Texas wills · Attorney-drafted
A Texas will, drafted by an attorney. Built to hold up when it matters.
A will is the foundational document of every estate plan. It tells the people you love who gets what, who's in charge, and who cares for your minor children. Without one, Texas decides for you under the intestacy statutes, which rarely match what most families actually want. Every will drafted through TexasEstates.com is prepared by our team using firm-developed workflows and reviewed by Darryl Pratt, a Texas-licensed attorney and CPA with thirty years of estate planning experience. No assembly-line drafting. No software-only solutions. Every document is built to hold up under Texas Estates Code scrutiny and to do what your family needs it to do.
Why have a Texas will?
A Texas will accomplishes four things every adult needs to settle in advance.
You decide who inherits.
Without a will, Texas Estates Code Chapters 201 and 202 dictate who receives your assets, in what shares, and in what order. The intestate distribution rules account for community property versus separate property, marital status, surviving descendants, and many other factors — and the result often surprises families.
You name guardians for minor children.
If you have minor children and you don't name a guardian, a Texas court decides who raises them. Family disputes about guardianship after a death are among the most painful and expensive probate proceedings.
You choose your executor.
Without a will, the court appoints an administrator. With a properly drafted Texas will that includes independent-administration language, your executor can typically settle the estate with minimal court supervision under Texas Estates Code § 401.001 et seq., saving significant time, expense, and family friction.
Plan for tax efficiency and special situations.
A well-drafted will can include testamentary trust provisions, specific bequests, contingency planning for predeceased beneficiaries, and other provisions tailored to your situation.
A person who dies in Texas without a valid will is "intestate." Their estate passes under the Texas Estates Code intestacy statutes, which divide property based on marital status, the existence and parentage of children, and whether assets are community or separate property. The results are often unintended: a surviving spouse may not inherit everything, children from prior relationships may receive a larger share than expected, and the court appoints an administrator (often with bond and ongoing court supervision) rather than a person of the deceased's choosing.
Three Texas wills, three situations
Simple Will
The right document for individuals or couples with straightforward situations: clear beneficiaries, no minor children or guardians already covered, no trust, no complex blended-family considerations. Includes specific bequests, residuary distribution, executor appointment with independent administration language, and a self-proving affidavit.
Pour-Over Will
The companion document to a revocable living trust. A pour-over will captures any assets not transferred to your trust during your lifetime and "pours" them into the trust at death. If you have or plan to have a revocable living trust, you also need a pour-over will.
Will Package
A complete estate planning document set built around the will: the will itself, a statutory durable power of attorney, a medical power of attorney, a directive to physicians, HIPAA authorization, and a declaration of guardian. For most adults, this is the right starting point.
What's included in every Texas will
- Specific bequests of personal property, real property, or sums of money
- Residuary clause directing distribution of everything else
- Executor appointment with independent administration language under Tex. Est. Code § 401.001 et seq.
- Successor executor designation
- Guardianship designation for minor children (where applicable)
- Contingent beneficiary provisions
- Testamentary trust provisions for minor or young-adult beneficiaries (where applicable)
- Self-proving affidavit prepared for execution with the will
- Execution instructions covering witness and notary coordination under Tex. Est. Code § 251.051
A self-proving affidavit is a notarized statement attached to your will in which you and your witnesses affirm under oath that the will was properly executed. A will with a valid self-proving affidavit is admissible to probate without requiring witnesses to testify after your death. Texas Estates Code § 251.104 specifies the form. Every will we draft includes one, prepared for proper execution. Wills without self-proving affidavits can still be admitted to probate, but the process is slower, more expensive, and depends on locating and securing testimony from the original witnesses years or decades after execution.
Pricing
Flat fees · attorney-drafted · Texas-statutory
Simple Will
Single will for one person. Specific bequests, residuary distribution, executor and guardian appointments, self-proving affidavit, execution instructions. For straightforward situations without a trust.
Start Simple WillPour-Over Will
Will designed to coordinate with an existing or planned revocable living trust. Pours over residuary assets to the trust at death. Often purchased together with our trust services.
Start Pour-Over WillWill Package
Complete estate planning document set: will, statutory durable power of attorney, medical power of attorney, directive to physicians, HIPAA authorization, declaration of guardian.
Start Will PackageHow it works
- 1
Tell us about your situation.
Our intake captures your family structure, assets, beneficiary intentions, and any special situations (blended family, minor children, special needs, charitable goals). About 20 minutes.
- 2
We draft your will.
Our team prepares the document using firm-developed workflows. Darryl Pratt reviews and signs off on every will before delivery.
- 3
You review.
Your draft will arrives by email for your review. We address questions and revisions through one round of revisions included; additional revisions available if needed.
- 4
You execute.
We provide detailed execution instructions covering proper witness and notary procedures under Texas Estates Code § 251.051. The original signed will is yours to keep. We provide storage and update guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Beyond this page
- Revocable living trusts for probate avoidance and incapacity planning
- Ancillary documents for healthcare decisions and financial authority during your lifetime
- Complete estate planning packages bundling will, trust, and ancillary documents
- Complex estate planning — blended families, special needs, charitable goals, federal exemption estates