Call Us Today! Estate Planning Lawyer New Braunfels, TX
New Braunfels Estate Planning Lawyer Helps You Face the Future With Confidence
Don’t make the mistake of putting off estate planning, thinking you have years to think about your will. This, and thinking that you don’t need a will, trust, or general estate plan, are two of the most common misconceptions our New Braunfels, TX estate planning lawyer sees from clients. The truth is that everyone needs an estate plan, even if your estate is modest. If you have preferences for your medical care, if you have a minor child, or if you have a business, you need estate planning protections to ensure that your interests are respected. A well-crafted estate plan doesn’t have to be complicated; our firm can make it even easier than you think.
At The J.M. Dickerson Law Firm, we work with individuals and families to create an estate plan that ensures all their obligations are met and they have the legal protections necessary to cover any eventuality and stand up in court. Attorney Dickerson has earned many honors over the past 29 years, including Young Professional of the Year by The Laredo Chamber of Commerce. As local law professionals, we’re proud to help our friends and neighbors achieve their financial goals.
We can help you ensure that business succession goes smoothly, that your children, including those with special needs, have income to help them go to college and have other needs met, and that your spouse is taken care of if you’ve remarried. Come see why clients have trusted our firm for nearly years to represent them in personalized consultation.
We Create Customized Estate Plans to Meet Your Needs
Everything you own, from the money in your bank and investment accounts to your house, car, jewelry, collectibles, and even clothing, all compromise your estate. When you pass away, there is a process of legally transferring your possessions to your heirs and designated beneficiaries. Without a will, Texas intestacy laws determine who receives what; this may not be what you would prefer. Estate plans start with a will, which can distribute assets as you think best. Your will can also name a guardian for your minor child or children. Here, too, the law will dictate who will raise your children if you don’t name a guardian, and that person is usually their closest kin, not always the person you’d prefer.
Our attorneys get to know you, your financial situation and goals, and your obligations, then make recommendations to help you meet your goals and the needs of people you love. If you have children from a previous relationship, we can help you establish trusts for them or bequeath specific assets, like family heirlooms, to them. Or, if you’re in a common-law relationship, you can leave your home in a trust for your spouse to live in after you pass away. Many parents with special needs children establish a Special Needs Trust to help enhance their lives without jeopardizing their government benefits eligibility.
These are just a few examples of how essential an estate plan is. The legal team at The J.M. Dickerson Law Firm can also help you establish financial and medical powers of attorney, so that your wishes are honored in the event you cannot advocate for yourself and trusts that can ensure that you have a steady stream of income after you retire. We create dynamic estate plans, based on a flat fee structure, that protect you no matter what the future holds and can help you change your existing estate plan if your relationships change. Contact us today for a free initial consultation with our New Braunfels estate planning lawyer.
Key Estate Plan Elements To Protect Your Assets
As your dedicated New Braunfels, TX estate planning lawyer, we understand the importance of safeguarding your assets through comprehensive estate planning. Without a proper estate plan, your assets could be subject to unnecessary taxes, legal disputes, or government intervention. By including key legal documents and strategies, you can maintain control over your estate and provide for your loved ones. With over 28 years of experience helping clients plan for their future, The J.M. Dickerson Law Firm is committed to helping you establish a solid plan that accurately reflects your wishes.
Wills And Trusts
A well-drafted will is essential for directing how your assets will be distributed after your passing. Without one, state laws determine who inherits your estate, which may not align with your wishes. A will also allows you to name an executor to oversee the process so that your final instructions are followed to a T.
Trusts provide additional benefits beyond a will. By transferring assets into a trust, you can potentially avoid probate, reduce estate taxes, and maintain privacy. Trusts also allow for more control over how assets are distributed, making them useful for minor children, individuals with special needs, or charitable giving. As your wills and trusts attorney, we help design customized estate plans that fit your specific financial and family goals.
Durable Power Of Attorney
A durable power of attorney allows you to appoint a trusted individual to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. This document grants authority to handle tasks such as paying bills, managing investments, and making financial decisions on your behalf. Without it, your loved ones may have to go through a lengthy court process to obtain the right to manage your affairs.
