Reputable and Highly Recommended
San Antonio Law Firm

Preserving Family Wealth for Generations

ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEYS
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SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEYS

Serving the greater San Antonio, Bexar County, Comal County, Guadalupe County, and South Texas areas, the attorneys at the Voeller Law Firm have over 70 years of experience helping families plan for their futures, protect surviving spouses, and safeguard assets for children and grandchildren.

Having a comprehensive estate plan goes far beyond simply preparing for your death. In fact, failing to properly plan for incapacity can potentially place a much greater burden on your family and loved ones. Many people don’t realize there are estate planning strategies available to them that can save their families from thousands of dollars of expenses, hours of administration, and potential family conflicts down the road.

 

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Making sure your wishes are properly carried out starts with understanding what tools are available. Our goal at the Voeller Law Firm is to provide the most accurate, up-to-date counsel and advice so our clients can be well informed and properly prepared.

If you are ready to put your estate planning in place, please call us today to schedule a free consultation.

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    5 star review
    • Jim was exceptionally thorough in obtaining initial information from my wife and I regarding our plans for our estate. He gave us a great deal of advice and not once criticized for our lack of knowledge, rather he used this lack as vehicle to teach us more and then reinforced what we’d learned. We were in charge of making decisions but his advice was invaluable.

      Roger and June
      Roger and June
    • We are an older couple and we badly needed help getting our affairs in order. Mr. Jim Voeller took the time to explain what we needed to do and why. He answered all our questions and asked and answered questions we had not considered. We are very satisfied with the service he provided.

      Bob and Monique
      Emma
    • Jim Voeller was very professional and friendly. I felt at ease with him, which made it very easy to talk about our estate and trust planning. He did an excellent job listening to us and explaining the needs of our trust. He shared the pros and cons of options in our planning which helped us be able to make the right decisions for our family. Jim completed our trust and will documents in a very timely manner and went over everything with us when we met with him to sign the documents. I know I can call him with any further questions and he will be there to help. I found Jim to be worthy of my trust. I highly recommend Jim Voeller.

      Peggy
      Nathaniel
    • My wife and I recently met with Jim Voeller to discuss the possibility of preparing a family trust for us. Our meeting convinced us that Jim was the attorney for the job. A detailed family trust plan was prepared by he and his staff that met all our expectations, and then some. The professionalism and friendliness of Jim and his staff made this a pleasant experience for my wife and I. We strongly recommend that anyone considering any kind of estate planning use the Voeller Law Firm.

      Ron
    • Professional job. Took us by the hands and guided us through the whole process. Was able to explain all these complex legal issues in plain English to us.

      Kees
    • Jim Voeller and his staff were very professional, extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We had done our research on a number of attorney’s and selected Voeller Law Firm for their in depth experience in estate and trust planning. Jim provided excellent examples of options to meet our planning wishes for our family. We were provided with all the trust and will documents in a timely manner and Jim covered with us in detail all documents. We can call him with any further questions and he will be there to help. We strongly recommend Jim Voeller and his staff.

      Eddie and Terry
    • Mr. Voeller’s performance is not just that of an excellent practitioner, it is that of a Master in creating Living Trusts. His knowledge of the subject is thorough, and his thought process is pertinent, clear, and precise. The presentation of his work is impeccable. Most impressive are his patience, professional attitude, thoroughness, and careful attention to individuals’ problems. It is hard to say that an interaction with a lawyer (Mr. Voeller) may be an enjoyable experience.

      Jorge
    • We first met Jim in 2008 to help us with establishing a Family Trust. Since then, we have asked Jim for additional assistance as our needs changes, including most recently in April 2017. Jim has always offered us great advice and we trust him with our estate planning. We recommend Jim and the Voeller Law Firm 100%.

      Tom and Nancy Tidwell
    • Jim set up a living Trust for my wife and I. He explained the details of the law and our options with care and clarity and his pleasant demeanor made the process enjoyable. I would highly recommend working with Jim.

      Voeller Law Firm Client
    • Jim helped us set up a Living Trust and transfer assets into it in order to bypass probate. He is always available to answer questions on what to do in order to avoid loose ends.

      Voeller Law Firm Client
    • My wife and I are extremely pleased with The Voeller Law Firm. Jim is exceptionally personable and knowledgeable. He offered suggestions, answered questions, gave real-life examples, and just generally made the process as easy as possible. We were pleased with the final results! We feel more at peace now that we have the proper legal framework for transferring assets to our children and grandchildren, and we trust the Voeller Law Firm to be there for us and our family in the future.

      Michael Bristow
    • My family has been blessed to meet Jim, David and the entire staff at The Voeller Law Firm. They have been not only knowledgeable, and skilled – but have also done a great job of helping us through the process. They explained and guided us through everything that was done, and were always available to answer questions, and explain what was going on. It is amazing to have an attorney that you can rely on – but even more amazing to have an attorney that you know you can trust. I highly recommend The Voeller Law Firm.

      Larry Andrews
    • We engaged the Voeller Law Firm to prepare a Trust for our family. David was thorough in covering the various options we needed to consider and patiently answered our many questions. After the initial meeting the firm went to work to create the plan and in our second meeting he took the time to review each element before we closed. Our experience couldn’t have been more positive. The peace of mind we now have, knowing we have this plan in place is wonderful. We would highly recommend the Voeller Law Firm for estate planning.

      Kevin Soelberg
    • Jim Voeller and his staff are committed to excellence. I’ve not met an attorney who is more knowledgeable in the area of estate planning. I highly recommend the Voeller Law Firm!

      Pam Correa
    • Very helpful and knowledgeable. Helped us develop a plan that made sense and will protect my family. Was so easy to do and very organized.

      Steve Howard
    • We found the Voeller Law Firm through a referral from an attorney who did not specialize in trusts and estate planning. We needed help with trusts when my mother moved here from Arizona and she had a complex group of trusts that were hard to understand. We give the Voeller Law Firm a 100% job-well-done rating, and should we ever need assistance with estate planning or trusts, we have found our attorney. We are certain anyone looking for estate planning help would be very pleased with the services Jim and his capable staff provide.

      Valerie Johnston
    • My family hired James Voeller for our estate planning. This process was painless and we found Mr. Voeller extremely thorough and organized. He took the time to answer every single one of our questions and explained our documents in a manner that explained the purpose for each document. He took a very painful process and turned it into peace of mind for our family. He also made sure we understood that any questions, just pick up the phone or email. He wanted to make sure we knew he was available to us at all times. I highly recommend him to anyone interested in planning their estate. My deepest appreciation for his expertise and commitment to his craft.

      Mike Hernandez
    • Having recently retired and relocated from Louisiana to Texas, our financial advisor suggested we develop a estate plan following the laws and guidelines of our new state of residence. We were referred to the Voeller Law Firm by a friend, an it proved to be one of the best referrals we have ever received. In our meetings with Jim Voeller, he thoroughly explained our options and answered all of our questions in a friendly, professional manner. In the end, we opted for a revocable living trust and are completely satisfied knowing that we now have an estate plan in place which will make it much easier for our children in the future. We would definitely recommend the Voeller Law Firm for estate planning.

      Sarah Sick
    • What a great experience. Everything was carefully explained and thoroughly covered with options we never considered. We procrastinated and always found excuses not to plan for the inevitable; it was uncomfortable. Do not make the same mistake. We now have clarity and understanding which provides relief, a burden was lifted from our shoulders. We highly recommend this very considerate and professional law firm. Good people.

      BG Haji
    • Mr. Jim Voeller’s legal advice and preparation of all necessary legal documents has I feel protected my family, and business, from any potential problems caused by dying (which we all do). I feel that should something happen to either myself, my wife, or both , my interests and wishes will be served by the execution of pre-positioned agreements and documents (Living Trust). I feel Mr. Voeller has more than adequately addressed my concerns for my family, children, and other eventualities. He is an individual with Ethics. He’s a man I trust without reserve, and has always been there for me when I’ve had questions.

      John and Isabelle Timms – Isabelles European Day Spa
    • We hired Jim to handle estate planning for my father-in-law whose care needs and costs were steadily increasing. He set up a special needs trust, updated his Will and POAs, applied to the VA to increase my father-in-law’s disability pension and recommended a financial advisor to help us invest the proceeds from the sale of his house. Everything was covered, soup to nuts, and because of the special needs trust, my father-in-law’s VA disability pension was doubled and will now, along with his other pension and social security, cover just about all of his long term care. We are very pleased. Jim is very competent and professional and always available to answer questions.

      Joanne
    • After my wife died, I sought out an estate planning attorney that could quickly get my current wishes into a will and trust for grandchildren. He understood what I wanted, asked the right questions to complete his work and produced the necessary documents within a week and organized for those I will leave behind.

      Art
    • Jim was both effective and efficient. He took the time to explain things to me, responded to email and telephone correspondence promptly, and completed the entire transaction in about 3 weeks. I would use him again if need be.

      Paul
    • “Mr. Voeller established an estate plan/family trust for us. He also taught us how to handle bank accounts and our adult children’s accounts. He was very patient and answered questions in lay terms. He also set up an irrevocable trust for our elderly parents who could no longer handle their finances such that a CPA could pay their bills at the assisted living. In addition, he sent reminders for us to follow up and get accounts moved to the trusts.”

      Alan
    • Jim Voeller was kind, courteous, and respectful of our wishes. He was very knowledgeable, answered all our questions and took us step by step through the Estate Planning process. We felt his fees were very reasonable.We feel very confident that all our estate needs have been addressed. We absolutely would recommend Jim Voeller.

      Jim & Betty
    • Mr. Voeller and his staff are professional, helpful, and thorough. We would recommend Mr. Voeller for all of your needs regarding the setup of living trusts. They assisted me in a timely manner and are always very helpful when I call with questions.

      Patsi
    • Jim was very knowledgeable and helpful. Due to the unique circumstances of my request, Jim was extraordinarily helpful in expediting the creation of my documents. You can’t beat Jim’s knowledge and experience and he provided a lot of good insight that helped us to create very flexible and efficient legal documents.

      Charles D.
    • I initially sought out Mr. Voeller for estate planning purposes as a result of him being well rated on Avvo.com. I was not disappointed. He was friendly and well informed. He took the time to explain everything regarding an estate plan and seemed to give advice that benefited me and my family rather than his firm. Because I liked Mr. Voeller so much, I also used him to create a LLC and a DBA. My second use of Mr. Voeller was also a pleasure. He was again well informed and took the time to explain everything to me. I have sent him several follow up questions via email and he has always taken the time to respond and has always done so within 24 hours.

      Ryan
    • Mr. Voeller is an extremely knowledgeable and efficient estate attorney. My parents sought his advice and expertise in preparation for my mother’s double lung transplant in 2007. They spoke very highly of him and his office. After the birth of my first child, my husband I did not hesitate in contacting Mr. Voeller for our own estate planning. He is very welcoming and easy to talk with. He took his time in explaining all of our options. He has also provided guidance in helping us to plan for our grandparents. We hold him in high regard and look forward to a long working relationship.

      Voeller Law Firm Client
    • Most impressive: he listened. He took time to thoroughly understand our goals and preferences. He made his fee schedule clear and his staff was efficient. In addition to a hard copy of our estate planning documents, he provided DVD copies for us to file in secure location and send to key players.

