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WILLS • TRUSTS • PROBATE • REAL ESTATE
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A QUICK BREAKDOWN OF SERVICES
Estate Planning
What it is: Wills and trusts are essential for expressing your wishes and securing your loved ones’ future. But a complete estate plan goes further. It should also include documents that appoint trusted agents to manage your medical and financial decisions if you become incapacitated. This ensures your affairs are handled according to your preferences when you’re unable to make decisions yourself.
Why it’s necessary: Whether married or single, many people want to ensure their assets are passed on to specific loved ones and family members after they’re gone. A well-prepared will or trust provides peace of mind by ensuring your wishes are honored and helps avoid the uncertainty that can follow a loved one’s passing. Without a plan, the State of Texas has default rules that might not align with your preferences or best serve your loved ones.
Probate
What it is: The legal process used to access a deceased loved one’s assets and transfer them according to their wishes or, if there’s no will, according to Texas law, is called probate. Probate ensures that assets are distributed properly, either following the instructions in the will or, in the absence of a will, according to state intestacy laws.
Why it’s necessary: To legally be named as the executor or administrator of a deceased loved one’s estate, the person must be formally appointed and sworn in by a judge. This judicial approval is essential to obtain the necessary legal documentation, which grants the appointed individual the authority to manage and act on behalf of the deceased person's estate.
Real Estate
What it is: When real estate is sold, purchased, or transferred, specific documents are required to finalize the transaction. These documents ensure that the transfer is legally recognized and properly recorded. In the context of probate and estate planning, property transfers are crucial for settling an estate and ensuring that the deceased’s assets are distributed according to their wishes or state law.
Why it’s necessary: A home and other real estate are often among the most significant assets people own. It’s crucial to keep ownership documents organized and up-to-date both during and after the owner's lifetime. Proper transfer of real estate requires accurate documentation to maintain the property’s marketability. After an owner’s death, deeds and other transfer documents are needed to pass the property to the new owner(s) as specified in the will or by law. Additionally, deeds are used for various transactions, including transferring property to a new owner or adding someone as a joint owner.
CLIENT REVIEWS
“This was the first time to ever need a real estate attorney. Joycelyn was very attentive, always made time for me and my questions, and made me feel like I was her number one client. I would highly recommend her for your real estate or estate planning and will continue to use her for myself in the future.”
- E. McIntosh
"Was a pleasure to work with Joycelyn Urech for a real estate contract review. She was prompt, professional and extremely helpful in this new process for me. I highly recommend her office."
- A. Castillo
"Joycelyn has been very helpful to us and is quick to respond to all our questions. She has many other resources available if it is something she doesn’t usually practice in. She is honest, friendly and will point you in the right direction. We highly recommend her!"
- V. Herndon
“We recently used Joycelyn Urech for updating our wills. The process went very easy and smoothly. All of our questions and concerns were answered as well as some great recommendations that we had never thought of. We will definitely return in the future as life changes happen and we need more updates to these documents."
- D. McMullan
"Joycelyn is a pleasure to work with. Fast response times via email, very accommodating. Detail oriented. Would definitely use them again for future attorney work."
- Riffs Hobby
"Joycelyn is amazing! I’d highly recommend her to anyone needing an attorney for elder law or estate planning. Joycelyn is an excellent reader of people and can connect with what’s happening to whom she’s speaking with. Joycelyn worked hard for my mom and was so knowledgeable about the estate process. I’m so thankful we crossed paths."
- N. Knight