Houston Estate Planning Lawyer
No one really enjoys thinking about estate planning. However, there are many medical and financial decisions that can – and should – be made now. After all, caring for your loved ones doesn’t have to end when you are gone. There are ways you can protect them, even when you are no longer here. With an estate plan, you can decide how your family is protected and provided for. You can even ensure that inheriting your estate is painless and expedient, with minimal potential for disputes. Retaining the right Houston estate planning lawyer can ensure that your loved ones are protected from painful, expensive and drawn out probate proceedings while they are still grieving.
Most people erroneously believe that estate plans are for the rich and wealthy. However, this is simply not true. Anyone with property or assets of any kind can benefit from an estate plan. If you have small children, then an estate plan is needed. This will ensure that the courts do not intervene to decide who will raise them when you are gone. As you can see, estate planning is a critical step towards protecting your property and the people you love most.
At Roger G. Jain & Associates, P.C., we know that planning for your older years, and what happens to your assets after you pass can be difficult and uncomfortable. That is why we work patiently and efficiently to help you through the estate planning process. We want you to feel safe and supported while we discuss your wishes and help design an estate plan that will fit your needs best.
Estate Planning Issues in Texas
When you choose us to help you through the estate planning process, we will begin by sitting down with you to talk about your needs and your goals. In this meeting, we will identify a variety of estate planning issues that you should address. Some of those may include, but are not limited to:
- Making gifts of heirlooms, art, or other priceless possessions
- Dealing with debts
- Providing guidance to an Executor or Trustee
- Transferring any business interests
- Avoiding family conflicts
- Balancing interests of children from a previous marriage
- Providing care for pets
- Making charitable gifts
- Minimizing estate and income taxes
- Protecting inheritance from divorce or creditors
What Documents are in an Estate Plan?
An estate plan is more than just a Last Will and Testament. It can include numerous documents that will help to protect your family and your assets. Depending on your situation, your goals, and your assets, we can help you choose the documents that will give you the most protection and security. Some of those documents could include:
- Trust. A trust is a document that can help divide up property and assets. You must appoint someone to act as a trustee to carry out your wishes when you are gone. The main benefit of a trust is that it will help avoid probate and all your affairs are handled privately.
- Last Will and Testament. A Last Will and Testament is similar to a trust. This document determines who will care for your minor children and who will inherit your assets. However, it does not avoid probate and the results become public record. If you seek more privacy with your estate and assets, you may want to choose a trust.
- Durable Power of Attorney. With a Durable Power of Attorney, you can appoint one person or multiple people to handle your affairs if you suddenly become incapacitated because of injury or illness. Typically, people choose family and friends to help them because there is already a well-established level of trust and respect there.
- Living Will. This type of document outlines specifically what type of medical treatment and care you want if you become incapacitated. It is a type of advanced directive and often gives people the peace of mind knowing their medical wishes will be carried out.
- Living Trust. A living trust places your assets in a trust before you die. You can then access these assets during your life. Upon your death, those assets are transferred to beneficiaries and heirs according to your wishes.
Not every estate plan will contain all of these documents. To determine what documents may be best for you, we invite you to come and sit down with us to discuss your options. Our Houston estate planning attorneys have 20+ years of experience helping individuals plan for the future and for their death. We know the estate planning process and can help you evaluate your options carefully to offer you the best protection for you, your estate, and your loved ones.
Contact Our Houston Estate Planning Attorneys
At Roger G. Jain & Associates, P.C., we can help you discuss your estate planning and evaluate your needs and goals. We want to help your loved ones inherit your assets and estate without the need for lengthy and public probate. This can give you the peace of mind you need now knowing your affairs are in order. To learn more, call an experienced estate planning lawyer in Houston, TX at (713) 981-0600 or fill out our confidential contact form. We know that this is a difficult topic to think about, that is why we work tirelessly and efficiently to make the process easier. Call us today!