Planning for the Future and Protecting Your Family

Having a Will is necessary to pass on property or provide for the care of minor children according to your wishes. Not having a Will means that these matters will be handled through the intestate laws in Texas and may not align with your desires and wishes. It is important to examine your situation and determine how you would like matters handled after your death. It is also important to re-examine your situation periodically as your circumstances change and update your Will.  

Having a Will is important to handle matters after your death. However, it is also important to have documents executed to handle matters in case you are severely injured or gravely ill. A Power of Attorney will give someone the power to handle your property and financial affairs. A Medical Power of Attorney will give someone the power to make medical decisions when you are incapacitated. A Physican’s Directive will direct the extent of your care in the case of a terminal injury or illness. And a HIPPA Release will grant a person or an institution access to your federally protected medical records. Having these documents will ensure that your wishes for who will be designated to handle these matters will be followed.  

In Texas this is the court process of settling an estate. This can be done according to a will or by the intestate laws. The length and complexity of this process is mostly determined by the size of the estate and the types of assets in the estate. But not having a will may also lengthen the time that this process can take. It is important to know that if there is a will, you must file for probate within four years of the death of your loved one.