Estate Planning

We provide personalized assistance to Austin-area residents covering a wide array of services, including:

• Wills: Definitely one of the most common estate planning strategies out there, a will can give your executor clear instructions about how you want your estate to be distributed. Anything that can help your loved ones avoid stressful legal or emotional troubles is good, and a will is a great start.
• Medical Power of Attorney: A medical power of attorney is a document that authorizes a specified person or persons to make medical decisions on your behalf should you become physically or mentally incapacitated and are unable to make them yourself.
• HIPAA Release: This document gives authority to a named person or persons to view your medical records and history.  This document is most often drafted to give your medical powers of attorney the right, as they may be making medical decisions for you in the future.
• Physician’s Directive:  Sometimes also called a “Living Will”, the Physician’s Directive differs from medical powers of attorney in that medical powers of attorney typically grant wide authority to act on your behalf and do not require your condition to be terminal or irreversible for them to take effect. These documents spell out instructions for your physician regarding life support treatment under very specific circumstances.  
• Statutory Durable Power of Attorney: Similar to Medical Power of Attorney, this document gives legal authority to a specified person or persons to make a wide array of decisions and transactions on your behalf, many of them with regard to your financial affairs.  These documents can be drafted to be effective immediately upon signing or only in the event that you later become incapacitated. Having a statutory durable power of attorney before it’s needed will help protect your assets as well as your own future plans.
• Guardian Designations: If you have minor children or special needs children in your care, legally designating guardians for them will help make sure that your dependents continue to receive care up to your standards and by someone you have chosen to care for them. The peace of mind from knowing your loved ones will be cared for no matter what happens is worth more than anything. It will also help your family avoid any tough decisions related to your dependents should something happen to you.
• Deeds to Transfer Title in Real Property: If you own a home and want to make sure that ownership in that home passes to a specific person or persons, or if you want to avoid tying it up in a probate proceeding that would prevent your loved ones from transferring title or selling it in a timely manner, you may want to consider signing a deed specifying your wishes with regard to your real property.  Depending on your specific circumstances, a transfer on death deed, warranty deed, “ladybird” deed, or deed reserving a life estate may be an effective means to accomplish your needs and wishes.