Austin Estate Planning Lawyer

Trusted Austin Estate Planning Attorneys Helping Secure Your Legacy

At Ford+Bergner, LLP, we know how important it is to secure your family’s future and protect your assets. As Austin estate planning lawyers, we’re here to offer you support and guidance tailored to your needs. Our team of skilled attorneys is dedicated to creating estate plans that align with your values and goals, giving you peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

Start securing your future today. Contact Ford+Bergner, LLP at 713-260-3926 to set up a consultation with one of our knowledgeable estate planning attorneys. Let us help you create a plan that protects your legacy and provides clarity for the future.

Comprehensive Estate Planning Services

At Ford+Bergner, LLP, we provide a complete range of estate planning services to meet the various needs of our clients. Estate planning is more than preparing for the inevitable; it’s about taking charge of your future and making sure your wishes are carried out. Our experienced estate planning attorneys help you prepare all necessary legal documents correctly, ensuring your estate plan is thorough and effective.

Our services include making wills and trusts, setting up financial and medical powers of attorney, and planning for special needs. Each of these parts is important in a well-rounded estate plan, helping to prevent future issues and protect your loved ones. With our help, you can be confident your estate planning needs will be managed with care and professionalism.

We offer a full range of estate planning services to help you prepare for the future:

Wills and Trusts

Creating a will or trust ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes. We can help you:

• Draft a legally sound will.
• Establish living trusts to avoid probate and maintain privacy.
• Set up special needs trusts to provide for loved ones with disabilities.

At Ford+Bergner, LLP, we offer trust attorney services tailored to your specific needs, including revocable living trusts and irrevocable trusts. Our goal is to ensure your wealth is preserved and your wishes are honored.

Power of Attorney

A durable power of attorney allows someone you trust to make financial or medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. We’ll help you designate the right person and outline their responsibilities.

Advanced Healthcare Directives

Ensure your medical preferences are respected with a living will or health care proxy. These documents guide your loved ones and healthcare providers in difficult times.

Asset Protection and Tax Planning

We’ll work with you to develop strategies that protect your wealth and minimize estate taxes, ensuring more of your assets go to your heirs.

Guardianship Designations

If you have minor children, naming a guardian in your estate plan is crucial to ensure their care aligns with your wishes.

Probate and Estate Administration

In addition to planning, our team assists with the probate process, guiding executors and beneficiaries through estate administration efficiently and compassionately.

Special Needs Trusts

Special needs trusts are designed to support individuals with disabilities while keeping their eligibility for government benefits. A special needs trust allows you to leave assets like an IRA to a special needs child or grandchild, protecting their benefits and ensuring long-term care.

These trusts ensure that your loved ones receive the care and financial support they need without risking their access to vital assistance programs. 

Ford+Bergner, LLP is skilled in creating special needs trusts tailored to your family’s unique requirements. Our team is committed to guiding you through the process of special needs planning with compassion and understanding.

Charitable Trusts and Estate Tax Planning

Charitable trusts allow individuals to support philanthropic causes while managing their tax liabilities. Structuring gifts to charities within your estate plan effectively reduces your taxable estate and allows for unlimited charitable deductions. This not only serves tax minimization purposes but also fulfills your philanthropic aspirations, making a positive impact in your community.

There are two primary types of charitable trusts: charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) and charitable lead trusts (CLTs). CRTs allow you to receive income from the trust for a specified period, after which the remaining assets are donated to your chosen charity. This can provide a stream of income during your lifetime while ensuring a significant charitable contribution. CLTs, on the other hand, allow the charity to receive income from the trust for a set period, with the remaining assets eventually reverting to your beneficiaries.

Charitable trusts can be an effective tool for reducing estate taxes and preserving wealth for future generations. By incorporating charitable giving into your estate plan, you can minimize the tax burden on your estate, allowing more of your assets to be passed on to your loved ones. This strategic approach not only benefits your family but also supports the causes you care about, creating a lasting legacy of generosity.

Our Austin estate planning attorneys at Ford+Bergner, LLP have extensive experience in structuring both CRTs and CLTs, ensuring that your charitable intentions are met while optimizing the tax advantages for your estate. Let us help you make a difference through thoughtful and strategic estate planning.

Business Succession Planning

We also offer specific services for business succession planning, which ensures your business interests are preserved and seamlessly transitioned to the next generation. For families with unique needs, we provide experience in setting up special needs trusts and protecting the future of your loved ones with disabilities.