      Voeller Law Firm Client
    • After our initial consult/interview with Mr. Voeller, our impression was that this was an estate planning and asset protection attorney with whom we could establish a rapport/relationship. Throughout the process of bringing our Living Trust documents up to date to meet current needs, Mr. Voeller was sensitive to our issues and goals. He offered options and pointed out the pros and cons of the options available. He did not overstate.

      Voeller Law Firm Client
    • My husband and I interviewed Jim Voeller based on recommendation from a local Financial Advisor because we had needed to update previously established Living and Charitable Trusts. The attorney who originally drafted our Living Trust documents retired; his partner, with whom we had met, was not a good fit for us. We began interviewing estate planning attorneys within reasonable driving distance of our rural local.

      Voeller Law Firm Client
    • David Voeller was our lawyer for the estate planning for my mother. My father passed away unexpectedly and had no will. We had no idea where we even needed to start. I found the Voeller Law Firm through a third party website and the reviews I read about him were great. Both David and his father Jim were fantastic to deal with. David kept me informed throughout the entire process and always answered any questions I had. David was the lawyer that went to court with us, and everything was very clearly explained in terms I could understand. If you need a layer to help you with your estate planning, then I would HIGHLY recommend David Voeller.

      Marc
    • Jim was exceptional and the process of setting up the living trust was fast and painless! He had a lot of good ideas and was extremely helpful. We will certainly recommend him to others.

      P & C.G.
    • David Voeller handled my business with professionalism while always keeping my best interest first and foremost. I would highly recommend him to others and will use him again in the future. The Voeller Law Firm gave me peace of mind during a very trying time. David you are greatly appreciated! God bless you and yours always!

      Karen
    • “Jim was exceptionally thorough in obtaining initial information from my wife and I regarding our plans for our estate. He gave us a great deal of advice and not once criticized for our lack of knowledge, rather he used this lack as vehicle to teach us more and then reinforced what we’d learned. We were in charge of making decisions but his advice was invaluable.”

      Roger and June
    • We are an older couple and we badly needed help getting our affairs in order. Mr. Jim Voeller took the time to explain what we needed to do and why. He answered all our questions and asked and answered questions we had not considered. We are very satisfied with the service he provided.

      Bob and Monique

    FAQs

    What is Probate?

    Probate is the court and process that looks after people who cannot make their own personal, health care and financial decisions. These people fall into three general categories: Minor Children (under age 18 in most states); Incapacitated Adults; and People who have died without legal arrangements to avoid probate. Probate proceedings can be expensive and time-consuming. Additionally, the court proceeding and associated documents are all a matter of public record. Many people choose to avoid probate in order to save money, spare their heirs a legal hassle, and keep their personal affairs private.

    What is Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship? (in some states “Tenancy by the Entirety” when between spouses)

    This is the most common form of asset ownership between spouses. While, joint tenancy has the advantage of avoiding probate at the death of the first spouse, it oftentimes has unintended consequences. Joint tenancy with right of survivorship has the effect of transferring assets, apart from how a Will or Revocable Trust directs. Also, a parent should be careful not to put their child’s name on their account. Doing so may subject their accounts to loss through their child’s debts, bankruptcies, divorces and/or lawsuits. Joint tenancy planning also may result in unnecessary death taxes on the estate of a married couple.

    What is a Will?

    The document a person signs to provide for the transfer of assets after death. Wills do not avoid probate. Wills have no legal authority until the willmaker dies and the original will is admitted into the Probate court records. Everyone with minor children should have a Will or a Declaration of Guardian for Minor Children. These are the only two ways to appoint the new “parent” of an orphaned child. Special testamentary trust provisions in a will can provide for the management and distribution of assets for your heirs. Additionally, assets can be arranged and coordinated with provisions of the testamentary trusts to avoid estate taxes.

    What is a Living Will?

    Sometimes called an Advance Medical Directive, a living will allows you to state your wishes in advance regarding what types of medical life support measures you prefer to have, or have withheld/withdrawn if you are in a terminal condition (without reasonable hope of recovery) and cannot express your wishes yourself. Oftentimes a living will is executed along with a Durable Power of Attorney for Health care, which gives someone legal authority to make your health care decisions when you are unable to do so yourself.

