Dallas Estate Planning Attorneys

This holistic estate plan allows you to:

• Determine (and update) the people or organizations your assets will go to
  
• Use careful legal strategy to enable your family to plan ahead and lower the burden of estate taxes
• Name the people you want to make medical and/or financial decisions for you, should you become incapacitated 
  
• State your medical preferences legally and directly 
  
• Select guardians for minor children, yourself, or your estate

After being established, your estate plan can be revised as needed. The documents included in an estate plan offer adaptability and assist in securing an inheritance for your chosen beneficiaries. In some instances, it may also provide your family with added privacy by bypassing probate, which involves the public recording and court reading of a Will.

Ultimately, estate planning provides a level of control at vulnerable times in our lives and allows individuals to continue providing for their loved ones.

Estate planning can also alleviate some of the burden on families and loved ones by clearly communicating your wishes, instead of leaving them open to speculation or ambiguity. This can be particularly advantageous during times of heightened emotions, allowing individuals to grieve and support one another instead of succumbing to family tensions.

Our Dallas estate planning attorneys at the law firm of Shann M. Chaudhry Esq., Attorney at Law PLLC combine creative strategy with compassionate and consistent communication. We attentively consider the preferences of our clients to devise a personalized and efficient plan that meets their needs.

.

It’s never too early—or late—to create a comprehensive estate plan. At our SMC ESQ PLLC, our experienced trust and estate attorneys seek to build long-term, lasting relationships with our clients.

Not only will we assist you in creating and designing the right estate plan for you, but we’ll also help update your plan once it’s in place.

Estate planning is about saying who you are, what you believe, and how you want to be treated. It’s about protecting your assets and providing for your loved ones. It also helps you protect your business, your employees, and your legacy.

Every estate plan is unique. At SMC ESQ PLLC, we pride ourselves on listening carefully to our clients and communicating clearly. It’s important to us that our clients truly understand what their estate plan provides.

Our Dallas estate planning attorneys can work with you to create a plan that:

• Expresses and enforces your values 
• Provides for your loved ones 
• Helps ensure that future medical and financial decisions will be made in accordance with your wishes

Because each client’s family and financial situation is unique, we prioritize understanding your objectives before making any recommendations. We offer a range of estate planning packages that provide essential documents and advice, and we can move on to more complex issues as needed.

You don’t need to have everything figured out at the outset. We work collaboratively with you to determine the best plan for your situation.

The final cost of your estate planning will depend on various factors, including the level of complexity and time involved. At our Dallas estate planning law firm, we strive to provide transparent and competitive pricing for our clients

.

.

Our Dallas estate planning attorneys provide comprehensive services for individuals, like yourself, seeking to prepare for the future. We offer a firm commitment to communicate promptly, and our legal practice is guided by our core values of empathy, service, and authenticity.

We have provided details of our services below to assist those who wish to explore their options, but we acknowledge that every individual’s circumstances are unique.

An essential element of estate planning, a Last Will and Testament is a legally binding document that specifies who you wish to inherit your property after you pass on and who will manage the property until it’s distributed.

Our Dallas estate planning attorneys can provide personalized solutions, answer any questions you may have, and offer guidance throughout the entire process.

A revocable living trust can help reduce tax liabilities and safeguard your privacy by preventing assets from going through probate or being publicly disclosed through the reading of the will. It’s important to note that you have the ability to modify the trust at any time.

A trustee is required to administer trusts, and they can be an individual or organization such as a law firm or bank. Alternatively, with a living trust, you can serve as the trustee.

Revocable living trusts offer a versatile solution to maintain control and bypass probate. Our Dallas law firm specializing in estate planning can guide you in crafting a revocable living trust that aligns with your long-term objectives.

If you become unable to make medical decisions for yourself, medical power of attorney (POA) allows you to nominate a legal healthcare representative. This person can then make medical decisions on your behalf in accordance with any guidelines or preferences you have provided.

