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A basic will directs for the immediate distribution of assets and contains no specific provisions such as a testamentary trust for minor children, etc.

A basic trust directs for the immediate distribution of assets and contains no specific provisions such as divorce proofing via descendant’s trusts, special needs provisions, international asset distribution, etc.

A comprehensive trust contains more complex distributions instructions including, but not limited to, such things as divorce protection via descendant’s trusts, trusts for minor beneficiaries, education trusts, age appropriate distributions, generational trusts, annual distributions, charitable bequests and more.

There are too many to list, but here are a few: trusts are portable state-to-state; trusts (when funding correctly) avoid probate; trusts keep your affairs private; trusts are flexible enough to accomplish personal goals like creating an education fund; trusts protect an inheritance from divorce; trusts plan for a loved one with special needs and much, much more!

One of the keys to having an up-to-date estate plan is to keep abreast of changes and best-practices in all areas of estate and finance law. While not every month will pertain to your specific situation, you will find the information presented informative and empowering.

Community property is vastly misunderstood in Texas. Community property means that each spouse owns 50% of asset “X” and as such needs to leave instructions on how to dispose of that 50% upon his or her death. Assets do NOT automatically transfer to a surviving spouse.

The Comprehensive Trust Portfolio allows Crain & Wooley to provide you with the highest level of service without worrying about the billable hour. The first 12 months of having a trust are the most important; it is during these months that you fund your trust. This portfolio gives you access to the firm for 12 months for assistance, questions, advice, changes and more without incurring billable hour charges.

Around month 11 of Comprehensive Trust Portfolio service, we conduct a review detailing: implications of law and tax changes, beneficiaries, special beneficiary instructions, assets funded into the trust and power of attorney agents. This report acts as a reminder of how your plan works and what it accomplishes as well as gives you about 1 month to request any changes be completed free of charge.

To be blunt, you get what you pay for. If you look closely legal self-help websites, you will see disclaimer statements like “this is not legal advice” and “services are not protected by attorney-client privilege or as legal work product”. These template services don’t provide you with the opportunity to engage with an attorney for comprehensive planning: current goals, future goals, what-if planning, tax planning and much more. So, the real question is why would you trust a non-legal entity to draw up documents that dispose of all your hard-earned assets?

To be blunt, you get what you pay for. If you look closely legal self-help websites, you will see disclaimer statements like “this is not legal advice” and “services are not protected by attorney-client privilege or as legal work product”. These websites often do not take into consideration the state requirements that go into creating a valid will or trust. Without meeting these state-specific requirements, closing out your estate becomes a true burden on your survivors. So, the real question is why would you trust non-legal entity to draw up documents that dispose of all your hard-earned assets?

Secure exchange of information is vital to crafting your perfect estate plan. Crain & Wooley utilizes SmartVault, an SEC and FNRA approved, cloud-based document storage system. When using SmartVault we can securely communicate about your assets, end of life plans and general estate information without worrying about cyber security. SmartVault also allows you to store all your vital information like life insurance contracts, estate planning documents, assets lists and more in a secure manner while being able to access the information from anywhere on the globe.

Schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys; tell us your goals and concerns and then we will outline which estate planning tool best accomplishes your current and future goals.

Funding your trust are the steps taken to make your trust is the owner of titled assets like your house, financial accounts, CDs, etc. Don’t worry – these actions do NOT impact your tax rate or your tax exemptions AND you remain in complete control of all assets. Your daily life does not change.

Short answer – yes. There are at least 10 different types of probate. Schedule a time to talk with our attorneys to learn which type of probate fits your situation.

You have the option of renewing for $495/year to gain an additional 12 months of access to the firm. This access provides you with unlimited firm support for questions, changes and amendments without worrying about the billable hour. You will also receive an annual report for each renewal year.

Crain & Wooley does not try to up-sell or talk you into anything. We will lay out the best option for your situation and then complete only the work that you deem necessary.

Yes, our firm offers internal financing options.

Crain & Wooley is a full-service estate planning law firm. We have expertise in standard & taxable trusts, standard & complex wills, probate, adult guardianship, nursing home/Medicaid planning, small business formation, real estate transactions, existing document review/updates and more.

If you have any type of asset (bank account, life insurance, house, condo, anything), you need a will or a trust. Gone are the days in which pay on death or beneficiary designations suffice.