    What does Intestacy mean?

    If you die without even a Will (intestate), the legislature of your state has already determined who will inherit your assets and when they will inherit them. You may not agree with their plan, but roughly 70 percent of Americans currently use it.

    What are Beneficiary Designations?

    You may avoid probate on the transfer of some assets at your death through the use of beneficiary designations. Laws regarding which assets may be transferred without probate vary from state to state. Some common examples include life insurance death benefits and retirement accounts. Since Beneficiary Designations go around what the provisions of a Will or Revocable Trust direct, they oftentimes have horrendous, unintended consequences.

    What is a Durable Power of Attorney and when do I need one?

    These allow you to appoint someone you know and trust to make your personal health care and financial decisions even when you cannot. If you are incapacitated without these legal documents, then you and your family will be involved in a probate proceeding known as a guardianship and conservatorship. This is the court proceeding where a judge determines who should make these decisions for you under the ongoing supervision of the court. Guardianship is time consuming and expensive. Even with a Durable Power of Attorney, Guardianship is often still required. A Revocable Living Trust can completely avoid Guardianship.

    What is a Revocable Living Trust?

    This is an agreement with three parties: the Trust-makers, the Trustees (or Trust Managers), and the Trust Beneficiaries. For example, a husband and wife may form a trust and they will be all three parties, creating the trust, managing all the assets transferred to the trust, and having full use and enjoyment of all the trust assets as beneficiaries. Successor Trustees can step in under the terms of the trust to manage the assets should the couple become incapacitated or die. The trust also controls the management and distribution of assets to their family upon the trust-maker’s death. With proper planning, the couple also can avoid or eliminate estate taxes on their estate. The Revocable Living Trust may allow them to accomplish all this outside of any court proceeding.

    Who Should Have a Revocable Living Trust?

    Whether you are young or old, rich or poor, married or single, if you owned titled assets such as a house and want your loved ones to avoid court interference at your death or incapacity, consider a revocable living trust. A trust allows you to bring all of your assets together under one plan.

    What is an estate?

    • When people hear the word “estate,’ they usually imagine a large home with ivy growing on it, per- haps with a maze garden in the backyard—something that has been in a wealthy family for generations upon generations. However, with respect to estate planning, an estate is the general term used to describe everything you own. This includes bank accounts, stocks, real estate, household items and furniture, automobiles, copyrights, and cryptocurrency. This also includes liabilities such as a mort- gage, lease, or loan.

    What is an estate plan?

    • An estate plan is your personal set of instructions that dictate what will happen to you and your stuff (your estate) at your death. If you have a minor child, your estate plan allows you to nominate who will be the guardian for your child. Estate planning documents also allow you to dictate who manages your finances when you cannot and who will make medical or end-of-life decisions when you are un- able to communicate them yourself. Some common documents that are part of an estate plan include a last will and testament, financial power of attorney, medical power of attorney, advance directive or living will, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization form.

    Why do I need an estate plan, and what happens if I do not have an estate plan in place?

    • Technically, you already have an estate plan. If you do not create a personalized estate plan, state laws dictate who will receive your money and property and the amount each heir will receive. Intestacy laws vary by state, but generally, your money and property will go to your nearest blood relative; that is, your children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews, and so on. If you are married, most states provide that your spouse will get everything, provided that any children you have are from that marriage. If you have a blended family, the default rules are a lot more convoluted.

    Additionally, without a personalized estate plan, the court will step in and appoint someone to make financial or medical decisions on your behalf when you are unable, whether or not you would have chosen that person yourself. This process can be incredibly time-consuming, expensive, and public.

    Lastly, if you have a minor child and the other legal parent is no longer living or fit to care for your child, a court will be charged with finding an appropriate guardian for your minor child. This may or may not be the person you would have chosen. This could also cause arguments among family members when trying to decide who will care for your child.

