Canutillo, TX Estate Planning Lawyer

Many people don’t like to talk about death – especially their own. It’s completely understandable; talking or even thinking about death can bring about a mix of uncomfortable feelings such as sadness and fear. But if you had the choice, would you want your family to be left with expensive and cumbersome legal problems in the wake of your death, or would you want to do everything in your power to ensure that they could mourn in peace? Developing a plan for your estate can give you peace of mind that your family will not have to deal with any complicated legal matters following your death, in addition to allowing you to protect your hard-earned wealth. Our Canutillo estate planning lawyer has helped countless clients reach their goals by utilizing useful tools like wills, trusts, advance directives, and more. Call The Villegas Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation and learn more about our services. 

Wills

When you think of a will, your mind may immediately jump to a scene from a movie you’ve watched where a character passed away, and a lawyer read off a list of their possessions, along with the family members who inherited them. While this isn’t entirely inaccurate, it describes only one type of will, and there are actually many different types that serve distinct purposes. Some types of wills that our Canutillo estate planning lawyer can assist in drafting are:

• Testamentary will – a traditional will that lists the people you want to inherit your money, property, and possessions
• Joint will – the combined testamentary wills of two people, usually spouses
• Living will – a collection of documents which outline your preferences for medical care
• Pour-over will – a will which transfers all property and assets to a trust upon death
• And more

Trusts

Another beneficial estate planning tool is a trust. In fact, many people choose to create a trust over drafting a will because trusts do not have to pass through the complicated Texas probate process before they are distributed to heirs. Similarly to wills, there are several different types of trusts. After meeting with our Canutillo estate planning lawyer and getting to know you, as well as the goals you want your trust to accomplish, he can recommend the trust that will be best for your unique situation. Some possibilities might be:

• A revocable trust – a trust that allows you to designate a trustee to distribute the assets within, as well as change, add, or eliminate the terms as you see fit
• A special needs trust – a trust that allows you to designate funds for a dependent or loved one with special needs, without risking their eligibility for government benefits
• A charitable trust – a trust that allows you to designate funds to a charitable organization of your choosing
• A Crummey trust – a trust that allows you to distribute assets to beneficiaries over time
• And more

Advance Directives

Advance directives are a collection of documents that express your wishes for medical treatment in the event that you become incapacitated and are unable to do so yourself. These documents allow you to make empowered healthcare decisions that uphold your right to bodily autonomy. Some directives that are available to you are:

• Healthcare power of attorney
• Do not resuscitate order
• Do not intubate order
• Do not hospitalize order
• And more

What To Expect From Our Canutillo Estate Planning Lawyer

Estate planning can be a deeply personal experience; you need an attorney who understands that, and is willing to listen to your story. At our firm, you can trust that the services we provide will be tailored to your circumstances. We will answer any questions that arise and address any concerns you have so that you can feel completely confident moving forward. Call today to schedule your free consultation and let us help you protect all that you’ve worked hard to achieve in your life.