Texas Wills Attorney

Most people know they should have a will. Far fewer actually have one in place. In Texas, dying without a valid will means the state steps in and decides what happens to everything you worked for, including your home, your savings, your business interests, and sometimes even the care of your minor children. That is not a risk worth taking, and it is certainly not a plan.

Our law firm works with individuals and families across Fort Worth and Dallas to create wills that are legally sound, clearly written, and built to hold up when it matters most. A will is not just a legal formality. It is a direct statement of your intentions, and when it is drafted properly under Texas law, those intentions carry real legal weight.

In Texas, the validity of a will is governed by the Texas Estates Code, which outlines the legal standards that must be met. The testator, the individual creating the will, must be at least eighteen years old, legally married, or serving in the armed forces. In addition, the testator must possess sound mental capacity at the time the will is executed.

Texas recognizes two main forms of valid wills. 

• The first is an attested will, which is a typed or printed document that must be signed in the presence of two credible witnesses who are at least 14 years old. 
• The second is a holographic will, which is one written entirely in the handwriting of the testator and signed by that person. No witnesses are required for a holographic will, but the entire document must genuinely be in the testator’s own handwriting to be valid.

It is also worth noting that Texas does not recognize oral wills in most circumstances, and a will that fails to meet the state’s formal requirements may be contested or declared invalid during probate proceedings in Tarrant County or Dallas County courts.

People sometimes think a will is only about distributing money. In reality, a well-drafted will accomplishes several important things at once. For families in the Fort Worth and Dallas areas, these protections can make an enormous difference during an already difficult time.

A properly prepared Texas will can address the following:

• Who receives your real property, personal property, and financial accounts
• Who serves as the executor of your estate and manages the probate process
• Who you designate as guardian for any minor children in your care
• Whether your estate goes through standard probate or a simplified independent administration
• Any specific bequests you want to make, such as heirlooms, vehicles, or business interests

Each of these decisions belongs to you. Without a valid will, Texas intestacy laws under the Texas Estates Code Chapter 201 will make those decisions for you, and the results may not reflect your actual wishes or your family’s real needs.

Drafting a will without legal guidance is one area where small errors create serious consequences. Texas courts have seen countless disputes arise from documents that seemed perfectly clear to the people who wrote them but failed to meet the state’s technical standards.

Some of the most frequent issues our firm sees involve:

• Wills that were witnessed by individuals who are also named beneficiaries, which can create conflicts under Texas law
• Handwritten additions made to a typed will without following proper amendment procedures
• Wills that name an executor without granting them the authority they need to act efficiently
• Documents that conflict with beneficiary designations on life insurance policies or retirement accounts
• Failure to update a will after major life events such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child

Texas law does allow for will amendments through a formal document called a codicil. However, a codicil must meet the same legal standards as the original will itself. Simply crossing out a line or writing a handwritten note in the margin does not constitute a valid change under Texas law.

There is no shortage of online will templates available today. Some of them are inexpensive, and many of them are dangerously incomplete. Generic documents do not account for Texas-specific laws, they do not ask the right questions about your family situation, and they offer no guidance when your circumstances are anything other than straightforward.

Residents in Tarrant County and Dallas County often deal with community property questions, blended family arrangements, business ownership interests, and real estate holdings that require careful drafting. Texas is one of only nine community property states in the country, and that status directly affects how marital assets are treated in a will. Getting that wrong in a document can create costly legal disputes for your heirs.

Our law firm takes the time to learn about your specific situation before recommending any approach. A will that works well for one family may not serve another family at all, and cookie-cutter documents rarely reflect the actual lives and intentions of the people who sign them.

Our process is straightforward and designed to make you feel informed at every step. We start with a conversation about your goals, your family structure, and your assets. From there, our Texas wills attorneys draft a will that reflects your wishes in language that is clear, legally precise, and built to withstand scrutiny in Texas probate court.

Some clients come to us needing a simple will. Others arrive with questions about how a will fits into a broader estate plan that includes trusts, powers of attorney, or healthcare directives. Our Texas wills lawyers handle both with the same level of care, because every client deserves a document that actually does what they expect it to do.

Our firm serves clients across Fort Worth, Dallas, and the surrounding communities of Tarrant County and Dallas County. Whether you are establishing your first will or updating one that no longer reflects your life, we are prepared to help you get it done properly.

Estate planning does not have to be complicated or overwhelming, but it does need to be done correctly under Texas law. If you live in the Fort Worth or Dallas area and you are ready to put a valid will in place, our law firm is ready to help. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation.