Plan Your Legacy
Estate Planning, Trusts & Probate Services
Take the confusion out of legacy planning
At Heintzelman Law, I help you plan your Estate so you can leave your legacy to your loved ones. I also help families navigate legalities in the event of a passing. Matters like these call for a compassionate guide, and bereaved families shouldn’t have to figure things out alone.
For over 15 years, I’ve been helping Clients plan their Estates and providing legal services related to end of life. I’d love to take the burden of legal issues off of your shoulders so you can spend more time with the ones you love.
I can help you…
Reduce your expenses
There are many ways to set up an Estate using Trusts or even business entities, such as a Limited Liability Company. Probates can be complicated and have unexpected issues or delays. I can help you minimize costs with the best strategy to achieve your desired outcome.
Preserve your wishes
I’ll help you preserve your wishes for your family, your assets and medical care. Without legal documentation, you leave these decisions in the hands of the state.
Serve your family
Instead of leaving your spouse or children in a vulnerable position, Estate Planning helps you serve your family even after you’re gone.
About
I’m Storey, licensed attorney in the State of Texas with over 15 years of experience in Estate and Probate Law. I intentionally created a smaller firm to allow for flexibility and personal service. I have a support team that helps, but I manage every case and work personally with every Client. I believe that every life has meaning and that legacy matters. I would be honored to help you plan yours or honor someone else’s.
Experience
• St. Mary's University, School of Law, honors, top 5% of class
• Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., Litigation Associate
• Cox & Smith, Inc. Tax Section, Wills, Estates, Trusts, Probate, Non-profit Organizations, and Business Succession Planning
• San Antonio Estate Planners Council, Member
• San Antonio Bar Association and its Elder Law Section, Member
• Women and the Law Section, Member
• Estate Planning/Probate Section of the Texas Bar, Member
How it works
1. Schedule a consultation
After you complete a brief questionnaire, we discuss your needs and how I can help.
2. Get the legal support you need
We make a plan and I draft documents to take care of your legal matters.
3. Give a legacy to those you love
You can have peace of mind knowing that your affairs are in order and you’ve planned for your family’s future.
Services
Estate Planning
It’s a common misconception that Estate Planning is only for the wealthy. Actually, Estate Planning is important for everyone. Regardless of your marital status, number of dependents, or the size of your assets, you need to have an Estate Plan in place. An Estate Plan protects you and your loved ones by directing where you’d like your assets to go. There are also ways to plan your Estate in order to avoid probate, which can make things much easier for your family. Your Estate Plan can be a means to give to your favorite charities, support or pay tuition for your grandchildren, or make special arrangements for your beloved pets.
Probate Services
Every Estate has financial and emotional components that demand administration with compassion and care. I come alongside and assist an Executor or Administrator with their needs in administering an Estate. The State of Texas has a very fair and independent way of probating Estates which is not overly expensive, court-involved, or time consuming for an Estate’s Executor or Administrator. Don’t be afraid of having a Will probated in Texas or going through an heirship/administration proceeding when there is no Will.
Trusts
A Trust can be a useful tool in an Estate Plan. A Trust offers flexibility and privacy for the Grantors (creators) of the Trust. It can also provide creditor protection to the Trust beneficiaries (who are not the Grantors), avoid probate, and provide a seamless way to transfer out-of-state assets upon the Grantors’ deaths. A Trust also allows the Grantors to control the flow of assets, which can be helpful when beneficiaries have an addiction or other special circumstances. There are many types of Trusts which can be utilized for charitable giving, insurance purposes, or to address Estate tax concerns.
Business Entities
Creating a Texas Business Entity (such as a Limited Liability Company) can promote creditor and/or liability protection. While creating a separate entity requires running it separately from personal assets and requires the time to title assets separately, many Clients find that the benefits of creating a Texas Business Entity outweigh the work it takes to run it.
Real Estate
Aside from creating the necessary Deeds within a Probate Administration involving Real Estate, we are increasingly involved with drafting Transfer on Death Deeds as a means to avoid probate. This type of Deed allows a property owner to name a beneficiary on his or her home or other real property. Often issues with title in Real Estate occur after the first parent dies and no Probate action was filed. An issue results with the status of first deceased parent’s 50% ownership in the property. We have stepped in to help Clients in this scenario to resolve this title issue, enabling them to complete the sale of their parents’ property.
Not sure what the next steps are for your legal matter? Schedule a consultation with me today.