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Wills

A will is the single most important legal document most people will ever sign — and yet the majority of American adults do not have one. Without a valid will, Texas intestacy laws dictate how your property is distributed, and the result may bear no resemblance to what you would have chosen. Your partner may not inherit. Your favorite charity gets nothing. A family member you have not spoken to in years may receive a share of your estate.

A properly drafted will puts you in control. It is your voice when you can no longer speak — the document that tells the world exactly what you wanted, who you trusted, and how you wished to be remembered. For parents of minor children, it is even more critical: your will is where you name the person who will raise your children if you cannot.

Katherine helps clients draft clear, comprehensive wills that meet all Texas legal requirements and accurately reflect their intentions. She also works with clients who need to update existing wills — because life changes, and your will should change with it.

Key Components of a Will

• Identification of beneficiaries and specific bequests
• Appointment of an executor (independent or dependent administration)
• Guardian designation for minor children
• Residuary clause for assets not specifically addressed
• Self-proving affidavit (to simplify probate in Texas)
• Provisions for contingencies (alternate beneficiaries, simultaneous death)

When to Update Your Will

A will is not a "set it and forget it" document. Marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, a significant change in assets, the death of a named beneficiary or executor, or a move to a new state are all events that demand a review. An outdated will can be worse than no will at all — it may direct assets to the wrong people, name an executor who can no longer serve, or fail to account for children born after it was signed.