Estate planning gives Texas families a clear, legally sound plan for what happens to their property, their care, and the people they love. Whether you are drafting your first will or settling a relative’s estate, understanding your options makes the process far less overwhelming. This page from Ellen Williamson Law gathers practical Texas estate planning resources in one place, organized by topic and written in plain language. If you would rather speak with a Texas estate planning attorney directly, our Dallas-based firm is here to help. Browse the guides below, then learn how our firm serves families across North Texas.
Estate Planning Essentials
These guides cover the foundational documents every Texas adult should understand. If you are ready to put a plan in writing, our Dallas wills attorney can walk you through each decision.
What Is Estate Planning and Why Do You Need It? A plain-language overview of what an estate plan includes, who needs one, and what can happen when a Texan dies or becomes incapacitated without a plan in place.
Last Will and Testament in Texas The requirements for a valid Texas will, what a will can and cannot accomplish, and the different types of wills recognized under Texas law.
Understanding Trusts in Texas How trusts work, the difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts, and the common trust types Texas families use to manage and pass on property. Learn more from our Dallas trust attorney.
Power of Attorney in Texas Financial powers of attorney, the difference between durable and non-durable forms, springing powers, and the responsibilities your chosen agent takes on.
Healthcare Directives and Living Wills in Texas Advance directives, medical powers of attorney, HIPAA authorizations, and how Texans can document their wishes for end-of-life care.
Beneficiary Designations: What You Need to Know How retirement accounts, life insurance, and payable-on-death accounts pass outside your will, plus the common mistakes that derail an otherwise solid plan.
How to Choose an Executor or Trustee The roles and responsibilities involved, the qualifications to look for, and how to weigh an individual against a corporate fiduciary.
Guardianship for Minor Children in Texas How to name guardians in your will, how standby guardianship works, and what the court appointment process looks like in Texas.
Protecting Your Assets and Family
Beyond the core documents, thoughtful planning protects what you have built and provides for family members with particular needs. Our Farmers Branch estate planning attorney helps families in the northern suburbs put these strategies in place.
Estate Taxes: Federal and Texas Overview Texas has no state estate or inheritance tax. This guide explains the federal estate tax exemption and the planning most Texas families actually need.
Asset Protection Strategies in Texas How Texas homestead and other protections shield property from creditors and lawsuits, and how planning can address long-term care costs.
Special Needs Planning in Texas Special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, and how to provide for a loved one with a disability without jeopardizing government benefits.
Planning for Blended Families How to protect children from a prior relationship, use QTIP trusts, and balance the interests of a current spouse and children from earlier marriages.
The Probate Process
When a loved one passes away, the probate process determines how their estate is settled. These guides explain what to expect and how to prepare. For hands-on help, see our Dallas probate attorney page.
What Is Probate and How Does It Work in Texas? The Texas probate process step by step, a realistic timeline, and which assets must pass through probate and which do not.
How to Avoid Probate in Texas How living trusts, joint ownership, beneficiary designations, and transfer-on-death deeds can keep assets out of the probate court.
Estate Administration: Duties of an Executor A practical walkthrough of an executor’s responsibilities, from handling creditor claims to distributing assets to beneficiaries.
Contesting a Will in Texas The legal grounds for a will contest, including undue influence, lack of capacity, and fraud, plus how no-contest clauses and the litigation process work.
Planning for Business Owners and High-Net-Worth Individuals
Business owners and families with charitable goals have additional planning considerations. Our firm focuses on practical, everyday planning rather than complex estate-tax structures.
Business Succession Planning in Texas How buy-sell agreements, family business transitions, and key-person planning keep a closely held business running after an owner’s death or retirement.
Charitable Giving and Estate Planning How charitable trusts, donor-advised funds, and lifetime gifts let Texans support the causes they care about while gaining tax advantages.
Texas Government Resources
The following official Texas resources are useful when planning an estate or handling probate.
Dallas County Probate Courts handle wills, estates, and guardianships in Dallas County across three probate courts.
Texas Secretary of State Business Services handle entity filings for corporations, LLCs, and other business structures.
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts provides state tax information; note that Texas imposes no state estate or inheritance tax.
Texas DSHS Death Records explains how to order certified death certificates, which are required for most estate administration.
State Bar of Texas offers an attorney directory, a lawyer referral service, and public legal resources.
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas and TexasLawHelp.org provide free and low-cost legal assistance for qualifying Texans.
Local Texas Resources
These guides address the Texas-specific procedures and life events that shape your plan over time.
Texas Probate Courts and Filing Requirements Court locations, filing procedures, required forms, court fees, and key deadlines for probate matters in Dallas County and surrounding counties.
When Should You Update Your Estate Plan? The life events such as marriage, divorce, a new child, a death, a move, or a change in the law that should prompt you to review and revise your plan.
Talk to a Texas Estate Planning Attorney Today
Ellen Williamson has practiced law in Texas since 2004 and founded Ellen Williamson Law, PC in 2013 as a boutique firm focused exclusively on estate planning, probate, and guardianship. She is a member of the inaugural class of the Dallas Probate American Inn of Court, a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and has been recognized by Super Lawyers. Our firm helps families with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate, and guardianship, with flat-fee billing for most matters so you know the cost up front. We serve clients in Dallas, Farmers Branch, and surrounding counties.
To get started, contact Ellen Williamson Law and schedule a consultation.