Life & Legacy Planning
Estate planning encompasses the decisions and legal arrangements needed to effectively protect your loved ones and manage assets during incapacity; and outlines a comprehensive succession plan to distribute wealth after death. Throughout this process, the Law Office of Deborah J Schmidt advises individuals how to minimize family conflict; how to guarantee wealth transfer to their preferred beneficiaries; and how to anticipate tax implications.
Without an estate plan, in Texas, your assets will be distributed according to the probate laws of intestacy, which do little to support blended families. Most families are complex; less than 20% of American households consist solely of married parents and their biological children, and 40% of American children live in blended households with a stepparent. Note, a stepparents’ rights to a relationship with a stepchild are not guaranteed in the event of the biological parent’s incapacity or death; and distribution of property to a second spouse may be minimal, if there are children from a previous relationship. The Law Office of Deborah J Schmidt spends extra time learning about the intricacies of each client’s family, which helps us identify your risks and understand your priorities. We guide clients throughout the process, to insure your plans legally protect loved ones and assets.
Preparing for the Future
Initiating the estate planning process is paramount, even amidst uncertainties. Individuals do not need to have an answer for every possible outcome before we draft. In fact, procrastination results in missed opportunities and inadequate preparation for unforeseen events. A reliable process creates a plan that adapts as life changes.
Next Steps
No preparation needed; schedule a 15-minute call to answer your initial questions. If your family needs a new estate plan, then we will send you a secure link to fill out the L&L Intake.
Answer online, at your pace, in the privacy of your home. The Life & Legacy intake requests specific information about your family, assets and wishes. We convey this to you and receive your answers via a secure online portal, to protect your data and privacy. Required to schedule the first L&L planning meeting.
Comprehensive planning session. Reserve at least 90 minutes; this session may be in-person or via zoom. Together, we will make sure the intake forms are complete; answer your personal questions; describe various estate documents; and explain how to tailor a plan to your family. Most of all, we focus on how to minimize conflict, keep your children and loved ones out of court, and protect your legacy. This meeting structure allows our clients to choose a price point according to what their individual family needs. 50% of fees will be collected at the end of the L&L session.
see your preliminary documents online. About 4-6 weeks after the L&L meeting, we will send you a link via the online portal to review the documents and ask any questions or adjust assignments. This insures that the signature meeting is productive.
In-person meeting to sign your estate planning documents. We ask you to reserve an hour; this session needs to be in-person. Because some EP documents need to be signed by you in the presence of two witnesses, if your estate plan includes these, we recommend coming to the office so our staff can support the signature meeting in this way. If you are unable to travel to our offices, let us know and we will collaborate to find an alternative location. The remaining 50% of fees are collected at this meeting. We convey your signed originals in a fire-proof organizer.
We include several additional forms to help you organize your records in a way that allows your trusted support team to assume the duties outlined in your estate plan. This includes recommendations for secure storage, alternative password or account recovery, and annual reviews to make sure your plan stays current, updated, and grows with your family.
Legal expert providing trusted guidance.
Deborah J. Schmidt practices in probate, guardianship, and elder law, including administrations and litigation for probate, guardianship, and trusts.
- Experienced trial lawyer
- Innovative legal solutions