Wills and Trusts
Wills and Trusts Lawyer in Killeen, TX
A will and a trust solve different problems, and most plans pair one of them with powers of attorney, a directive to physicians, and a HIPAA release. The right combination depends on the family's property, beneficiaries, and who should have authority to act.
Wills vs. trusts
A will and a trust solve different problems.
A will directs who receives your property after death, names an executor, and can name a guardian for minor children; property passing under a will generally goes through probate. A trust holds property during your life and can pass it to beneficiaries without probate, and it can also plan for incapacity by naming a successor trustee to step in if you cannot manage your own affairs. Which one fits, or whether you need both, depends on your property, privacy goals, and family structure.
Document package
Most plans use a small set of coordinated documents.
A typical plan includes a will, or a pour-over will if a trust is part of the plan, a durable power of attorney for financial decisions, a medical power of attorney, a directive to physicians, and a HIPAA release so family can get medical information. Each document covers a different kind of authority, and they are drafted to work together rather than as standalone forms.
Consultation
The first meeting is a fact-gathering conversation.
Expect to walk through family structure, property, existing documents, beneficiaries, and who you want to act for you if you become unable to. The attorney uses that information to recommend which documents actually fit your situation, not a fixed package.
Killeen
Local planning from a Killeen office.
Ted Smith has practiced in Killeen since 1976, after Fort Hood JAG service, and the firm works with Central Texas families who want plans that reflect military life, blended families, and Bell County property. Reach the office at (254) 690-5688 or 3201 E. Stan Schlueter Loop, Suite B.
How we help
The documents most plans include
The first call should turn a confusing legal issue into a clearer next step.
- Will or pour-over will
Names beneficiaries, an executor, and a guardian for minor children; a pour-over will backs up a trust.
- Durable power of attorney
Names who can manage your finances and property if you become unable to act.
- Medical power of attorney
Names who can make healthcare decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself.
- Directive to physicians and HIPAA release
States your wishes about life-sustaining treatment and lets family access medical information.
Why Ted Smith Law Group
Wills and trusts only work if they reflect your actual family and property. Ted Smith Law Group keeps the first conversation grounded in documents, beneficiaries, and who should have authority to act.
- Local office in Killeen
- The firm works from its Killeen office on E. Stan Schlueter Loop.
- 1976
- Ted Smith opened his Killeen practice after Fort Hood JAG service.
- 536
- Rated 4.6 stars by 536 clients on Google.Read the reviews
“Ted Smith and his legal assistants Carol and Crystal are highly recommended.”
Questions
Wills and Trusts FAQ.
Do I need a will or a trust?
The right plan depends on your property, privacy goals, cost, and how you want assets to transfer. A will names beneficiaries and an executor and generally works through probate. A trust may make sense when property management, incapacity planning, privacy, blended-family structure, or beneficiary control call for more than a will alone provides. Many Killeen families end up using both.
What is a pour-over will?
A pour-over will works alongside a trust. It directs any property that was not already placed in the trust to be added to it at your death, and it can still name a guardian for minor children the way a standalone will does. Property covered by a pour-over will generally still goes through probate, so it acts as a backstop rather than a replacement for funding the trust.
What is the difference between a durable power of attorney and a medical power of attorney?
A durable power of attorney lets someone you name manage your finances and property if you become unable to. A medical power of attorney is a separate document that lets someone make healthcare decisions on your behalf, generally kept apart from a directive to physicians, which states your own wishes about life-sustaining treatment.
What are a directive to physicians and a HIPAA release for?
A directive to physicians, sometimes called a living will, states your wishes about life-sustaining treatment if you have a terminal or irreversible condition. A HIPAA release lets the people you name get medical information and updates from your providers, which they otherwise cannot access under federal privacy law.
What should I bring to a wills and trusts consultation?
Bring any current will, trust, or power of attorney, a list of property and accounts, beneficiary designations, and family details, including minor children or blended-family considerations. If none of this exists yet, that is normal. Most planning starts from zero, and the first conversation is easier when the attorney can see what already exists and what has changed.
Start the estate-planning conversation.
Call or text the Killeen office and the team will get back to you, usually within one business day.