The San Antonio Office of the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC proudly serves individuals and families throughout San Antonio, Alamo Heights, Stone Oak, Leon Valley, Live Oak, and the entire Bexar County community by offering comprehensive, personalized estate planning services. Our goal is to give families clarity, protection, and peace of mind—knowing that their wishes will be honored and their loved ones cared for, both during their lifetime and after they pass away.
Estate planning is more than writing a will. It is the foundation of a secure future, helping you protect your assets, avoid confusion, minimize probate complications, and reduce family stress. Whether you are creating your first estate plan, updating an existing one, or planning for long-term financial and medical needs, our San Antonio estate planning attorneys offer guidance tailored to your goals and fully compliant with Texas law.
Why Estate Planning Matters for Texans
A complete, well-structured estate plan offers powerful protections, including:
- Ensuring assets pass to the beneficiaries YOU choose
- Reducing the cost and length of probate
- Preventing family disagreements or contested estates
- Protecting children, disabled adults, and vulnerable loved ones
- Providing clear medical and financial instructions
- Preventing Texas intestacy laws from determining inheritance
- Safeguarding your legacy and long-term wishes
- Avoiding guardianship through proactive planning
Without an estate plan, your property may be distributed according to state law—not your personal preferences.
Estate Planning & Will Resources Available Through Our San Antonio Office
Last Will & Testament Preparation
A will is the cornerstone of an estate plan. It identifies how your property will be distributed and appoints a trusted representative to manage your estate.
Our attorneys assist with:
- Drafting legally valid Texas wills
- Naming executors and alternates
- Choosing guardians for minor children
- Creating custom inheritance instructions
- Updating outdated or conflicting wills
- Avoiding common mistakes that lead to will contests
Having a strong will simplifies probate and provides clarity for your family.
Living Trusts (Revocable & Irrevocable)
Trusts provide flexibility, probate avoidance, privacy, and long-term control over asset distribution.
Our team helps clients establish:
- Revocable living trusts to avoid probate
- Irrevocable trusts for advanced planning and asset protection
- Special needs trusts for disabled beneficiaries
- Children’s and family trusts
- Blended family trust structures
- Instructions for successor trustees
Placing assets in a trust streamlines administration and keeps your estate private.
Powers of Attorney (Financial & Medical)
A sudden illness or accident can leave you unable to make decisions. Powers of attorney ensure someone you trust is legally authorized to act on your behalf.
We prepare:
- Durable financial powers of attorney
- Medical powers of attorney
- HIPAA authorization forms
- Springing (conditional) powers of attorney
- Guidance on selecting trustworthy agents
Without these documents, loved ones may be forced into lengthy guardianship proceedings.
Advance Directives & Medical Planning
Advance directives allow you to communicate your medical wishes clearly and legally.
Our San Antonio Office assists with:
- Directive to Physicians (Living Will)
- Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders
- Organ and tissue donation declarations
- Long-term care preferences
- Emergency medical instructions
These documents reduce emotional strain on your family during medical emergencies.
Beneficiary Designations & Non-Probate Transfers
Many assets transfer directly to beneficiaries—outside the probate process—if designations are correctly updated.
We help clients review and update:
- Life insurance beneficiaries
- Retirement accounts (401k, IRA, pensions)
- Investment and brokerage accounts
- Pay-on-Death (POD) bank accounts
- Transfer-on-Death (TOD) deeds for Texas real estate
- Joint ownership arrangements
Correct designations ensure your assets pass smoothly and swiftly.
Estate Tax Planning & Asset Protection Strategies
While Texas imposes no state estate tax, proper planning can still reduce liability and protect wealth.
We offer strategies such as:
- Trust-based tax planning
- Asset protection structures
- Business succession planning
- Wealth transfer strategies
- Multi-property estate planning
These tools help safeguard your financial legacy.
Updating & Maintaining Your Estate Plan
Your estate plan must evolve with your life circumstances.
We recommend updates when:
- Marrying, divorcing, or remarrying
- Having or adopting children
- Buying or selling real estate
- Experiencing major financial changes
- Losing a spouse, child, or beneficiary
- Your executor or trustee can no longer serve
An outdated estate plan can cause confusion, disputes, or delays during probate.
