Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and medical directives — drafted to Texas law for families in the Lake Travis area.
Schedule a Consultation →An estate plan is the set of legal documents that direct who manages your affairs if you become incapacitated, who receives your property after death, and who cares for minor children if both parents pass. PEEPL Law drafts comprehensive estate plans for Texas families — from foundational wills to multi-generational trust structures — tailored to each family's assets, goals, and circumstances.
We work with families in Travis County and the surrounding Hill Country area, including Lakeway, Bee Cave, Steiner Ranch, Spicewood, The Hills, Falconhead, Sweetwater, Rough Hollow, and Travis Club.
PEEPL Law drafts the full range of Texas estate planning documents:
Texas estate planning has features that differ from other states:
Texas is one of nine community-property states. Most assets acquired during marriage are presumed community property and are treated differently from separate property in estate planning. See Texas Family Code Chapter 3 on marital property.
The Texas Constitution and Texas Property Code Chapter 41 provide significant homestead protections that affect how the family home can be transferred at death.
A well-drafted Texas will typically authorizes “independent administration” under Texas Estates Code Chapter 401, which significantly reduces probate court involvement.
Texas allows wills to be “self-proved” with proper notarization at signing, eliminating the need for witnesses to testify at probate. See Texas Estates Code § 251.101.
Texas provides statutory forms for the Durable Power of Attorney (Texas Estates Code § 752.051) and the Medical Power of Attorney (Texas Health & Safety Code § 166.164). PEEPL Law uses these statutory forms with appropriate customization.
We discuss your family situation, assets, goals, and any existing documents. We identify what kind of plan fits your circumstances — from a foundational will-based plan to a more complex trust-based structure.
We prepare the estate plan documents based on the consultation. For most plans this includes a will, durable and medical powers of attorney, directive to physicians, HIPAA authorization, and (if applicable) trust documents.
You review the drafts. We meet (in person, by phone, or video) to walk through each document, answer questions, and incorporate any changes.
We coordinate the signing of all documents with proper Texas formalities — witnesses for the will, notarization for the powers of attorney and self-proving affidavit.
For trust-based plans, we coordinate transfer of assets into the trust. For all plans, we help update beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance to align with the overall plan.
For many Texas families, a properly drafted will is sufficient because Texas allows independent administration, which streamlines probate. Trusts make sense in specific circumstances — out-of-state property, blended families, special needs beneficiaries, business interests, or significant wealth — but they are not necessary for everyone. We discuss the right structure at the initial consultation.
Texas's intestate succession rules in the Estates Code determine who inherits. The rules differ for community property and separate property, and they can produce results that surprise families — especially blended families. A will lets you direct who inherits rather than relying on the default rules.
Estate plans should be reviewed every three to five years and updated after major life changes — marriage, divorce, births, deaths in the family, significant changes in assets, or moves to or from Texas. Updates are typically faster and less expensive than the original plan.
A document that meets Texas's statutory requirements for execution can be valid regardless of where it was prepared. The risk with template-based services is not invalidity per se — it is that the document may not address your specific circumstances, may not coordinate with Texas community property law or homestead protections, and may not authorize independent administration in a way that minimizes probate burden.
Costs depend on complexity. A foundational will-based plan for a typical Texas family is generally less expensive than a trust-based plan for a family with substantial assets, business interests, or out-of-state property. We discuss expected costs at the initial consultation.
PEEPL Law drafts estate plans for families across Travis County and surrounding Hill Country areas. Initial consultations are confidential and focused on your specific situation.
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Visiting this site or contacting our firm through this site does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Every legal situation is unique, and you should consult with a qualified attorney to obtain advice tailored to your specific circumstances. PEEPL LAW disclaims any liability for actions taken based on the information contained herein.
