Dallas Will & Trust Preparation Lawyer

Estate Planning in Texas

Ensuring you have a well-crafted will or trust is an important aspect of planning for your family’s future. Whether you need to draft the document for the first time, amend what you have, or expand it to include new beneficiaries, our Dallas will preparation attorney is here to help. We are thoroughly versed in Texas’ estate laws and can walk you through the various procedures and ramifications of your choices in documents.

How to Set up a Living Trust in Dallas

A will is where you can name your final beneficiaries for some of your property, name your executor, and name guardians for your children. A will is not the place to leave funeral instructions, put restrictions on gifts, or release property held in a living trust, retirement plan, or life insurance policy. If you want to accomplish those tasks, you’ll need to consult with a knowledgeable Dallas wills and trusts family law attorney who can direct you to those forms.

It is important to note that a county court will read out your will and ensure it is carried out. This means that the will is often not addressed until days or weeks after your death.

Are Trusts Right for You?

The benefit of a trust over a will is that a trust is put in the hands of the trustee, who you choose to execute your wishes, as opposed to a publicly-read will, which is carried out by a court and has the potential for dispute.

There are several distinct types of trusts. A testamentary trust is executed after probate and usually deals with the money from a life insurance policy and can accrue legal fees. An irrevocable trust essentially removes the trust maker's rights of ownership and grants the beneficiary complete control over the assets. A revocable or “living” trust allows the trust-maker to remain in control of his or her trust while they are still living in case their wishes change.