What’s your life’s legacy?
What’s the one thing you want your loved ones to remember about you when you’re gone? Your love for them, your career, your generosity?
Whatever it is, we can help you make sure your legacy lives on.
At Stafford Law Firm, our team can assist you in creating an estate plan that reflects who you are and what matters most to you. We work with individuals and families of all sizes, so no matter the size or complexity of your estate, we’ve got you covered.
Let us take it from here—contact a Memorial estate planning attorney today.
Located west of downtown, Memorial is Houston’s leafy, suburban area. Filled with gorgeous midcentury homes and community parks, the area is home to 19,970 Houston residents at a median age of 40. Most homes in Memorial are family households, with 33.3% having children. Houstonians in this area bring home an average household income of $197,301, and nearly 60% own their homes.
If you’re researching estate planning in the Memorial area of Houston, chances are you have a lot to plan for. Get a jump start on your estate plans, starting with a free consultation with a Memorial estate planning attorney today.
Estate planning is an ongoing process that sets your family up for success when you’re no longer around. It’s as unique as you are and can include various tools.
Because of that, our team offers comprehensive estate planning services so you can hand-select the tools that make sense for your family.
Here are just a few ways we can help you.
Wills are a great starting point for your estate plans. In your will, you can designate guardians for minor children, select beneficiaries for your assets, and even dictate your wishes for burial arrangements.
Keep in mind, however, that wills do not provide asset protection, which means they’ll need to be used in conjunction with other estate planning tools to cover all the bases.
Trusts are fiduciary arrangements that allow a third party (trustee) to hold assets on behalf of a beneficiary. When you set up a trust, the trust becomes the owner of those assets and the trustee, the manager, until you pass away or become incapacitated.
Creating a trust allows you to protect those assets from probate and have more autonomy over how and when they’re distributed.
Part of estate planning is planning for the unexpected, like if you become badly injured or sick. In situations like these, your loved ones and doctors will need guidance on what healthcare treatments you want, what life-saving measures you would or wouldn’t prefer, and other decisions.
These aren’t decisions you want your family to have to second-guess about. And when you can’t speak for yourself, healthcare directives allow you to outline your wishes beforehand.
Power of attorney documents allow a third party (agent) to act on your behalf in your absence. If you were temporarily disabled, incapacitated, or taking an extended trip, these documents allow that third party to step in and make important legal, financial, or healthcare decisions for you.
Without these documents, the court could decide who should make these decisions and, depending on the circumstances, end up stripping you of your rights altogether.
Probate is the process of rounding up your final affairs in court. This includes collecting, managing, and distributing your estate. It can be costly and time-consuming, dragging your loved ones back and forth to court to determine what should happen with your estate.
With proper planning, it can be avoided. However, when necessary, surviving loved ones can count on an experienced probate attorney to walk them through the probate process.
Planning your estate is an emotional process. We never want to consider what life would be like without us around. But at Stafford Law Firm, our attorneys can help you plan your estate, protect your assets, and give you peace of mind for the unexpected.
Our other legal services include:
Are you ready to take the next step in planning your estate?
Contact a TX estate planning lawyer at Stafford Law Firm to schedule a complimentary estate planning consultation.
Estate planning is serious business, and the right estate planning attorney can make all the difference. If you’re looking to plan your estate and ensure your loved ones are taken care of no matter what, look no further than Stafford Law Firm.
We’ve been representing families and individuals in Houston for years and can help you too. Book a free estate planning consultation with our team today.
We are here to protect you, your family, and your business. Schedule a free consultation to discuss the best way to protect your future.
Unfortunately, your debt doesn’t die when you do. If your assets pass through probate court, the Executor of your estate will need to use probate assets (excluding life insurance policies, retirement accounts, payable-upon-death bank accounts, etc.) to pay your outstanding debts. Speak with a probate lawyer to determine how your debts will be handled and how to avoid probate court altogether.
Trusts can help you:
If you cannot make and convey your own decisions, an advance directive outlines the kind of medical and personal care you would choose. Your advance directive can indicate who will represent you in decision-making and communication and what to do if you go into a coma.
