Estate Planning Attorney in Houston, Texas

No one wants to think about what happens if they can't speak for themselves, or if they're gone tomorrow. But without a plan, the people you love are left to sort through hard decisions during one of the hardest moments of their lives, often with a courtroom, not you, calling the shots. A little planning now can spare your family that added weight later. 

The Law Office of Whitney L. Thompson, PLLC is a Texas-based estate planning law firm helping individuals and families protect what matters most. With offices in Houston and Bay City, we draft wills, trusts, and powers of attorney tailored to your family, so the people you choose, not a probate court, make decisions about your children, your finances, and your legacy.  

Whether you're creating your first will or building a full plan for a blended family or a loved one with special needs, our compassionate estate planning lawyer is ready to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. 

Key Estate Planning Elements in Texas 

• Without a will, Texas intestacy law decides for you: Your assets pass according to a fixed formula based on your marital status and surviving relatives, not necessarily what you would have chosen, especially in blended families. 

• Wills must meet formal requirements: Under Texas law, a valid attested will must be in writing, signed, and witnessed by two credible witnesses. Handwritten "holographic" wills are also recognized, but they are more vulnerable to challenge. 

• A will must go through probate; a properly funded trust generally does not. Probate in Texas takes time and becomes part of the public record, and a living trust can avoid both. 

• Plans should be reviewed periodically: This is especially true after marriage, divorce, a new child, or a significant change in assets. 

Why Choose the Law Office of Whitney L. Thompson 

• A hands-on, plain-language approach: We walk you through each document, what it does, and why it matters, and no unnecessary legal jargon. 

• Plans built around your family: Blended families, special needs dependents, and multi-generational households all require different strategies. We tailor your plan instead of handing you a form. 

• Local Harris County experience: We regularly handle filings with the Harris County Probate Courts and understand how local practice affects your plan. 

• Two convenient office locations: One in Houston and one in Bay City, Texas, together serving clients throughout Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Montgomery, Matagorda, and Wharton counties. 

• A firm built on this work: Whitney L. Thompson, the founding attorney, began her career in estate planning and probate law as a law student at Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She advocates for residents through the school's wills, probate, and guardianship clinic, and has focused her practice on estate planning, probate, and guardianship matters ever since. 

Our Estate Planning Services 

We help clients build the right combination of documents for their situation. Depending on your goals, your plan may include: 

• Wills: Naming an executor, guardians for minor children, and how your property is distributed 

• Trusts: Including revocable living trusts to avoid probate and control how beneficiaries receive assets 

• Special Needs Trusts: Protecting an inheritance for a loved one with a disability without jeopardizing SSI or Medicaid eligibility 

• Financial powers of attorney: Authorizing someone you trust to manage your finances if you're incapacitated 

• Medical powers of attorney and directives to physicians: Putting your healthcare decisions in the hands of someone you choose 

• Beneficiary and payable-on-death planning: Coordinating retirement accounts, life insurance, and bank accounts with your overall plan 

We also help with related needs that often come up alongside estate planning. If you're planning for a loved one's long-term care, our Medicaid planning and Elder Law representation can help. If a loved one has already passed, our probate services can guide you through that process. 

Talk to a Houston Estate Planning Lawyer Today 

Your family deserves a plan that reflects your wishes, not one dictated by default state law. The Law Office of Whitney L. Thompson, PLLC serves clients across Houston, Harris County, and the surrounding Fort Bend, Brazoria, Montgomery, Matagorda, and Wharton County communities from our Houston and Bay City offices. Contact us now to schedule a consultation and start building a plan that protects what matters most to your family.