Estate Planning Attorney in Texas

An estate plan provides reassurance that your loved ones and pets are cared for in the event of your death. As experienced estate planners, Tabor Law can help you create financial and practical arrangements which make sense for your needs. Complete our contact form to get started.

What Is Estate Planning?

Estate planning is a legal process. It involves making certain formal arrangements which determine what happens to your assets – such as property – when you die. Your plan may include any one or more of the following:

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Will

Legal document setting out your wishes for how assets should be distributed upon your death.

Power of Attorney

Document authorizing someone to act for you if you lose mental capacity to make your own decisions.

Trust

Legal instrument that protects assets to be used for a beneficiary’s benefit e.g. a pet trust.

Medical Power of Attorney

Document authorizing someone to act for you to assist with medical decisions when you are unable to voice your own choices. Etc

Durable Medical Power of Attorney for Healthcare

A legal instrument that grants you the authority to designate an attorney-in-fact, enabling them to make specific medical choices on your behalf should you become incapacitated.

HIPAA Authorization

explicit consent acquired from an individual, granting a covered entity or business associate permission to share or disclose the individual's safeguarded health information with a third party for a purpose that would typically be restricted under the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

Directive of Future Guardian for Adults

a legal document that allows adults to designate a trusted individual to act as their guardian and make decisions on their behalf in the event they become incapacitated or unable to make decisions for themselves.

Directive of Future Guardian for Children

a document that enables parents to designate a trusted individual to act as the guardian of their children and make decisions for their well-being in the event of the parents' incapacity or death.

Disposition of Body after death

a document that outlines an individual's preferred method of handling their body and remains after they pass away.

Living Will / Directive to Physicians

a document that specifies an individual's wishes regarding medical treatments and end-of-life care if they are unable to communicate their preferences.

DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) Order

a medical directive indicating that in the event of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure, no attempts should be made to revive the patient.

Difference Between Trusts and Wills

Although wills and trusts sound similar, they serve different purposes.

A will is a legal document which must be signed and declared valid before your estate can be distributed. A trust is a legal arrangement which must be managed by a trustee.
Your will determines what happens to property and assets when you die. Trusts are about controlling what happens to certain money and assets even while you’re still with us.
Wills don’t take effect until you pass away. Trusts, on the other hand, can take effect immediately.

Estate Planning in Texas for Pets

Chances are, your pets mean the world to you. If you’re worried about what happens to them if you pass on first, you can include them in your plan. A pet trust lets you provide for your pet financially when you pass away. You can decide, for example:

Who should look after your pet
How to pay for pet care and housing

Tabor Law specializes in creating pet trusts. Contact us to discuss your needs in detail.

Who Needs an Estate Plan in Texas

Every person’s situation is completely different. But we all have one thing in common: we can all benefit from estate administration.

Estate planning is not just for the rich. It’s for anyone with something – or someone – they love and cherish.
If you have any property or assets, you can control what happens to them when you pass over.

An estate attorney in Texas can help you create trusts or other deeds to meet your needs.

Benefits of Estate Planning in Texas

An estate plan offers you, your pets, and your loved ones various benefits.

Without an estate plan, Texas “intestate” laws determine what happens to your assets. Your wishes may not be respected – and your pets may suffer as a result.
An estate plan can help you avoid the costly and time-consuming probate process.
Death is a confusing and traumatic time for those left behind. An estate plan offers clarity and helps your loved ones move forward.