Estate planning is essential, not just for people at retirement age and older, but for people of all ages who have assets that need to be protected for future generations.
With the help of an experienced lawyer, planning your estate may be easier than you think. It may even cost less than you think. For a relatively small investment of time and money, you can put an estate plan in place that will protect everything you have worked so hard to earn. You can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your children or other beneficiaries will not be left without the inheritance you want them to have.
An effective estate plan can ensure that your property is distributed correctly, protect your assets against creditors, minimize estate taxes and even allow for avoidance of probate.
Creating The Right Estate Plan For You
At the Laubach Law Office in San Antonio, we have more than 21 years of estate planning experience. We want you to have an estate plan that promotes your objectives. We will review your goals with you and help you create documents to meet them.
A will is essential. Your will provides you with the opportunity to distribute your property, establish care for your children and otherwise express your wishes upon your death. A will is necessary if you intend to leave property to somebody besides a blood relative such as a domestic partner, friend or charity. If you die without a will, the court will determine how your property is distributed, who cares for your children and even what happens to your beloved pet, decisions that might not reflect your desires. We will help you create a valid will.
In addition to wills, we can create trusts to ensure that your assets are properly managed and held for the future use of their family members or designated beneficiaries. The assets held by a trust can be used to pay for necessary medical, educational and other expenses for the trust's beneficiaries. Because a trust is designed to exist for a certain period of time, the courts require that a trustee be chosen to be responsible for the management of the trust. Trusts may be included in your will or as a separate legal entity. Sometimes trusts are used to avoid the probate process or to minimize estate and income taxes.
A variety of trusts can help your family manage and protect assets and distribute funds according to your specific objectives. We can help you determine if a testamentary trust, living trust, special needs trust an alternative would be appropriate for your family.
Estate plans may also include powers of attorney and advance directives to address end-of-life decisions such as medical treatment preferences.
Learn More About Our Estate Planning Services
To discuss your case with an experienced attorney serving people throughout Texas, call us at 210-222-1225 or send us an email.