The Estate Planning Process

1. Initial Consultation: We begin with a thorough discussion of your assets, family situation, and long-term goals.
2. Customized Plan Development: Based on your needs, we create tailored legal documents to ensure your wishes are clearly outlined.
3. Review and Finalization: We review your estate plan with you, making any necessary adjustments before finalizing.
4. Ongoing Support: Life changes, and so should your estate plan. We’re here to update your plan as needed.

What Documents Are Important to Gather for Estate Planning?

Estate planning involves preparing several key documents, each serving a specific purpose to ensure your assets are managed and distributed according to your wishes. At Ford+Bergner, LLP, we guide you through creating these documents to form a complete estate plan:

• Wills: A will is the foundation of any estate plan, outlining how your assets will be distributed after your death. It allows you to designate beneficiaries, appoint guardians for minor children, and specify your final wishes. Having a legally sound will minimizes disputes among heirs and ensures your intentions are honored.
• Trusts: Trusts offer a flexible way to manage and protect your assets during your lifetime and beyond. They can help reduce estate taxes, avoid probate, and provide for loved ones. Revocable living trusts, for example, allow you to retain control over your assets while planning for incapacity. Our firm provides trust attorney services to tailor trusts to your unique needs.
• Powers of Attorney: These documents enable you to appoint someone you trust to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. A durable power of attorney ensures that your financial affairs are managed according to your preferences without court intervention.
• Healthcare Directives: Also known as medical powers of attorney or living wills, these directives outline your healthcare preferences and designate someone to make medical decisions for you if you cannot do so yourself. This ensures that your healthcare wishes are respected and relieves your loved ones from making difficult decisions during challenging times.

By preparing these essential documents, you can protect your assets, provide for your family, and ensure your personal and financial affairs are handled according to your wishes.

How Can You Avoid Common Estate Planning Mistakes?

Estate planning secures your family’s future and protects your assets, but it’s important to avoid common mistakes that can undermine your efforts:

1. Regularly Update Your Estate Plan: Life changes such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or the death of a beneficiary require updates to your estate plan. Failing to revise your plan can lead to outdated provisions that no longer reflect your current wishes or family circumstances. Schedule regular reviews with an experienced estate planning attorney to ensure your plan remains relevant and effective.
2. Consider Tax Implications: Overlooking tax considerations can result in unintended financial burdens for your heirs. Estate taxes, gift taxes, and income taxes on inherited assets can significantly impact the value of your estate. Work with a knowledgeable attorney to incorporate tax-efficient strategies into your estate plan, such as charitable trusts or gifting strategies, to minimize tax liabilities.
3. Properly Fund Your Trusts: Establishing a trust is only effective if it’s properly funded. Many individuals make the mistake of creating a trust but failing to transfer assets into it, rendering it ineffective. Ensure that your assets are correctly titled in the name of the trust and review your beneficiary designations to align with your estate planning goals.
4. Choose the Right Executors and Trustees: Selecting the wrong individuals to manage your estate or trust can lead to conflicts and mismanagement. Choose executors and trustees who are trustworthy, financially savvy, and capable of handling the responsibilities involved. Consider appointing a professional fiduciary if you lack a suitable candidate within your circle.
5. Communicate Your Wishes: A lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings and disputes among beneficiaries. Clearly articulate your intentions to your family and key stakeholders to prevent surprises and disagreements. Consider holding a family meeting or writing a letter of intent to explain your decisions and the rationale behind them.

At Ford+Bergner, LLP, we are dedicated to helping you through the estate planning process with straightforward advice and care. Our attorneys can help you sidestep common mistakes, like outdated plans or tax issues, by offering clear guidance and regular updates.

Why Choose Ford + Bergner, LLP for Your Estate Planning Needs?

Estate planning is more than just drafting a will—it’s about creating a comprehensive strategy to manage your assets, reduce taxes, and provide clear directives for your family. At Ford + Bergner, LLP, we offer:

• Personalized Solutions: We tailor every estate plan to meet your unique needs, whether it involves simple wills or complex trust arrangements.
• Experienced Guidance: Our attorneys have extensive knowledge of Texas estate law and stay updated on legal changes to ensure your plan is current.
• Compassionate Support: We take the time to listen and understand your goals, providing compassionate support every step of the way.

Secure Your Family’s Future Today

Don’t wait to create an estate plan that protects your legacy and provides for your loved ones. Contact Ford + Bergner, LLP in Austin today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced estate planning attorneys. Let us help you build a plan that offers security, clarity, and peace of mind.

Contact us today at 713-260-3926 to take the first step toward securing your future and protecting your legacy.