Provide For Your Family’s Future By Planning Your Estate

If you are like most people, you may be uncomfortable talking about end-of-life planning. However, it is important to consider what you want for your family and your life savings before someone else makes those decisions for you.

Leaving your family without a proper estate plan in place can leave them in a difficult position. You could avoid a lot of hassles for them by having the proper documents in place. A few documents can provide certainty for you both during and after your life.

Experience Matters When Drafting A Will Or Estate Plan

At John Delk Attorney at Law in Texarkana, we have been helping clients plan for their futures since 2000. There is too much at stake to trust an inexperienced attorney or to handle matters yourself in Texas. Let us help you figure out a plan that protects your assets and provides for your family’s future. This is all the more important if you have children from a previous marriage, have stepchildren, are an unmarried parent or you care for other people who are not related to you by blood.

Having an estate plan is not just about avoiding probate. Having a professionally created estate plan is an excellent way to ensure that your family will be cared for after you are gone. The documents that we can prepare for you will give you security and peace of mind knowing that you have a plan in place.

Three Documents You Need

Basic estate plans include these three documents:

• The primary document for your estate plan is your last will and testament. A will documents how your assets will be distributed after you pass away, and you get to choose who your executor will be.
• The second document that you will need is a power of attorney, which will allow for your designated person to take care of your financial issues and your assets should you no longer be able to manage them yourself.
• Finally, an advance medical directive will allow your designated person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are no longer able to make them yourself.

You may also benefit from having a trust. A trust allows you to keep the financial details of your estate private. You can be as detailed as you want in your trust regarding who gets what. You also designate who the trustee will be – the person who oversees the distribution of the trust assets. There are many types of trusts that work in certain situations better than others. We will help you make the most favorable decision for your circumstances.

Helping Texans Avoid Issues Of Intestacy

If you or a loved one dies intestate (dies without a will), Texas intestacy laws will decide who gets your assets. Do not assume that just because you are married (whether traditional or common law marriage) that all of your things will be given to your spouse if you don’t have a will. Depending on your situation, a combination of your spouse, children, close relatives or not-so-close relatives may get portions of your assets.

The intestacy and inheritance laws in Texas are complicated. We will explain your options, letting you choose who receives your assets rather than letting the state decide.

Don’t Put It Off. Let’s Get Started Planning.

Discuss your concerns with a knowledgeable estate planning lawyer and take the first step to helping ensure your family’s future and your own as well. An estate plan helps your loved ones after you are gone and also helps you should you become incapacitated and unable to make your own decisions.

We understand how difficult it can be to take that first step. Call us at 1+903-310-1435 or send us an email today to get started.