Estate Planning Attorney

Drafting a will or setting up a trust can be challenging. Without proper guidance, your property may not go to the intended beneficiary.

A skilled estate planning attorney can help you with the process, giving you peace of mind about end-of-life matters.

If you need help with your estate plan, contact the Law Office of Randy Michel in College Station, TX.

Estate Planning: The Basics

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Estate planning involves the creation of wills, trusts, and other tools to preserve your assets in case of death or incapacitation. Administration is the process of distributing the assets of the estate after your death. Our legal team evaluates every situation to determine the best course of action for our Texas clients.

How Our Attorneys Can Help You Navigate Estate Planning With Our Law Firm

Get It Right and in Writing

A poorly drafted will or a lack of estate planning documents could lead to a legal battle. Legal struggles could even start before you've passed away. An attorney can help create your estate plan and ensure your wishes are carried out.

Amending Wills

Your estate plan may need to adapt as circumstances change. The attorneys at our College Station family law office can review how changes in marital status and finances affect your current estate plan, and alter your will and other documents as needed.

Contesting a Will or Trust

If estate planning documents were set up under duress, undue influence, or without the full mental faculties of the owner of the estate, an estate planning attorney can help contest the content of these documents.

Assistance With Probate

The probate process can be frustrating. Our lawyers can walk you through probate step by step, ensuring taxes are paid, debts are settled, and assets are properly distributed to beneficiaries.

Need Help With Estate Planning? Contact the Law Office of Randy Michel

If you're working on a will or a trust, it's crucial that you have legal counsel. An attorney familiar with estate plans can point out long-term concerns that should be addressed. Randy Michel has worked as an estate planning attorney for many years. He can provide practical financial and legal advice as you create an estate plan.

Speak with a lawyer who can break things down in a language you can understand. Contact the Law Offices of Randy Michel today for a confidential estate planning consultation in College Station, TX.

(979) 764-2435

The Law Office of Randy Michel team
Need help planning? Our team can help protect your property, provide tax guidance, and more.




   

Making a Difference With Estate Tax Planning Work With Attorneys Who Care About You

“My wife and I highly recommend Randy and his staff for estate planning and will preparation. He articulates the legalese in simple English being knowledgeable and professional. He listens carefully, makes excellent recommendations, and follows through in a timely and cost-conscious manner. He quoted a fixed price for this work, provided everything we needed, made all changes requested, never trying to add more fees for additional services. Hopefully we won't need an attorney again, but we would definitely use him if the occasion arose. We will recommend him to others and I'm sure they will be pleased.” Wayne Evans

Proudly Serving
Military Families

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The Law Office of Randy Michel serving Bryan-College Station proudly represents military personnel and their families. Our entire firm thanks you for your service.

Wills vs. Trusts

Our estate planning lawyers serving Bryan-College Station field many questions about wills and trusts from clients planning for their future. To give you an idea of which estate planning option may be right for you, here are the basics and key differences of each:

Lawyers looking over a will

Understanding Wills

A will specifies the wishes of a testator (owner of the estate) on how property should be distributed and how dependents should be cared for after the testator has died. In essence, it allows you to list which beneficiaries receive specific assets when you pass away.

Who Should Consider a Will?

You should consider drafting a will if you are married, have children, or have a positive net worth.

If you die without a will, your assets will be distributed to spouses, siblings, and children based on Texas' intestate succession laws.

What Is a Living Will?

A living will defines your own end-of-life wishes rather than listing beneficiaries. In Texas, living wills are called a Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates or advanced directives.

handshake over a contract

Understanding Trusts

A trust is a legal contract that permits a third party (the trustee) to hold and manage specified assets on behalf of a beneficiary. These assets are held in a trust fund.

Trusts are one way for you to pass assets to a beneficiary without going through probate court. We can help with insurance trusts, charitable trusts, and family trusts.

Who Should Consider a Trust?

Generally speaking, a trust is worth pursuing if you have $100,000 or more in assets and also own real estate.

Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts

A revocable trust allows you to fully control your assets as needed. Assets can be transferred and the trust itself can be dissolved.

An irrevocable trust cannot be changed once it has been set up. You also lose control of the assets in an irrevocable trust.

Estate Administration Independent and Dependent Administration

In Texas, estates can go through either independent administration or dependent administration.

  • An independent administration does not involve the court. You basically operate outside of the court when you probate the will and administer the estate.
  • A dependent administration involves a probate judge who oversees and approves of the administration of the estate. These can be time-consuming and frustrating.

Our College Station law office serving Bryan-College Station and beyond can help with either form of estate administration. Our lawyers can also provide assistance with small estate administration, which applies to estates that are valued at less than $50,000.

Planning Your Future on Your Terms Our Compassionate Lawyers Are Here to Help

"I couldn't be more grateful to Randy Michel and his team for all their help after the unexpected loss of my husband. They were so kind, helpful, understanding, and often going above and beyond for our family while we went through the most painful event of our lives. Thank you Randy Michel, Andrea, and the entire team. I will forever be grateful for you all!" Karen Strope
Randy Michel

Law Office of Randy Michel

The Law Office of Randy Michel provides family-oriented legal services to clients in the greater College Station, TX, area. Our attorney, Randy Michel, hold several distinctions and are affiliated with prestigious organizations:

  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
  • Brazos County Bar Association
  • National Association of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Kentucky Bar Association
  • Members of the Premier 100 Trial Attorneys 
  • Board-Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Awarded Pro Bono Honors for community involvement
  • Certification as a mediator and arbitrator

To schedule an appointment or to learn more about how our law firm can serve your needs, contact us online or call (979) 764-2435.

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"Randy Michel is an honorable guy, who ensures you are well cared for and fully aware of all legal nuances, no matter what."

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