San Antonio Estate Planning Attorney

Estate planning is an essential aspect of managing your assets and ensuring your wishes are honored after your passing. At The Voeller Law Firm, we provide comprehensive estate planning services to help you protect your legacy and provide for your loved ones. This guide will inform you about the importance of estate planning, the various tools available, and how our firm can assist you in San Antonio.

Understanding Estate Planning

Estate planning involves the preparation of legal documents and strategies to manage your estate during your lifetime and distribute your assets after death. It ensures your wishes are followed and minimizes potential conflicts among your heirs. Effective estate planning also helps reduce taxes and legal fees, preserving more of your estate for your beneficiaries.

Key Components of Estate Planning

Wills. A will is a legal document that outlines how your assets should be distributed after your death. It allows you to name an executor to manage your estate, designate guardians for minor children, and specify how debts and taxes should be paid. At The Voeller Law Firm, we help you draft a clear and legally binding will that reflects your wishes and meets all legal requirements.

Trusts. Trusts are versatile estate planning tools that can help you manage and protect your assets. There are various types of trusts, each serving different purposes:

  • Revocable living trusts. These allow you to retain control over your assets during your lifetime and specify how they should be distributed after your death.
  • Irrevocable trusts. These transfer ownership of assets out of your estate, which can help reduce estate taxes and protect assets from creditors.
  • Special needs trusts. These are designed to provide for a beneficiary with special needs without affecting their eligibility for government benefits.
  • Charitable trusts. These allow you to support a charitable cause while potentially receiving tax benefits.

Our attorneys at The Voeller Law Firm can help you determine the right type of trust for your situation and draft the necessary documents to establish it.

Powers of Attorney. A power of attorney is a legal document that grants someone else the authority to make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. There are two main types:

  • Financial power of attorney. This grants your agent the authority to manage your financial affairs, such as paying bills, managing investments, and handling property transactions.
  • Health care power of attorney. This allows your agent to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so.

Having these documents in place ensures that your affairs are managed according to your wishes if you cannot do so yourself.

Advance Directives. Advance directives are legal documents that outline your preferences for medical treatment if you become unable to communicate your wishes. These include:

  • Living will. This specifies the types of medical treatment you do or do not want if you are terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state.
  • Do not resuscitate (DNR) order. This instructs medical personnel not to perform CPR if your heart stops or you stop breathing.

Advance directives ensure your medical care aligns with your values and wishes, reducing the burden on your loved ones to make difficult decisions.

The Estate Planning Process

Initial Consultation. The estate planning process begins with an initial consultation where we discuss your goals, assets, family dynamics, and any specific concerns you may have. This meeting allows us to understand your unique situation and provide tailored advice on the best estate planning strategies for you.

Document Preparation. Once we have a clear understanding of your needs, our attorneys will draft the necessary legal documents, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives. We ensure these documents are comprehensive and meet all legal requirements.

Review and Approval. After drafting the documents, we review them with you to ensure they accurately reflect your wishes. We make any necessary revisions and explain the implications of each document so that you fully understand their impact.

Execution and Notarization. The final step is the execution of the documents. You will sign the documents in the presence of a notary public and any required witnesses. This step is crucial to ensure the documents’ legality and enforceability.

Ongoing Review and Updates. Estate planning is not a one-time event. It is essential to review and update your estate plan periodically, especially after significant life changes such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or the acquisition of substantial assets. Our attorneys at The Voeller Law Firm are available to help you keep your estate plan current and effective.

Benefits of Estate Planning

Protecting Your Assets. Estate planning helps protect your assets from excessive taxes, legal fees, and potential creditors. By using trusts and other legal tools, you can ensure more of your estate is preserved for your beneficiaries.

Providing for Loved Ones. An effective estate plan ensures your loved ones are provided for according to your wishes. This includes designating guardians for minor children, setting up trusts for their education and care, and ensuring your spouse and other dependents are financially secure.

Reducing Family Conflicts. Clear and legally binding estate planning documents help reduce the potential for disputes among family members. By specifying your wishes and designating an executor or trustee, you can minimize misunderstandings and conflicts after your passing.

Ensuring Your Wishes Are Followed. Estate planning ensures your wishes are followed regarding the distribution of your assets, your medical care, and the management of your affairs if you become incapacitated. This provides peace of mind knowing that your preferences will be respected.

FAQs about Estate Planning

Q: What Happens if I Die Without a Will?

A: If you die without a will, your estate will be distributed according to Texas intestacy laws. This means that the state will determine how your assets are divided, which may not align with your wishes. Having a will ensures your assets are distributed according to your preferences.

Q: Can I Change My Estate Plan?

A: Yes, you can change your estate plan at any time as long as you are mentally competent. It is essential to review and update your estate plan periodically to ensure it remains current and effective.

Q: How Can I Minimize Estate Taxes?

A: There are various strategies to minimize estate taxes, including the use of trusts, gifting strategies, and charitable donations. Our attorneys at The Voeller Law Firm can help you develop a plan to reduce estate taxes and maximize the value of your estate for your beneficiaries.

Why Choose The Voeller Law Firm?

At The Voeller Law Firm, we offer:

  • Dedicated legal counsel. Our attorneys provide personalized attention to ensure your estate plan meets your specific needs and goals.
  • Comprehensive support. From the initial consultation to the execution of documents, we provide thorough legal support every step of the way.
  • Commitment to your interests. We are committed to protecting your interests and ensuring your estate is managed according to your wishes.

Contact The Voeller Law Firm Today

If you need assistance with estate planning in San Antonio, The Voeller Law Firm is here to help. Contact us today—visit our website or call (210) 651-3851 to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys. Let us provide the legal support you need to protect your legacy and provide for your loved ones.

 

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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