Houston Wills Attorneys Preparing Our Clients for the Future

Preparing for the future is not very glamorous can be essential to protecting your family’s well-being. There are many aspects of estate planning that take some time to understand entirely and wills are one of those aspects. While many people are familiar with a last will and testament, there is more to a will than meets the eye. You may be confused about what options are available to you or simply need help deciding which will is right for you.

Our estate planning law firm in Houston can take away your doubt by providing you with compassionate care and service. Although a lot of people attempt to create their own wills using do-it-yourself methods and other, cheaper sites, creating a will with the help of our legal team can ensure that your will is valid when it needs to be enacted. After all, it’s only your life savings that’s at stake. Far too often, we seen estates go to the wrong people, or to the right people but at the wrong time. Reach out to our team of Houston estate planning lawyers today to get started on creating a will that is right for you.

What is a Will?

A will is a flexible legal document that can allow you to do many things. However, in general, a will allows you to name beneficiaries of your estate in the case that you die. A will allows proper distribution of your assets to the beneficiaries you see fit and it also allows you to designate the guardian for any children you leave behind after passing. This can be incredibly helpful when it comes to the probate process. Please note that we can designate a preferred guardian for your children inside of you Last Will & Testament; however, we typically prefer to create a separate document to name guardians for your children because it’s more flexible in terms of costs and simplicity in the even that you ever want to change the preferred future potential guardian.

When there is no valid will available during probate, the probate court has the authority to distribute your assets fit in accordance with state law. That means that the state of Texas laws would kick and distribute your estate in line with intestate succession, and this may be completely different than how you would have chosen to have your estate distributed. You have worked your whole life to create your estate and leave a legacy. You should be able to dictate the terms of your estate following your death. Contact our law firm today so we can help you create a will that will protect your estate in the future.

Do Wills Only Work After I Die?

While a general will that determines beneficiaries, guardians, and an executor is one of the most popular types of wills, it does not mean that there aren’t other types of wills that can work for you while you are still alive. A living will is a legal document that states your preferences when it comes to your end-of-life medical care. People often confuse the terms Will and Living Will, so we can help explain the difference to you. A Living Will can determine what type of treatment you would like should you fall seriously ill or incapacitated and unable to give your consent or make choices. A living will can work to make finite decisions about your healthcare so it is not left to others to make those decisions for you. Whether you don’t want a particular medication or you would rather be taken off a ventilator if you end up in a coma, those preferences can be put into a living will for your benefit.

You basically have 4 options regarding a Living Will if we want to really simplify your understanding of a Living Will. One, if you don’t have a Living Will or a Medical Power of Attorney, then no one is designated to make decisions for you and this could end up being very stressful and costly. Two, if you have a Medical Power of Attorney, but no Living Will, then the agent named in your Medical POA would make those decisions for you. Three, if you have a Living Will that says you want to have the plug pulled (in layman’s terms), then that would override the decision that anyone else could make for you. Four, if you have a Living Will that says you want to remain on life support (in layman’s terms), then that would override the decision that anyone else could make for you. Reach out to us to talk more about living wills and how they can provide you with peace of mind going forward.

Can I Change My Will After I Create It?

Creating a will does not make it an open and shut decision. Many people believe that a will that they create with the help of a estate planning lawyer in Austin is signed and sealed permanently until you die. We understand that circumstances change in people’s lives.

We highly recommend reviewing and/or updating your will at least every couple of years in order to ensure your will is current with your life. In some cases where a will is not updated, a significant life change can occur, such as a death in the family or a divorce, and that can complicate matters if you end up passing away without updating your will. We can take a look at your current will to make sure it is up-to-date.

Is Creating a Will the Right Choice for Me?

While many people forgo creating a will, it can be an invaluable tool that helps protect your family and ease their stress during the probate process. A valid will can be crafted with the help of our Houston estate planning lawyers. Get in contact with our law firm today to speak with our legal team about your needs. You can reach our Houston law office by calling 713-489-7360 today.