5600 Tennyson Parkway, Suite 382, Plano, Texas 75024
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Plano Lawyer Works to Carry Out Clients’ Wishes Through Wills and Probate Counsel

Attentive Texas attorney advises testators and estate executors

Wills and living wills are estate planning staples that can provide legal protections and peace of mind for people from all walks of life. At the Law Offices of Kevan I. Benkowitz in Plano, we help Dallas-Fort Worth area individuals document their wishes and instructions through these enforceable legal devices. Our Texas firm also offers probate assistance to those who need guidance regarding estate administration. Serving the community for more than 15 years, we treat each client with respect, dignity and individualized attention.

Respected law firm drafts comprehensive wills

A will allows you to dictate where your property goes and how your estate should be handled when you die. In addition to including instructions for which of your chosen beneficiaries receives which of your assets, your will can name preferred guardians for your minor children.

It is important to obtain guidance from an estate planning lawyer when preparing your will, as a court has the power to invalidate a poorly drafted or improperly executed document. If that happens, the court could order your property distributed to be according to the state’s laws of inheritance, which may cut off your chosen heirs.

Experienced attorney prepares trusts to meet a variety of needs

There are alternatives to wills for people who want to transfer assets outside of the probate process upon their death. For example, you can move property into a living revocable trust and maintain access to those assets for the rest of your life, then shift ownership of those assets to named beneficiaries when the time comes. Our firm can advise on these and other types of trusts that can help you leave the type of legacy you want to leave.

Strategic attorney helps clients navigate through the probate process

Probate is the legal process of validating a will in court, accounting for the decedent’s assets and debts, paying creditors and distributing property to designated beneficiaries. Probate is necessary for most estates in Texas.

Texas law allows two types of probate: independent administration and dependent administration. In independent administration, the executor can work to settle the estate with minimal court intervention. The executor has a fiduciary duty to beneficiaries as he or she pays off the estate’s debt, sells estate property and distributes estate assets. This method is generally faster and more cost-efficient.

Dependent estate administration involves more extensive judicial supervision during the probate process, with court approval sometimes required before the executor takes certain actions. Probate may be expedited if the deceased had a comprehensive estate plan in place, providing means for the legal transfer of specific assets to specific heirs. Assets may be transferred outside probate via estate planning devices such as living trusts, joint ownership of property or payable-on-death bank accounts. Probate can also be avoided for the distribution of some small estates.

Whether you are asked to serve as an estate executor or you want to help your intended heirs avoid probate, our firm’s attorney is here to help. We provide personalized guidance and responsive communication to span the extent of your will and probate needs.

Contact an experienced Plano wills and probate attorney to set up a free initial consultation

Located in Plano, the Law Offices of Kevan I. Benkowitz helps Texas clients draft testamentary documents and also guides estate executors during the probate process. To schedule a free initial consultation with one of our dedicated professionals, call 972-464-2645 or contact us online.

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