Choosing the right person for this role is essential. Our New Braunfels estate planning lawyers guide clients in selecting a responsible and trustworthy agent who will act in their best interests.
Beneficiary Designations
Many assets, including retirement accounts and life insurance policies, allow you to name beneficiaries. These designations take precedence over instructions in a will, making it essential to review and update them regularly. If a beneficiary is outdated or missing, the asset could be distributed through probate or go to unintended recipients.
As dedicated inheritance lawyers, we work closely with our clients to review their estate plans and beneficiary designations to make sure they align with their overall goals.
Asset Protection Strategies
Protecting your assets from potential risks, such as lawsuits or creditors, is a vital part of estate planning. Trusts, business entities, and other legal tools can help shield wealth from unexpected claims.
Our asset protection attorneys can establish irrevocable trusts or family limited partnerships to safeguard financial resources. These strategies are particularly beneficial for business owners, professionals in high-liability fields, and individuals looking to preserve generational wealth.
Work With An Experienced Estate Planning Attorney
At The J.M. Dickerson Law Firm, we provide personalized estate planning services designed to protect your assets and honor your wishes. As your trusted New Braunfels estate planning lawyers, we are here to guide you through every step of the process. If you need assistance with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or asset protection strategies, we are ready to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward securing your legacy.
Common Reasons To Create An Estate Plan
Creating an estate plan is one of the most responsible steps we can take for ourselves and our families, as our New Braunfels, TX estate planning lawyer knows. It’s not just for the wealthy or elderly—it’s for anyone who wants to have a say in how their affairs are handled. Whether we’re planning for the future of our children, protecting assets, or making important healthcare decisions, a solid estate plan can help provide structure and peace of mind. We have nearly 30 years working on estate plans, so don’t hesitate to come to us. Here are some of the most common reasons people choose to put an estate plan in place:
- Decide Who Receives What. Without a will or trust, the state decides how assets are divided. That process doesn’t always reflect our wishes. By creating an estate plan, we get to decide who receives property, money, and personal belongings, and when they receive it.
- Name a Guardian for Minor Children. If we have children under 18, naming a guardian is one of the most important steps we can take. An estate plan allows us to choose someone we trust to raise our children in the event we’re no longer able to.
- Plan for Incapacity. Life is unpredictable. An accident or illness could leave us unable to manage our own affairs. By setting up a power of attorney and a healthcare directive, we can choose someone to make financial and medical decisions on our behalf if we become unable to do so ourselves.
- Avoid Probate. As our New Braunfels estate planning lawyer can tell you, probate can be a long and public process. With tools like revocable living trusts, we can keep our affairs private and speed up the transfer of property to loved ones. This also helps avoid added stress for family members during an already difficult time.
- Reduce Family Conflict. When there’s no clear plan, disagreements often arise. By putting our wishes in writing, we can reduce confusion and help avoid disputes among family members about who should get what or who should make decisions.
- Protect Family Members with Special Needs. If we have a loved one with special needs, a basic inheritance could affect their eligibility for government benefits. An estate plan allows us to set up a special needs trust that provides support without putting those benefits at risk.
- Address Business Succession. For business owners, estate planning helps make a smooth transition when we retire or pass away. We can name successors, outline responsibilities, and prepare the next generation to take over, helping protect what we’ve built.
- Manage Debt and Taxes. Estate planning lets us address debts and plan for taxes in advance. This can help protect the value of what we leave behind and reduce the burden on our family. Proper planning may also reduce or eliminate estate taxes, depending on the size of the estate.
- Charitable Giving. Many of us want to support causes we care about, even after we’re gone. An estate plan makes it easy to donate to charities or establish a foundation as part of our legacy.
- Keep Things Updated. Creating a plan is one thing—keeping it current is just as important. Life events like marriage, divorce, births, and major purchases can all affect how an estate plan should be structured. Regular updates help us stay on track.
At The J. M. Dickerson Law Firm, we help individuals and families put clear, practical estate plans in place that reflect their goals. If you’re thinking about your future or have questions about how to get started, our New Braunfels estate planning lawyer is here to help you take the right steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. We offer free consultations, so don’t hesitate to reach out to our office now.