Wills & Estate Planning
A Smarter Way to Secure Your Legacy
Estate Planning:
Are you thinking about how your family will be cared for in the future?
A will is a great starting point when it’s part of an estate plan designed to meet their needs and yours.
A Will-Based Estate Plan
Planning for the future means making choices today that will protect your loved ones tomorrow.
For many families, that process begins with the most familiar and often the most fundamental estate planning document – a will.
Whether your estate is large or small, a will that’s thoughtfully crafted by an estate planning attorney to fit your unique circumstances can be one of the most important gifts you leave for those you love.
See Our Estate Planning Options:
What Does a Will Do?
A will is a legal document that lets you clearly state what will happen if something happens to you.
When a will is prepared the right way, it gives you and your family the security of knowing what will happen to your finances, your belongings, your business, and your children if you pass away.
Do I Need a Will?
Yes. Every adult should have a will. It’s often the first essential piece that’s included as part of an estate plan.
This is especially true if the value of your assets is modest or your situation is straightforward.
Putting a will in place can be easy and is a big step in giving you and your family peace of mind.
A will can help prevent confusion, minimizes family disputes, and allows your loved ones to focus on healing rather than sorting out finances or dealing with legal disputes.
What Can You Do With a Will?
A will written for you by an estate planning attorney gives you the ability to:
Set Your Own Terms
Say exactly how each of your assets should be handled, including personal property, your financial accounts, family heirlooms, and other important belongings.
Guard Others Well
Appoint individuals you trust to take on unique responsibilities, such as becoming guardians for your children, managing your business, or even caring for your pets.
Clarify Final Wishes
Share your personal wishes for end-of-life arrangements, easing the burden on your family during a difficult time.
Grow Your Legacy
Set up charitable giving as part of your legacy, supporting the causes you care about.
Keep Traditions Alive
Give guidance for how you’d like your family to remember you or pass on family traditions.
Putting It Simply…
A will gives you the power to decide how your loves ones will be taken care of and how you’ll extend your legacy.
Take advantage of what a will offers you and your family.
When You Don’t Have a Will
The courts will use your state’s “intestacy” laws to divide your estate, sometimes in ways that might not match your wishes or your family’s needs.
Depending on your situation, the courts may even choose guardians for your children.
This can of course put your family in stressful and sometimes scary circumstances.
When Your Will Isn’t Legally Sound
Unfortunately, many people think their will is in good shape, only to have their family find out too late that it wasn’t.
Your family could run into trouble if:
You used a do-it-yourself online service to write your will.
Your will doesn’t cover everything you need it to.
You live in one of the nine community property states, like Texas.
You’ve been waiting for the “right time” to update an outdated will.
We can help you be sure the right protections are in place for your family. It’s why we began offering professional estate planning services to begin with!
Is a Will-Based Plan for You?
A will gives you a basic level of protection and helps make sure your wishess are honored.
A will-based estate plan may be the right solution if:
- Your situation and family dynamics are fairly simple and straightforward.
- You mostly have assets that will be passed directly to your beneficiaries (such as life insurance or retirement accounts).
- You don’t own significant real estate or, if you do, it’s not in your name alone.
- You’re comfortable with your family going through the probate process to transfer your assets.
Benefits of a Will-Based Estate Plan
A will is often the cornerstone of a sound estate plan, especially if your assets are modest or your situation is straightforward.
A will-based estate plan offers a number of benefits:
Clarity and Certainty
A will spells out exactly how you want your property distributed.
This clarity can prevent arguments, misunderstandings, or costly legal challenges.
Protection for Your Children
If you have young children, your will can name guardians so the decision isn’t left to the courts.
An Executor You Choose
You get to name the person who will settle your affairs, make sure your debts are paid, and distribute your assets.
Flexibility
A will can include specific gifts, charitable donations, or instructions for family heirlooms and other sentimental items.
Part of a Complete Plan
Your will should be one of several important documents, including a financial power of attorney and healthcare directive, that work together to form your estate plan.
A comprehensive estate plan ensures you’re protected during your lifetime and your wishes are carried out after your death.
Why Have a Professional Draft Your Will?
A good estate planning attorney gets to know you so they can create a will that’s clear, complete, and built around your priorities.
Getting a will from a self-service website can leave you with a pile of paperwork that doesn’t get the job done when the time comes.
With a self-service site, you usually pay for the same generic documents as everyone else. Then it’s up to you to know if anything is missing. These wills can leave important questions unanswered and can create more problems than they solve.
If a special situation or a state law is overlooked or your will isn’t kept up to date, your family could face unnecessary court involvement or other delays. We’ve heard from people who have even lost access to their bank accounts or homes, all because their spouse or parent had a will that didn’t protect them the way a will should.
That’s why a trusted estate planning attorney who takes the time to learn about you and your family can make all the difference.
Here’s what a professionally prepared will can do for you:
- Carry out your wishes in ways that fit your family’s needs and your state’s specific laws
- Cover critical details, including commonly overlooked clauses like a “residuary clause”
- Coordinate with other estate plan documents, including your financial powers of attorney and your healthcare directives
- Help prevent costly mistakes, delays, or disputes caused by unclear or incomplete documents
- Stay up to date with changes in your family and your financial situation
Your Next Step: Planning That Works
Give your family and yourself a will-based estate plan that’s reliable when it matters most.
We don’t just draft documents. We guide you through the process of making informed, empowered decisions.
Ready to put a will in place? Need to update an old will to make sure it works for you and your family?
We’ll partner with you to make sure you’re prepared and confident that your family will be cared for no matter what the future holds.
Schedule your Legacy Planning Session or call us to get started!
Your Next Step: Planning That Works
We don’t just draft documents. We guide you through the process of making informed, empowered decisions about your legacy.
If you’re ready to create or update your will, or if you want to review your current plan to make sure it truly works for your family, schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session with us today.
Schedule your Legacy Planning Session or call us to get started!
We’ll partner with you to make sure you’re not only prepared, but confident that your family will be cared for no matter what the future holds.
Learn more about our estate planning process.
Estate Planning Resources
Joint Tenancy vs. Tenancy in Common
Joint tenancy and tenancy in common may sound complicated, but don’t worry. We’ll explain them both. We’ll also talk about the differences between these two ownership structures and explore how they impact estate planning. Read More
Seven Things to Consider When Drafting Your Will
Drafting your will is a vital step in the estate planning process. We share seven important points to keep in mind as you begin the process. Read More
Common Property & Separate Property
Knowing the difference between community property and separate property is vital when it comes to estate planning. We explore what sets community property and separate property apart from each other and why they matter. Read More
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