San Antonio Will Planning Attorneys

Experienced Will Planning Professionals Serving Bexar County and the Surrounding Areas

A will plays a large part in letting everyone know your wishes when you can’t be there to make decisions. Even if you don’t have many assets, a will can save your family frustration, money, and heartache.

Anyone who is at least 18 years old should have a will. If you’re new to estate planning and don’t know where to start, turn to our team at Weisinger Law Firm. We can discuss your goals and identify instruments that can help you achieve them. A simple will may be sufficient, or you may need to consider additional estate planning tools to address your specific situation. For example, if you have a child with special needs, we can help you take the appropriate steps to protect their interests. Our goal is to provide peace of mind through proactive and personalized planning.  

Don’t delay writing your will. Call (830) 742-0538 or contact us online to schedule a time to discuss your situation with our San Antonio will planning lawyers. 

Things to Consider When Writing Your Will

A will plays a large part in letting everyone know your wishes when you can’t be there to make decisions. Even if you don’t have many assets, remember that a will can save your loved ones from frustration, money, and heartache. 

When drafting your will, you should:

• Choose an executor. It’s good to ask your executor beforehand if they are comfortable with this role, keeping in mind that it is a significant responsibility.
• Make a list. Make sure to include all of your investments and valuable assets. This helps make your will easier to administer.
• Make your intentions clear. Unambiguously explain how you want your assets and property to be distributed. 
• Address funeral arrangements. Funerals can be traumatic for loved ones, so the more instructions you leave, the easier it will be for your family. These instructions should include the kind of funeral arrangements you would like and how related expenses are to be paid.
• Store your will in a safe place. Make sure it is easily accessible and let several people know where it can be found if needed.

Additional Things to Consider Outside Your Will

Estate planning often involves more than just writing and finalizing your will. As an estate planning document, your will can only do so much. Depending on your circumstances and objectives, you may need to consider implementing additional tools. 

Our team at Weisinger Law Firm can help you address:

• Your small business or partnership. What will happen to your business if you pass away or become incapacitated? Do you have a plan in place to protect it? Your business entity may be subject to a buy/sell arrangement with the other partners. In these circumstances, your share of the business would automatically pass to the remaining partners (usually in exchange for the proceeds of an insurance policy).
• Non-probate transfers. Make sure that your beneficiary designations on bank accounts, life insurance policies, and investments align with your wishes in your overall estate plan.
• Powers of attorney. This is a legal document that appoints another person to make legal and/or medical decisions on your behalf. It is particularly useful should something happen to incapacitate you and make you temporarily unable to sign documents.
• Testamentary trusts. This is a trust created in a person’s will that is activated upon that person’s death. Instead of assets passing directly from one person to another, the assets are passed to the testamentary trust and then administered by the designated trustee – usually a family member, trustee, accountant, or attorney.

last will & testament

The Last Will and Testament is a legal document that has several jobs. It allows you to control how your estate or probate assets will be distributed after you pass away. It also appoints the person who will administer your estate, and lastly, it may name a guardian> for any minor children you may have.

Probate assets can include your home, vehicles, cash, bank accounts, business interests, and all of your personal property. The Last Will and Testament also enables you to appoint a guardian for your minor children as well as provide instructions and set aside funds for the care of any pets you may have. If you die without a valid Will, your property will be distributed by a court-appointed administrator according to a pre-determined formula (defined by the State of Texas). Without a Will, you can’t give your property to a non-relative or even exclude certain relatives. If you have no Will and there are no relatives at the time of your death, your property will go to the state.

You may not feel you have enough property to need a Will, but it is good for anyone over the age of 18 to have one. There are several different types of Wills that are available depending on your specific situation. You may need a simple Will. However, there are times a more complex Will is needed, such as, when you have a special needs child . Let us get to know you and your specific situation before we recommend a plan for you.

One thing is certain, you will not leave our office without a better understanding of your situation and what we can do to help you achieve Peace Through Planning.® We will make sure you have peace of mind by knowing that your family has certainty and clarity about your wishes in the event you are no longer here.