Weatherford's Most Trusted Estate Attorney
While it’s true that not every estate requires one, trusts are an excellent way to:
It’s common to worry about what might happen if a loved one receives a large inheritance all at once, especially if they’re young, inexperienced, or simply not ready to handle that responsibility. With a trust, you can control when and how your beneficiaries receive their inheritance.
You can structure distributions to occur over time or at specific milestones, like graduating from college, buying a home, or reaching a certain age.
A will outlines your wishes, but it must go through probate—a court-supervised process that can take months (or even longer) before assets are distributed. A trust allows you to skip the court process altogether and make sure your property is handled exactly as you’ve directed, quickly and privately.
We’ve seen too many situations where families face delays or disputes because a will wasn’t detailed enough or wasn’t properly executed. With trust, you take that uncertainty off the table. Everything is clear and ready to be carried out immediately upon your passing.
Probate is well-known to be time-consuming and costly, even when it runs smoothly. Court fees, attorney costs, and mandatory waiting periods can tie up an estate for months—and because probate records are public, anyone can see what assets you owned and who inherited them.
By creating a trust, you can bypass probate entirely. This means your family can access assets more quickly, save on legal fees, and maintain privacy regarding your estate. Keeping your family’s affairs private and out of the courtroom is a lasting gift.
If you own multiple properties, have a business, or manage significant investments, a will alone often isn’t enough to take all of those under its belt. A trust gives you the ability to outline specific management instructions—whether that means how your business should be run, who receives rental income, or how investment accounts are maintained.
A well-structured trust can help protect your assets, preserve value, and create a plan for long-term management that honors your intentions.
Even if your estate seems straightforward, a trust can provide flexibility and additional security for your family.
We work with our clients to determine the right type of trust for their needs. Some of the most common options include:
A revocable living trust allows you to maintain control of your assets while you’re alive and designate how they’re distributed after your death. It can be adjusted as your circumstances change, giving you flexibility while also protecting your family from probate.
Irrevocable trusts generally cannot be modified once established, which can provide additional protection against creditors and help lower your estate taxes.
If you have a loved one with disabilities or special needs, a special needs trust ensures they’re provided for without jeopardizing their government benefits.
Created through your will, testamentary trusts take effect after your death. These trusts can be designed to provide ongoing financial support to beneficiaries, such as children or family members with special circumstances.
Creating a trust involves more than signing a few documents. Here’s what you can expect:
You’ll begin by discussing your goals, family situation, and assets with us. This helps us understand what matters most to you and what type of trust will serve your needs.
Your trust should reflect your goals, your family’s needs, and your long-term vision. This is your opportunity to decide how your assets are protected and who will manage them. You’ll choose your trustee (who manages your trust), outline how and when your beneficiaries receive their inheritance, and build in flexibility for life’s unexpected changes.
This is where your trust becomes real. It’s the step where your wishes are written into a legally binding document, outlining who manages the trust, who receives what, and under what conditions. When your trust is properly written and executed, every detail is clear and enforceable under Texas law.
Creating trust is just the first step; making it work means transferring your assets into it. This process, called funding, moves ownership of things like your home, savings accounts, or investments into the trust’s name. Once your assets are properly transferred, they’re protected and managed according to the rules you’ve set. This step ensures your plan isn’t just written down—it’s active, effective, and ready to carry out your wishes when the time comes.
You can review and update your plan whenever your circumstances change—like buying a new home, starting a business, or welcoming a grandchild can all affect your estate plan. Reviewing and updating your trust ensures it always reflects your current wishes and circumstances. Keeping your trust current ensures it continues to work for you and your loved ones at every stage of life.
If you’re ready to start planning, contact us to schedule a consultation. We’ll help you build a trust that safeguards your family’s future and ensures your legacy is handled exactly as you intend.
While it’s true that not every estate requires one, trusts are an excellent way to:
It’s common to worry about what might happen if a loved one receives a large inheritance all at once, especially if they’re young, inexperienced, or simply not ready to handle that responsibility. With a trust, you can control when and how your beneficiaries receive their inheritance.