    Is creating an estate plan expensive?

    As you begin the estate planning process, you may find that the cost of having a comprehensive and personalized estate plan prepared by an attorney is a little more than you expected. Consider, however, that this cost can be significantly less compared to the court costs and attorney’s fees your loved ones will incur to arrange care and choose decision makers at your incapacity or to wrap up your affairs at your death without an estate plan.

    Are there cheaper alternatives to an attorney-prepared estate plan?

    Yes, but a word of caution: While there are several do-it-yourself options available on the internet or at your local library, completing these documents without the advice of an experienced attorney could leave your loved ones in a sticky situation if something should go wrong. First, an estate plan is more than just one document. To make sure that you and your loved ones are protected no matter what circumstances come your way, several documents may be needed, and they all must sync together and not contradict each other. Second, if you get something off of the internet, there is no guarantee that the document will conform to the specific rules of the state you live in. Third, the document you prepare may not address all of the possible situations that occur or change in your life nor is it likely to take into account your specific family situation or goals. Forms are basic and are meant to address the most common scenarios. Lastly, creating an estate plan yourself could lead to mistakes in the execution of the documents. Even if your documents explain everything perfectly, if they are not executed (that is, signed, witnessed, and notarized) correctly, your loved ones will have additional hurdles to overcome in trying to carry out your wishes, which will cost them money. So even though you may be saving money today, your loved ones could end up spending more (in money, time, and stress) when wrapping up your affairs if you utilize some of these cheaper alternatives.

    What do I look for in an estate planning attorney?

    • Estate planning is a very personal process. Therefore, the first thing you should look for in an estate planning attorney is someone you are comfortable with. To properly plan for you and your loved ones, you may need to divulge sensitive information. If you are uncomfortable discussing with the attorney your family situation, financial matters, medical wishes, goals for your future, or how your money and property will pass on, it will impede the attorney’s ability to create a proper estate plan.

    Next, you should look for someone who is a good listener. The attorney must understand what you are saying (or not saying) to make sure that the right solution is provided to meet your needs. A skilled attorney can match your desired outcome with the right planning techniques to carry it out.

    Lastly, you should look for a problem solver and not a document producer. With the increasing number of do-it-yourself estate planning options, it is becoming easier to just fill out a form. However, an experienced estate planning attorney is not selling you a set of documents. The attorney is there to provide you with counsel and a comprehensive solution to the worries that keep you up at night and that motivated you to begin the planning process. Estate planning is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

    You are unique and deserve a plan that captures your needs and wants.

    What can I expect from the estate planning process?

    • Once you have decided to move forward with the estate planning process and have made your call to the attorney’s office, here are some things you can expect:
    • You will likely be asked to fill out a questionnaire. This asks for information such as your name and address, the names and addresses of your loved ones, contact information for your financial and tax advisors, descriptions of what you own (property and investment accounts), and your goals or concerns. This will allow the attorney to get a sense of who you are, what you have, and what some of your goals are.
    • During the meeting, the attorney may ask you questions to expand upon the information you provided in the questionnaire. Standard questions include the following:
    • Who would you like to make financial or medical decisions for you in the event you are unable to make them yourself?
    • Who would you like to care for your minor child if you are unable?
    • How do you Grant your loved ones to receive their inheritance: all at once, over a period of time, or upon achieving certain milestones?
    • Once you have met with the attorney, the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and sched- ule a time for you to review and sign them. At the signing meeting, the attorney will remind you of the purpose of each document and invite a notary and witnesses to attend as you sign the documents Once the signing is complete, you will likely receive your original executed documents with instructions for any follow-up tasks that may need to be completed.

    How do I get started?

    • To take the next step in planning for your and your loved ones’ futures, visit www.estatep1anning.com to learn more about estate planning or to find an experienced estate planning attorney in your area.

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