Estate Planning in Texas
Your Complete Guide to Wills, Trusts, and Protecting Your Family’s Future
Estate planning in Texas is about more than signing a Will or creating a Trust — it’s about protecting your home, your family, your assets, and your long-term wishes with clarity and confidence.
This page gives you a full, easy-to-understand overview of how Estate Planning in Texas works and links to every resource you need to make informed decisions. Whether you’re a homeowner, a parent, planning for retirement, or simply want to avoid Texas probate, this page is your starting point.
What Is Estate Planning in Texas?
Estate planning in Texas is the legal process of preparing for how your assets, children, medical decisions, and financial responsibilities will be handled if you become incapacitated or when you pass away.
A complete Texas estate plan typically includes:
- A Will and/or Revocable Living Trust
- Financial and medical powers of attorney
- Advance medical directive
- HIPAA authorization
- Guardianship nominations for children
- Deeds or beneficiary strategies to avoid probate
You can explore each part of an estate plan below. Remember at the outset, good estate planning is never about buying documents, it’s about getting good legal counsel in creating the right blend for your legacy, and then having the right team by your side to ensure it all works as intended when the time comes.
The Core Components of Estate Planning in Texas
The following are the major components of any estate plan:
Living Trusts in Texas
A Revocable Living Trust helps Texas families avoid probate, maintain privacy, and create structured inheritance plans. Learn how Trusts work, who needs one, and why many families prefer them.
How to Fund a Trust in Texas
A Trust only works if the assets are properly transferred into it. This guide explains Trust funding, what assets need retitling, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Last Will & Testament in Texas
A Will directs who receives your property and who becomes guardian of your children. It does not avoid probate in Texas, but it is still a foundational planning tool.
Financial Power of Attorney (FPOA)
A Texas Durable Power of Attorney lets someone you trust manage finances if you become incapacitated.
Medical Power of Attorney & Advance Directive
These portion of the estate plan ensures your medical wishes are followed and authorize someone you trust to make healthcare decisions.
HIPAA Authorization
This allows doctors and hospitals to share medical information with authorized family members so they may effectively advocate for you.
Guardianship for Minor Children
Critical for parents — this section covers naming guardians and protecting school-aged children if something happens to you.
Should You Choose a Will or a Trust in Texas?
Estate Planning in Texas often begins with choosing between a Will and a Trust. Your choice will depend on:
- Whether you want to avoid probate
- Whether you want privacy
- Whether you own a home
- Whether you have children
- Whether you want structured inheritances
Most Texas homeowners choose a Trust because:
- It avoids probate
- It keeps your family out of court
- It protects privacy
- It handles disability planning
- It allows structured inheritances for children
Learn more:
Common Estate Planning Goals for Texas Families
Estate planning in Texas is highly personal, but most families share these goals:
- Avoiding Texas probate court
- Protecting a spouse or children
- Preventing inheritance disputes
- Keeping affairs private
- Avoiding guardianship court in case of incapacity
- Protecting children from divorce or creditors
- Maintaining control over medical decisions
- Simplifying the process for family members
Each of these goals is addressed in the links throughout this page.
Texas Probate and How to Avoid It
Probate in Texas is more affordable than some states, but it is still:
- Time-consuming
- Public
- Sometimes contested
- A burden on grieving families
Most Texas families use a Trust or deed strategy to avoid probate entirely. We expect this to become the norm in Texas, especially in major metro areas like DFW, as more people move to the area (Probate Courts will only become more and more impacted and further delayed).
Explore your options:
Our Flat-Fee Estate Planning Packages
We offer three structured, transparent plans designed to meet the needs of real Texas families:
- The Essentials — Will-based plan
- Foundational Trust Plan — Revocable Living Trust
- Legacy Vault Plan — Advanced protections
We’ve made Estate Planning in Texas as simple as it can be. Compare our plans in detail below:
Why Texas Families Choose NTX Estate Law
Estate planning in Texas is personal, and families want more than documents — they want guidance, clarity, and long-term protection.
Here’s why so many North Texas families trust NTX Estate Law:
Flat-fee pricing with no surprise hourly bills
Simple, modern process designed around busy families
Local North Texas attorneys who understand our community and Texas law
Trust-focused planning that keeps your family out of court and protected
Convenient virtual meetings with in-office or mobile signing options
Clear 3-step experience
Discovery Call
Design Meeting
Signing & Delivery
Premium client service from a firm that only practices estate planning
We help families get the peace of mind they deserve — without stress, confusion, or complicated legal jargon.
Ready to Protect Your Family With a Texas Estate Plan?
Your next step is simple: Schedule a Discovery call!
We’ll walk you through your options, recommend the right plan, and answer every question.
