Galveston County Estate Planning Attorney

Galveston Estate Planning Lawyer Serving Galveston County

Nobody knows what challenges the future will bring, but with the proper preparation, a family can make sure they will be ready to address different types of issues while also taking steps to provide for their financial needs. By taking the time to create and execute a proper estate plan, a family can help avoid uncertainty about how certain matters will be handled, and they can also determine the best ways to ensure that different family members will have the financial resources that will allow them to support themselves. By working with an estate planning lawyer, a family can determine the best ways to use the tools that are available as they make decisions about legal and financial matters that will affect them in the years to come.

Daniel R. Bacalis, P.C. offers experienced legal help in matters related to estate planning. Attorney Bacalis can provide guidance on the tools that are available and the methods that can be used to plan for the future. He will answer any questions that family members may have, address their concerns, and ensure that all legal documents included in an estate plan are executed correctly. He can also provide ongoing legal help as a family's circumstances change and assist with updates to estate planning documents to ensure that they will continue to meet family members' needs.

Creating and Updating Estate Planning Documents

Our firm can advise clients on the different tools that they can use in their estate plan, and we can ensure that the documents created will meet all legal requirements. We can assist with:

• Wills - A person's last will and testament is a legal document that details how different types of issues will be handled after their death. Some of the most important provisions of a will address the disposition of a person's property, and they will detail how different assets will be distributed to the person's family members or other heirs. A person can also use their will to nominate a loved one who they would like to serve as the guardian of their minor children if they die before the children reach adulthood, and they can provide instructions about funeral and burial arrangements or other issues that should be addressed after their death.
• Trusts - This type of legal agreement may be used to safeguard certain types of assets and ensure that they are properly distributed to different beneficiaries either before or after a person's death. Assets held in a trust will be owned by the trust itself, and a trustee will be responsible for managing the assets and distributing them according to the trustmaker's instructions. There are several different types of trusts that may be used for a variety of purposes. Living trusts may allow a trustmaker to serve as a trustee, maintain control of their assets, use assets to provide for their own needs during their lifetime, and distribute assets to other beneficiaries. Irrevocable trusts may be used to protect assets from creditors and ensure that they will be used for specific purposes. Special needs trusts may allow a family to provide for the needs of a loved one with a disability while ensuring they will still be eligible for public benefits. Charitable trusts may be used to provide regular donations to non-profit organizations either before or after a person's death.
• Powers of attorney - There are a number of situations where a person may wish to grant someone else the authority to make decisions for them. A medical power of attorney will allow a person to authorize someone they trust to make decisions about their healthcare and medical treatment. A power of attorney for property or finances, which is known in Texas as a "statutory durable power of attorney," will allow a person to name someone who can manage their financial affairs. A durable power of attorney will usually go into effect when a person becomes incapacitated, meaning that they are not mentally capable of making decisions for themselves. With a power of attorney, a person can provide specific instructions for how certain matters should be handled, ensuring that the decisions made on their behalf will follow their wishes and meet their needs.

Contact Our Brazoria County Estate Planning Lawyer

If you have questions about the best ways your family can plan for the future, or if you want to make sure you have taken the correct steps when creating or updating wills, trusts, or other legal documents, our firm can provide you with the legal help you need. Contact us by calling 409-392-1511 and arranging a free consultation. We serve clients in Galveston, Galveston County, and other nearby areas, including Dickinson, Texas City, La Marque, Hitchcock, League City, and Brazoria County.