Edinburg Guardianships & Wills Lawyer

Guardianship and Wills Attorney Serving the Rio Grande Valley

Protecting Your Future and Your Loved Ones

Life is unpredictable. One moment, everything seems stable and secure, and the next, an unexpected twist of fate can leave you reeling. It’s precisely during those trying times that a solid plan can make all the difference. That’s where the dedicated guardianship and wills attorney at Garza Law Office, PLLC, comes in.

Dora Alicia Garza is an Edinburg wills & guardianship lawyer understands that thinking about these matters can be difficult. These topics force us to confront our own mortality and imagine worst-case scenarios. But as challenging as it may be, estate planning and life planning are crucial steps to safeguarding your future and the futures of those you hold dear.

Consider this alarming statistic: nearly 60% of Americans don’t have a will or living trust in place. That means if tragedy strikes, their assets and their minor children could end up in limbo, leading to drawn-out legal battles and heartache for their loved ones. You’ve worked hard to build a life for yourself and your family. Don’t you want to ensure that your legacy is protected?

The guardianship and wills law firm, Garza Law Office, PLLC, makes the estate planning process as smooth and stress-free as possible. We help families in the Rio Grande Valley and throughout Texas through guardianship and will issues from our Edinburg, TX office. Our knowledgeable wills and guardianship attorney will sit down with you, get to know your unique situation and goals, and craft a customized plan to meet your needs. We’ll walk you through every step, from drafting a legally sound will to establishing guardianship for your children or dependents.

Guardianship in Texas

Why is guardianship so critical? If you have minor children or adult dependents with special needs, guardianship allows you to designate a trusted individual to take over their care if you become incapacitated or pass away. Without an established guardianship, the courts will appoint someone to fill this role, and it may not be the person you would have chosen.

In Texas, there are two main types of guardianship:

1. Guardian of the Person: responsible for handling the ward’s physical well-being, health care, education, and welfare.
2. Guardian of the Estate: manages the ward’s financial affairs, assets, and property.

The same person can serve as both Guardian of the Person and Guardian of the Estate, or you may choose to split the roles between two individuals. The key is selecting someone you trust implicitly to carry out your wishes and act in your loved one’s best interest.

Guardianship for Children With Special Needs

If you’re the parent of a child with special news (such as autism or a disability), guardianship can help you protect their interests and future. In the case of special needs children, guardianship becomes essential when they reach the age of majority (18 years old) and may lack the capacity to make informed decisions for themselves. When your child with special needs approaches adulthood, it’s crucial to consider whether guardianship is necessary to ensure their continued well-being.

As a guardian for your special needs child, your primary responsibility is to make decisions that prioritize their well-being and protect their interests. This may include:

• Making medical decisions and coordinating healthcare services
• Determining living arrangements and ensuring a safe environment
• Managing financial resources, including government benefits and assets held in trust
• Advocating for your child’s rights and access to necessary services
• Encouraging your child’s independence and self-determination to the extent possible

Wills in Texas

Another crucial component of life planning is having a valid, up-to-date will in place. Your will dictates how your assets will be distributed after you’re gone.

When you pass away without a valid will in place, your assets will likely end up in probate court. Probate is the legal process by which a court oversees the distribution of your assets to your beneficiaries. While probate is a necessary procedure in many cases, it can come with several drawbacks, especially if you haven’t taken the time to create a will.

Probate can be a lengthy and expensive process. Even straightforward estates can take months or even years to settle, and complicated cases can drag on for even longer. During this time, your assets are essentially frozen, meaning your loved ones can’t access them until the probate process concludes. This can be a significant hardship for families who rely on those assets for their livelihood.

Perhaps most importantly, if you die without a will, you lose control over how your assets are distributed. Texas intestacy laws will determine who gets what, and those decisions may not align with your wishes.

Creating a valid will with the help of an experienced lawyer like Garza Law Office, PLLC, is the best way to avoid these pitfalls. A will lets you specify exactly how you want your assets distributed, name an executor to manage the process, and appoint guardians for your minor children. It can also help your estate avoid probate altogether or at least minimize the time and expense involved.

Keep in mind that in Texas, a will must meet the following requirements to be considered valid:

• You must be at least 18 years old or legally emancipated
• You must be of sound mind
• The will must be in writing
• You must sign the will in the presence of at least two witnesses over the age of 14

Let Us Protect Your Family & Their Future

The guardianship and wills law firm Garza Law Office, PLLC, has extensive experience crafting legally binding wills that stand up to scrutiny. We’ll ensure that your will is properly drafted, executed, and stored securely. And as your life circumstances change – perhaps you welcome a new child, go through a divorce, or acquire new assets – we’ll be here to update your will accordingly.

We know that planning for life after you’re gone isn’t easy. However, the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ve protected your loved ones is priceless. So don’t wait until it’s too late.

Your future and the futures of those you love are too important to leave to chance. Let Garza Law Office, PLLC help you take control and confidently face the road ahead. Guardianship, wills, and estate planning may seem daunting, but with us in your corner, you can rest easy knowing you’ve made the responsible choice. Because at Garza Law Office, PLLC, your future is our priority.