Practice Areas :: Probate
Probate, and Trust and Estate Administration. It’s a common misconception that when someone dies, the lawyer's only job is to handle the "probate." In reality, the probate process is only the first step (and in Texas a relatively simple step) of the wealth transfer process that takes place after an individual has died. During this period of time, emotions run high and family is often dealing with many different obstacles, we believe that it is our job to be more just go through the motions. So when an executor or successor trustee, widow or widower, or relative or a close friend of a deceased person hires us, we help them:
- Probate the Will
- Take control of the estate assets and transfer those assets as required by law
- File the federal estate tax return as required by the Internal Revenue Code
- Create the Bypass Trust, Marital Trust and/or other trusts provided for in the Will or in the Living Trust and assist in selecting the most appropriate assets for funding those trusts
- Document and assist in distributing the bequests provided for in the Will
or in the Living Trust - In many instances, we may be able to help with "post-mortem estate planning" and save your family significant tax dollars and other costs by:
- Selecting the right assets for funding Trusts and choosing the best timing for trust funding
- Making the most advantageous tax elections
- Providing advice regarding the merits of disclaiming (declining to accept) certain bequests
- Working closely with your financial advisors to coordinate the wealth transfer process with their financial and income tax recommendations