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There are few things that are as important as leaving your financial and legal affairs in order for your descendents.Many people believe they do not need a will because they are either too young or don’t have enough assets.  Everyone should be prepared in the event that a tragedy strikes. Stories abound of legal and financial struggles that families face upon the death of a loved one when the deceased has not made plans for their estate.

A will is the legal document that sets forth your final wishes. Among other things, a will allows you to name executors, create trusts, convey property, and, perhaps most importantly, identify who will care for your minor children.

If you die without a will (i.e. die intestate), the Texas Intestate Succession Laws determine who receives your property.  These laws dictate what happens to the deceased’s property without regard to such factors as a recipient’s financial need, whether or not the conveyance would disqualify the recipient from receiving government benefits (i.e., Medicare, Veteran’s Assistance, etc.)Dying without a will also increases the cost of probate (or estate administration) and causes more stress on your loved ones.

A will allows you to:

• Choose your Executor
• Determine who will care for your children
• Make Charitable Donations
• Determine who gets your property
• Create Trusts for Minors or incapacitated heirs
• Disinherit heirs

Wills are inexpensive and require little inconvenience. The information needed to prepare a will can easily be obtained over the phone or by email. Contact the Law Office of Jake Srp to get started today.

Basic estate planning documents can ensure that you are properly cared for in the event an illness or injury renders you unable to make health care or financial decisions on your own.  By designating someone to act on your behalf, you can prevent family conflict, save money, and have decisions made for your benefit without the need for court intervention.

Powers of attorney grant a designated person, or persons, the legal right to make medical or financial decisions for you.  These can be particularly useful and can possibly avoid the need of a guardianship, thereby protecting your assets for later generations.

In the event that you become incapacitated, an advance health care directive expresses your specific wishes regarding life support and other medical care.  This not only ensures that your wishes will be honored, it also saves your loved ones the stress and grief associated with having to make difficult decisions about your long-term or end-of-life care.

Contact Jake today to discuss your estate planning documents.

• Financial powers of attorney
• Advance health directives or “Living wills”
• Guardianship designations
• Medical powers of attorney
• HIPAA release and authorizations
• Designation of a guardian for minor children
• Lady Bird Deeds

The death of a loved one is among the most difficult times in a person’s life. To add further stress, family members are often called upon to set aside their grief and respond to claims of creditors, to figure out the deceased’s financial affairs, and to divide his or her belongings. Probate law provides the means in which these matters can be handled in an orderly fashion. While probate can be time-consuming and expensive, many estates can be probated quickly and with minimal expense.  In many cases, a formal probate can be avoided by taking advantage of alternative methods such as Affidavits of Heirship, Small Estate Affidavits, Family Settlement Agreements, Muniment of Title, or other alternatives provided by Texas law.

Let Jake review your case to determine the most cost-effective means of resolving your loved one’s estate.

Jake is ready to help you with a broad range of real estate matters, including:

• Clearing Title
• Landlord/Tennant Issues
• Hunting Leases
• Cattle Leases
• Deed Preparation
• Negotiations
• Contract Review
• Contract Preparation
• Rights of First Refusals
• Evictions
• Residential Leases
• Commercial Leases