Houston Estate Planning Attorney
Secure Your Family’s Future—With Guidance You Can Trust
Planning for incapacity or the unexpected is never easy. But making these decisions now will give you and your loved ones lasting peace of mind.
At The De Leon Law Firm, we help Houston-area families answer questions like:
- Who will care for your children if you’re unable?
- Which trusted loved one should make healthcare or financial decisions for you?
- How will your home and assets be distributed—on your terms?
- Who will inherit your most valued property?
Our compassionate, experienced attorney will guide you through every step—making complex choices simple, and ensuring your wishes are honored. We’re proud to serve clients in Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Katy, Fulshear, and Cypress.
Why Choose The De Leon Law Firm?
- Personalized estate plans tailored for Texas law and your family’s needs
- Trusted locally—see what neighbors say on Google Reviews
- Clear, upfront fee structure with no surprise costs
Book your confidential consultation today—appointments fill quickly!
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What Is an Estate Plan?
An estate plan consists of many end-of-life planning tools. Your trust and estate lawyer will tailor a plan to your specific needs. Options include a:
- Revocable trust,
- Will,
- Durable power of attorney,
- Medical power of attorney,
- Advanced directive, and
- HIPAA medical records release.
You can even provide for your pets with a pet trust or a bequest in your will.
What do all these options do? A durable power of attorney gives a trusted person the ability to make financial decisions for you when you can no longer handle them yourself. As you might guess, a medical power of attorney does the same for medical decisions. If you are hospitalized, your loved one will need a HIPAA medical records release to receive copies of your medical test results and records. And an advanced directive spells out what lifesaving medical treatments you want and which ones you do not.
Trust vs. Will—Which One Do I Need?
Every estate plan should include a will. But whether a trust makes sense for you depends on the size of your estate and your goals.
What Is a Trust?
A revocable trust holds your assets during your lifetime and dictates how to distribute them after your death. The primary purpose of a trust is to save your heirs or beneficiaries the cost and hassle of probating your estate. Your trust also is confidential, whereas probate involves a public court proceeding.
When a trust is revocable, it means you, as the trustor, can change or terminate it at any time. And during your lifetime, you continue to control all the trust property.
For those with significant assets, marital trusts or irrevocable trusts can help you avoid federal estate tax. However, for 2022 the estate tax applies only to estates with a gross value over $12,060,000.
What Is a Will?
A will is a legal document that explains your wishes upon your death. Among other things, a will can:
- Name the legal guardian of your minor children,
- Identify your beneficiaries,
- Nominate an executor to manage your estate, and
- Dictate how you want the executor to distribute your property.
Though you can find instructions online for how to write a will, it is best to seek the assistance of an experienced Houston estate planning attorney. If a will does not satisfy all the legal requirements, a probate court will declare the will invalid. The court will apply the intestate succession rules of inheritance instead of following your wishes.
Probate
If you have a will, it must be filed with the probate court unless you have placed all your assets in a trust. Probate is the court-supervised process of settling a deceased person’s estate. During this process, the court ensures the estate’s debts are paid. If the deceased person had a valid will, the court oversees the executor’s distribution of assets to the individual’s named beneficiaries. If the decedent died without a will, the court appoints an administrator who then distributes the remaining assets to the decedent’s legal heirs.
What Is a Probate Lawyer?
Probate is a complicated process. In most cases, the court will require an executor to have counsel because they will be representing third-party interests. A probate lawyer knows which forms to file and will make all the required court appearances. An attorney also will guide the executor through the process of:
- Collecting and valuing the estate’s assets,
- Notifying creditors,
- Locating beneficiaries,
- Paying any taxes and creditor claims, and
- Transferring assets to beneficiaries.
Often the most valuable service a probate attorney provides is taking the burden of settling the estate off the shoulders of grieving family members.
How Can The De Leon Law Firm Help?
Yvette De Leon understands her clients’ desire to control their own assets and provide for their children and grandchildren after they are gone. As a trust and estate lawyer, Yvette provides compassionate counseling to help her clients plan for the future. And because assets and plans change over time, Yvette provides her Houston area clients with lifetime advocacy. Contact her today to discuss your estate planning needs.
Contact Us
If you are ready to start planning your estate, contact The De Leon Law Firm. The firm understands the complexities of the estate planning process and can help make it easier for you. The De Leon Law Firm knows what kind of estate planning suits your needs. When you contact De Leon Law, they provide fast turnaround times and are available to their clients at any time of the day. Contact the De Leon Law Firm today to discuss your estate planning needs if you are in Wharton County, Austin County, Harris County, or Fort Bend County.
Book a no obligation consultation today.
What Do Past Clients Say?
Clients frequently share high praise for the quality of service—and peace of mind—they’ve received when working with an experienced estate planning attorney. Many describe their attorneys as not only knowledgeable but compassionate and patient, guiding them step-by-step through complicated legal processes ranging from probate to asset planning.
Past clients often comment on how responsive the team was, noting that every question—big or small—was met with clear, thorough answers. They express gratitude for the professionalism and kindness shown, highlighting how having a trusted advocate made even the most daunting decisions feel manageable. For some, working with a trusted attorney meant being able to support their families, return to loved ones, or simply gain clarity about their future. The assurance of reliable guidance and sincere care often brings lasting relief during what can otherwise be a stressful chapter.
If you value clear communication, patience, and reliable support, you’ll find that these are precisely the qualities clients appreciate most in their estate planning and probate counsel.
Proven Resources and Tools for Your Legal Needs
The De Leon Law Firm is dedicated to providing clients with efficient and accurate legal services, which is why we utilize a suite of trusted resources throughout your case. We rely on respected legal research platforms such as Westlaw and LexisNexis to ensure every aspect of your matter is guided by current law. To streamline filings and keep your case moving smoothly, we use secure document management systems trusted by attorneys nationwide.
Additionally, our practice keeps up to date with changes in regulations and court procedures through continuing legal education and memberships in professional associations. These tools, combined with our commitment to responsiveness and client care, ensure that you receive the reliable advocacy you deserve—whether you’re navigating estate planning, probate, or another area of law.
