Sugar Land Estate Planning Attorney
For Individuals
Thinking ahead can be daunting, but creating a thorough estate plan is one of the best things you can do to take care of your family and make sure your assets are distributed as you see fit.
Whether you are considering drafting a will or need to learn about the advantages of trusts, an experienced estate planning lawyer can assist. The Sugar Land estate planning attorney at Wadler Perches & Kerlick is dedicated to assisting you in crafting an estate plan that best fits you and your family.
Based in Wharton, Texas, we lead Southeast Texas clients through the estate planning process with clarity and compassion. Call now to arrange for a consultation.
The Importance of Estate Planning
Estate planning is about more than a unidirectional document, like a simple will. At its heart, estate planning is about safeguarding your legacy and ensuring that your family will be taken care of when you’re no longer there.
Lacking a well-designed estate plan, your assets can become tied up in probate court, with costly delays of weeks or months or even years before your family will see the money you left behind. State laws govern uncontrolled estates’ distribution, not your preferences! For families, it can mean legal problems and emotional agony during a time that’s already difficult and fraught with emotion.
At Wadler Perches & Kerlick, our TX estate planning lawyers have years of experience drafting estate plans that not only comply with the law but also reflect your specific desires.
Benefits of Proper Estate Planning
Estate planning goes beyond avoiding legal entanglements and tax hurdles. It’s about ensuring that your property is distributed as you would like, protecting those you love, and preserving the legacy you leave behind. The following are some of the most common advantages of having a solid will or estate plan.
Control of your assets: An estate plan will ensure that you decide how your assets are managed and distributed upon death. You can dictate who will get your property and when they’ll have access to it. This type of control lets you give to the people (or animals) that matter most in a manner consistent with your priorities.
Estate tax reduction: Good estate planning can also reduce the amount of taxes and fees that your assets might have to pay to be transferred after you pass away. Using tools like gifting between generations, charitable donation, and setting up trusts can significantly reduce the implication of inheritance tax and probate on your estate.
Avoiding probate: Probate is a legal procedure that validates a will and administers the transfer of assets to heirs. A well-drafted estate plan can help avoid probate and the related costs and delays. Some property, like a trust fund, may never be part of the probate process.
Protect your minor children: As part of estate planning, you can name a guardian for your minor children if something were to happen to both you and your spouse. If you do not have such a designation, then the decision of who will take care of your children would be left to the court, and they may not make the choice that is consistent with your wishes.
If you or someone you know is thinking about establishing an estate plan in southeast Texas, call us at Wadler Perches & Kerlick to set up a meeting to see how our Southeast Texas estate lawyers may assist you.
For Experienced Guidance
Our Estate Planning Services
At Wadler Perches & Kerlick, we offer a wide range of estate planning options to ensure that your assets are handled and distributed according to your wishes. Whether you need help drafting a simple will or need intricate trust planning, our Sugar Land estate planning lawyers bring knowledge and understanding to every part of your estate plan. Some of the specialized services we provide in the area are.
Wills
Your will is the cornerstone of your estate plan. This is a legal document that outlines what you want to have happen when you die, including how your property and assets will be divided. It can also serve to name a guardian for minor kids, stipulate the way you’d like your funeral to play out, and more.
If you don’t, your last will may not be valid under Texas law. It must also be signed in front of two witnesses aged over 14, who aren’t named in the will to benefit from it. Our estate lawyers will ensure that your last will fully complies with all legal requirements, while reflecting your wishes in a clear and detailed manner.
Trusts
As a flexible tool, trust allows you to decide how and when your funds are distributed. Trusts can also be a good way to avoid probate, offer protection from creditors, and ensure a level of financial security for descendants. We can help create the following trusts: What type of trust is right for you?
Revocable living trusts: These are flexible trusts that can be changed or revoked during your lifetime and provide for the easy transfer of assets upon death.
Irrevocable trusts: These trusts cannot be changed once they are created, but can provide tax advantages and protect assets.
Special-needs trusts: For those with loved ones who have disabilities, to support them and maintain their eligibility for government assistance.
Powers of Attorney
No one ever plans to lose control of their life, but we all know that the unexpected can happen. With a power of attorney, you can designate someone you trust to be in charge of financial decisions if something happens and you’re unable to make them yourself. We can assist you with preparing durable powers of attorney and other financial powers that allow trustworthy hands to take charge when circumstances prevent you from managing your own affairs.
Healthcare Directives
A health care directive, also known as a living will, ensures your medical wishes are carried out if you cannot express them in person. It can also indicate your preferences for life support, organ donation, and other important health care directions. Your living will can also include a medical power of attorney, which grants a close friend or family member the authority to make health-related choices for you.
Guardianships
If you have dependent children and/or dependents with special needs, you can name a guardian in your will to take care of your minor or disabled children if you’re not around. We can assist you in naming guardians to ensure someone you trust will care for your loved ones.
Business Succession Planning
For business individuals, estate planning involves the future of their own business. We can help devise succession plans to ensure your company makes the easiest possible transition, should it pass down to family members, partners, or other designated individuals.
Charitable Giving
A lot of our clients want to include gifts to charity in their overall estate plan by gifting or charitably inclined trusts. We can help design these gifts so that they have the greatest potential impact for your generosity and potential tax benefits as well.
Southeast Texas Estate Planning Attorneys
We know that estate planning is personal. At Wadler Perches & Kerlick, we believe estate planning is highly sensitive. That’s why we offer professional legal advice in a warm-hearted, accessible way. Don’t leave the future to chance. If you are just beginning to think about estate planning, or if it’s time to revise your will, our attorneys are here to assist.
We are based in Wharton and proudly represent clients throughout Southeast Texas, including Fort Bend, Wharton, and Matagorda counties. Do not hesitate to call today and set up an appointment so that you can take the first step in securing peace of mind for both yourself and your family.