Estate Planning Attorney
Drafting a will or setting up a trust can be challenging. Without proper guidance, your property may not go to the intended beneficiary.
A skilled estate planning attorney can help you with the process, giving you peace of mind about end-of-life matters.
If you need help with your estate plan, contact the Law Office of Randy Michel in College Station, TX.
Estate Planning: The Basics
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Estate planning involves the creation of wills, trusts, and other tools to preserve your assets in case of death or incapacitation. Administration is the process of distributing the assets of the estate after your death. Our legal team evaluates every situation to determine the best course of action for our Texas clients.
The Importance of Good Estate Planning for Our Bryan-College Station Clients
A will helps ensure that designated beneficiaries inherit assets after you've passed. A trust can similarly safeguard certain assets for a beneficiary to inherit in the future, with a reliable third party handling the assets in the meantime.
Basic estate planning documents like a will, a living will, durable power of attorney for finances, and a medical power of attorney help ensure your end-of-life wishes are followed and that people you trust are authorized to make choices on your behalf.
A trust has the added benefit of passing assets to a beneficiary while avoiding probate court and the probate process. It's crucial to consult an estate planning attorney about trusts and whether they make sense for your particular estate plan.
How Our Attorneys Can Help You Navigate Estate Planning With Our Law Firm
Get It Right and in Writing
A poorly drafted will or a lack of estate planning documents could lead to a legal battle. Legal struggles could even start before you've passed away. An attorney can help create your estate plan and ensure your wishes are carried out.
Amending Wills
Your estate plan may need to adapt as circumstances change. The attorneys at our College Station family law office can review how changes in marital status and finances affect your current estate plan, and alter your will and other documents as needed.
Contesting a Will or Trust
If estate planning documents were set up under duress, undue influence, or without the full mental faculties of the owner of the estate, an estate planning attorney can help contest the content of these documents.
Assistance With Probate
The probate process can be frustrating. Our lawyers can walk you through probate step by step, ensuring taxes are paid, debts are settled, and assets are properly distributed to beneficiaries.
Need Help With Estate Planning? Contact the Law Office of Randy Michel
If you're working on a will or a trust, it's crucial that you have legal counsel. An attorney familiar with estate plans can point out long-term concerns that should be addressed. Randy Michel has worked as an estate planning attorney for many years. He can provide practical financial and legal advice as you create an estate plan.
Speak with a lawyer who can break things down in a language you can understand. Contact the Law Offices of Randy Michel today for a confidential estate planning consultation in College Station, TX.
(979) 764-2435
Making a Difference With Estate Tax Planning Work With Attorneys Who Care About You
“My wife and I highly recommend Randy and his staff for estate planning and will preparation. He articulates the legalese in simple English being knowledgeable and professional. He listens carefully, makes excellent recommendations, and follows through in a timely and cost-conscious manner. He quoted a fixed price for this work, provided everything we needed, made all changes requested, never trying to add more fees for additional services. Hopefully we won't need an attorney again, but we would definitely use him if the occasion arose. We will recommend him to others and I'm sure they will be pleased.” Wayne Evans
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Military Families
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The Law Office of Randy Michel serving Bryan-College Station proudly represents military personnel and their families. Our entire firm thanks you for your service.
Wills vs. Trusts
Our estate planning lawyers serving Bryan-College Station field many questions about wills and trusts from clients planning for their future. To give you an idea of which estate planning option may be right for you, here are the basics and key differences of each:
Understanding Wills
A will specifies the wishes of a testator (owner of the estate) on how property should be distributed and how dependents should be cared for after the testator has died. In essence, it allows you to list which beneficiaries receive specific assets when you pass away.
Who Should Consider a Will?
You should consider drafting a will if you are married, have children, or have a positive net worth.
If you die without a will, your assets will be distributed to spouses, siblings, and children based on Texas' intestate succession laws.
What Is a Living Will?
A living will defines your own end-of-life wishes rather than listing beneficiaries. In Texas, living wills are called a Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates or advanced directives.
Understanding Trusts
A trust is a legal contract that permits a third party (the trustee) to hold and manage specified assets on behalf of a beneficiary. These assets are held in a trust fund.
Trusts are one way for you to pass assets to a beneficiary without going through probate court. We can help with insurance trusts, charitable trusts, and family trusts.
Who Should Consider a Trust?
Generally speaking, a trust is worth pursuing if you have $100,000 or more in assets and also own real estate.
Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts
A revocable trust allows you to fully control your assets as needed. Assets can be transferred and the trust itself can be dissolved.
An irrevocable trust cannot be changed once it has been set up. You also lose control of the assets in an irrevocable trust.
Estate Administration Independent and Dependent Administration
In Texas, estates can go through either independent administration or dependent administration.
- An independent administration does not involve the court. You basically operate outside of the court when you probate the will and administer the estate.
- A dependent administration involves a probate judge who oversees and approves of the administration of the estate. These can be time-consuming and frustrating.
Our College Station law office serving Bryan-College Station and beyond can help with either form of estate administration. Our lawyers can also provide assistance with small estate administration, which applies to estates that are valued at less than $50,000.
Planning Your Future on Your Terms Our Compassionate Lawyers Are Here to Help
"I couldn't be more grateful to Randy Michel and his team for all their help after the unexpected loss of my husband. They were so kind, helpful, understanding, and often going above and beyond for our family while we went through the most painful event of our lives. Thank you Randy Michel, Andrea, and the entire team. I will forever be grateful for you all!" Karen Strope