Often referred to as an “advanced directive,” a medical POA provides you with a degree of choice and autonomy in a wide range of health-related situations, from temporary ones such as being under anesthesia to more long-term scenarios such as hiring a personal care assistant or deciding on a medical treatment plan.

Our Dallas estate planning attorneys possess considerable experience helping clients designate powers of attorney and establish advanced directives tailored to their particular concerns and wishes.

.

An advanced directive for durable power of attorney allows you to nominate someone to handle your financial affairs, property, and certain legal or business decisions. It’s important to note that durable power of attorney only covers legal, business, and financial matters.

For instance, your designated representative could pay your medical bills, but they would not have the authority to make decisions about your medical treatment unless they were also granted Medical Power of Attorney.

Choosing to give someone durable power of attorney requires careful consideration, but it can prove immensely beneficial in the long run. At SMC ESQ PLLC, we assist clients in navigating this decision-making process and help them arrive at a choice that best reflects their preferences.

HIPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a federal law that instituted national regulations for safeguarding the privacy of a patient’s medical records. This law is the reason why it is illegal for your spouse, who is a medical practitioner, to divulge the diagnosis of a mutual friend’s ailment to you.

To authorize the disclosure of your medical information to specific individuals, a HIPAA Release Form must be completed. If, for example, you grant Medical Power of Attorney to your spouse or adult child, it’s important to also submit a HIPAA release so that your healthcare providers can share crucial details with them, including your diagnosis, condition, and potential treatment options.

Our Dallas attorneys can assist you in ensuring that your medical information is appropriately shared with authorized individuals while maintaining strict confidentiality

.

A Directive to Physicians, which is also commonly referred to as a living will, outlines your preferences for the type of medical care you wish to receive, or not receive, in the event of a diagnosis of a terminal or irreversible condition.

For example, this document enables you to express your wishes about being kept alive through life support in the face of a terminal illness. Aside from ensuring that your medical treatment adheres to your stated preferences, it can also offer reassurance to your loved ones, who may otherwise be uncertain about what decision you would prefer.

Our Dallas estate planning attorneys have significant experience in assisting clients with drafting living wills that reflect their specific desires and concerns.

While Powers of Attorney encompass a wide range of circumstances, they do not cover every situation. In such cases, appointing a guardian can provide additional coverage.

A self-guardian is authorized to make legal decisions for an individual who is unable to do so due to incapacity, and an estate guardian is responsible for making legal decisions on behalf of an estate. Both types of guardians are overseen by the court.

.

Choosing a guardian for underage children necessitates thoughtful and thorough consideration. This decision enables you to designate the person you would like to care for your children if you become incapacitated, instead of a court appointing a guardian with no awareness of your wishes.

The objective of elder law planning is to safeguard a portion of your assets to provide for your care during your lifetime. This type of planning is particularly focused on preparing for any requirements related to long-term care, whether at home or in a nursing facility.

Furthermore, it covers topics such as Medicaid planning, which a significant number of elderly individuals qualify for but may not be aware of, as well as special needs, veterans’ benefits, and guardianships.

.

.

Assets that are categorized as non-probate are exempt from being governed by a Will, and as the name implies, they are not subject to probate proceedings. In the end, these assets may offer greater confidentiality to a family.

Non-probate assets include assets that are:

• Owned with someone else, such as property
• Payable upon the person’s death, such as life insurance
• Assets in a revocable living trust

Proactively including non-probate assets in an estate plan can establish a more private approach to transferring inheritances to intended beneficiaries.

Beyond this, our Client Care Program provides ongoing estate plan support free of charge or at significantly reduced rates. Our committed team will keep an eye on your estate plan and any alterations in the law to ensure that it meets your expectations. Additionally, we offer the convenience of making minor modifications, such as updating the names or percentages of beneficiaries, without any extra fees.

As part of our services, we collaborate with your other professional advisors and conduct family meetings to clarify your estate plan to your loved ones, ensuring everyone is well-informed and can progress together in sync.