Estate Planning

The cost of estate planning depends on the complexity of your situation. A basic will package typically ranges from $500 to $1,500, while a comprehensive trust-based estate plan ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 or more. Factors that affect cost include the number of trusts needed, whether you have a blended family, business interests, or property in multiple states. We provide transparent pricing during your initial consultation so there are no surprises.

Most families benefit from both. A will is essential for naming guardians for minor children and as a safety net for assets not placed in a trust. However, a will alone requires probate — a court-supervised process that takes months, costs money, and is public record. A revocable living trust avoids probate, maintains privacy, and provides for seamless management if you become incapacitated. If you own a home, have minor children, or want to avoid probate, a trust is strongly recommended.

Review your estate plan every three to five years, and update it after major life events: marriage, divorce, birth of a child or grandchild, death of a named beneficiary or executor, significant changes in your financial situation, purchase or sale of real estate, starting or selling a business, or moving to a new state. Changes in Texas law or federal tax law may also require updates.

If you die without a will or trust in Texas (called dying intestate), state law determines who inherits your property. The distribution may not match your wishes. Your estate will go through probate, a court will appoint an administrator, and the process can take six months to a year or more. If you have minor children, a court will determine their guardian without your input. Creating even a basic estate plan avoids all of these problems.

A living trust is created during your lifetime and can begin holding assets immediately. It avoids probate and provides for incapacity management. A testamentary trust is created within your will and only takes effect after your death — meaning the assets must still go through probate before reaching the trust. Living trusts are generally preferred for probate avoidance, while testamentary trusts are sometimes used within a will for specific purposes like holding assets for minor children.

While online templates are available, they carry significant risks. Generic forms may not comply with Texas-specific requirements, may not account for your family's unique circumstances, and often omit critical provisions like trust funding instructions, tax planning provisions, or coordination with beneficiary designations. A mistake in an estate plan may not be discovered until it is too late to fix. An experienced attorney creates documents tailored to your situation and ensures everything works together as intended.

Probate in Texas involves filing the will with the county clerk, having the court validate the will, appointing an executor, inventorying assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining estate to beneficiaries. Independent administration (the most common form in Texas) allows the executor to act with minimal court supervision. The process typically takes four to twelve months. Assets held in a trust, jointly owned property, and accounts with named beneficiaries bypass probate entirely.

Yes. While most estate planning documents from other states are valid in Texas, there can be important differences. Texas is a community property state, which affects how marital assets are treated. Texas also has specific statutory forms for powers of attorney and advance directives. We recommend having your existing documents reviewed by a Texas attorney to ensure they work as intended under Texas law and to update any state-specific provisions.