Law Office of Laura Vale, PLLC is a boutique law firm in Texas estate planning and probate law

The most common goals of Texas individuals and families in estate planning are asset protection and probate avoidance. We can definitely help you develop and craft a customized estate plan to avoid probate, reduce conflict and protect your assets.

With these goals in mind, most clients coming to my office would like to discuss setting up a Trust and they have questions. Understandably so. They want to know: (1) whether they should set up a Trust as part of their estate plan, and (2) exactly how Trusts work. At Law Office of Laura Vale, PLLC, we are happy to answer your questions, and talk about the features of a Trust, including whether a Trust is actually needed in order to achieve your estate planning goals. I will explain the #1 most common mistake with Trusts. A Trust is not appropriate for everyone, but for some estates, it is absolutely necessary.

I believe that a successful estate plan is one that the client actually understands, and one that works as intended. When we meet for a consultation, I will go over the four central pillars of estate planning in Texas and how they could work in your estate plan: (1) a Last Will and Testament; (2) a Trust; (3) Transfer Deeds; and (4) Beneficiary Designations. Less common is the use of LLC’s in estate planning. I will be happy to explain that and help you with the use of LLC’s in your estate plan as well.

The #1 most common concern with probate cases is how long the probate process will take. My personal goal is to get you appointed as Executor or Administrator as fast as possible, so that you can get your Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration and get on with the administration of the estate. (In some cases, you may be able to represent yourself in probate court.) After your probate hearing, Law Office of Laura Vale, PLLC will support you as administrator or executor of the estate so that you are compliant with probate law and reduce potential conflict amongst the heirs or beneficiaries. We will take care of all the legal filings for you that are required in probate process.

If your loved one died without a Will, we can bring an heirship proceeding in order to have the probate court declare who the heirs are under Texas law and bring the estate under administration. While there are other procedures in probate court, and we can help clients with those as well, these are the most common: probate of a Will or an heirship proceeding if there is no Will.

Whether you are planning your estate or dealing with probate of an estate, we can help. With decades of legal experience in San Antonio and across Texas, we help families create wills and trusts that protect their legacy and guide loved ones through probate with clarity and care. Whether you’re searching for an estate planning attorney or a probate attorney near you, we’re here to provide trusted guidance every step of the way.