You can structure distributions to occur over time or at specific milestones, like graduating from college, buying a home, or reaching a certain age.
A will outlines your wishes, but it must go through probate—a court-supervised process that can take months (or even longer) before assets are distributed. A trust allows you to skip the court process altogether and make sure your property is handled exactly as you’ve directed, quickly and privately.
We’ve seen too many situations where families face delays or disputes because a will wasn’t detailed enough or wasn’t properly executed. With trust, you take that uncertainty off the table. Everything is clear and ready to be carried out immediately upon your passing.
Probate is well-known to be time-consuming and costly, even when it runs smoothly. Court fees, attorney costs, and mandatory waiting periods can tie up an estate for months—and because probate records are public, anyone can see what assets you owned and who inherited them.
By creating a trust, you can bypass probate entirely. This means your family can access assets more quickly, save on legal fees, and maintain privacy regarding your estate. Keeping your family’s affairs private and out of the courtroom is a lasting gift.
If you own multiple properties, have a business, or manage significant investments, a will alone often isn’t enough to take all of those under its belt. A trust gives you the ability to outline specific management instructions—whether that means how your business should be run, who receives rental income, or how investment accounts are maintained.
A well-structured trust can help protect your assets, preserve value, and create a plan for long-term management that honors your intentions.
Even if your estate seems straightforward, a trust can provide flexibility and additional security for your family.
We work with our clients to determine the right type of trust for their needs. Some of the most common options include:
A revocable living trust allows you to maintain control of your assets while you’re alive and designate how they’re distributed after your death. It can be adjusted as your circumstances change, giving you flexibility while also protecting your family from probate.
Irrevocable trusts generally cannot be modified once established, which can provide additional protection against creditors and help lower your estate taxes.
If you have a loved one with disabilities or special needs, a special needs trust ensures they’re provided for without jeopardizing their government benefits.
Created through your will, testamentary trusts take effect after your death. These trusts can be designed to provide ongoing financial support to beneficiaries, such as children or family members with special circumstances.
Creating a trust involves more than signing a few documents. Here’s what you can expect:
You’ll begin by discussing your goals, family situation, and assets with us. This helps us understand what matters most to you and what type of trust will serve your needs.
Your trust should reflect your goals, your family’s needs, and your long-term vision. This is your opportunity to decide how your assets are protected and who will manage them. You’ll choose your trustee (who manages your trust), outline how and when your beneficiaries receive their inheritance, and build in flexibility for life’s unexpected changes.
This is where your trust becomes real. It’s the step where your wishes are written into a legally binding document, outlining who manages the trust, who receives what, and under what conditions. When your trust is properly written and executed, every detail is clear and enforceable under Texas law.
Creating trust is just the first step; making it work means transferring your assets into it. This process, called funding, moves ownership of things like your home, savings accounts, or investments into the trust’s name. Once your assets are properly transferred, they’re protected and managed according to the rules you’ve set. This step ensures your plan isn’t just written down—it’s active, effective, and ready to carry out your wishes when the time comes.
You can review and update your plan whenever your circumstances change—like buying a new home, starting a business, or welcoming a grandchild can all affect your estate plan. Reviewing and updating your trust ensures it always reflects your current wishes and circumstances. Keeping your trust current ensures it continues to work for you and your loved ones at every stage of life.
If you’re ready to start planning, contact us to schedule a consultation. We’ll help you build a trust that safeguards your family’s future and ensures your legacy is handled exactly as you intend.
The best time to start estate planning is now. While it’s easy to think of estate planning as something for older adults, the truth is that anyone over 18 can benefit from having basic documents in place. Life is unpredictable, and having an estate plan gives you control over what happens to your assets and loved ones, regardless of what the future holds.
We recommend reviewing your estate plan every 1-3 years or after any major life event such as:
If you die without a will in Texas, your estate will be distributed according to the state’s intestacy laws. This means the court decides who gets your assets, who will raise your children and who will control the distribution of your assets – all of which may not align with your wishes. Moreover, the probate process can be longer and more expensive without a will, potentially reducing the value of your estate.
