whom they have gifted a great deal of money already, and they want to make sure that their other children are equally treated after their deaths.
In addition to educating our clients about Texas estate planning options, we also believe it is important for our clients to educate their heirs about their expected inheritances. Sitting everyone down around the table to discuss this topic can be difficult and awkward, but it is one of the best ways to ensure a family stays together and does not descend into bickering and arguing after a loved one’s death. The Law Office of Sharon C. Stodghill will provide you with guidance on how to bridge this important topic and communicate your wants and needs with your family members.