Probate & Estate Planning
More Than an Injury Lawyer: How McKinnon Law Protects What You've Built.
More Than an Injury Lawyer: How McKinnon Law Protects What You've Built.
The Call We Get More Than You'd Think
Someone calls us about a car accident. We help them through it. A few months later, they call back. This time it's not about an injury. It's about a parent who just passed away and left behind a house, some accounts, and no clear plan. Or it's about a will they've been meaning to get done for three years and keep putting off.
That second call happens all the time. And it makes sense, because the same things that make someone a good personal injury attorney — listening carefully, fighting for the people they represent, cutting through complexity — are the same things that make someone good at estate planning and probate work.
At McKinnon Law, we handle more than accidents. We help Houston families protect what they've worked for, plan for the future, and sort through the legal side of loss when a loved one passes. This page is for the people who didn't know we did that.
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Let's be honest about something. Most people who don't have a will aren't against having one. They're just busy. It feels complicated. It requires thinking about things nobody wants to think about. And it's easy to tell yourself you'll get to it eventually.
But here's the reality for a 35 or 45 year old with a family, a home, and some financial footing: if something happens to you without a plan in place, the people you love most are left to sort out your affairs in the middle of grieving you. The state of Texas will have a significant say in what happens to your assets. Decisions about your medical care could fall to people you wouldn't have chosen. And if you have minor children, the question of who raises them may not have a clear answer.
That is not a worst-case scenario. That is what happens every day in Texas when people die without proper estate planning documents.
Getting it done is simpler than most people expect. And it gives you something genuinely valuable: peace of mind that your family is protected no matter what.
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A complete estate plan is more than just a will. Depending on your situation, it may include several documents working together.
A Last Will and Testament is the foundation. It says who gets what, names an executor to manage your estate, and, critically for parents, designates a guardian for your minor children. Without one, Texas law makes those decisions for you.
A Durable Power of Attorney designates someone to handle your financial and legal affairs if you become incapacitated. This is the document that lets a trusted person pay your bills, manage your accounts, and handle business on your behalf if you're unable to do so yourself.
A Medical Power of Attorney names someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you can't communicate them yourself. This is different from a living will, and both matter.
A Directive to Physicians, sometimes called a living will or advance directive, spells out your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment. It takes an enormous burden off your family during an already devastating time.
A Revocable Living Trust may make sense depending on your assets and goals. A trust can help your estate avoid probate, provide more privacy, and offer greater control over how and when your assets are distributed, including to minor children who may not be ready to manage a lump sum inheritance.
We sit down with you, learn about your family and your situation, and help you build a plan that actually fits your life.
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Estate planning isn't just for the elderly or the wealthy. There are specific moments in life when getting a plan in place goes from "someday" to "right now."
Having a child. The moment you become a parent, the guardian question becomes real and immediate. If both you and your spouse were to pass without naming a guardian, a court decides who raises your child.
Buying a home. Real estate is often the largest asset a family owns. Making sure it passes correctly, without unnecessary legal complications, is a fundamental part of protecting that investment.
Losing a parent. Watching a family navigate an estate without a proper plan in place has a way of motivating people to get their own affairs in order. That instinct is right.
Turning 40. Sometimes there's no single event. Sometimes it's just the recognition that the future is real and planning for it is overdue.
If any of these describe where you are right now, this is a good time to make the call.
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Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate. In Texas, even when someone has a will, the estate may still need to go through some form of probate before assets can be transferred to the people who are supposed to receive them.
When someone passes without a will at all, the process becomes more complicated. Texas intestacy laws determine who inherits what, and those rules don't always reflect what the person would have actually wanted.
Probate can feel overwhelming to families who are already grieving. There are court filings, deadlines, creditor notices, and asset inventories. There may be real estate to deal with, accounts to close, and family members who don't agree on how things should be handled. And all of it is happening while you're trying to process the loss of someone you loved.
We help families in Houston navigate the probate process as smoothly as possible. We handle the legal complexity so you can focus on your family.
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Independent Administration. This is the most common and straightforward form of probate in Texas. When the will names an independent executor and the beneficiaries are in agreement, the process can move relatively efficiently with minimal court supervision.
Muniment of Title. If the only asset to transfer is real estate and there are no debts to deal with, Texas allows for a simplified process called muniment of title. It's faster and less expensive than full probate.
Intestate Succession. When someone dies without a will, Texas law determines how the estate is divided. This doesn't always go the way families expect, and it can create real conflict among surviving family members.
Heirship Determinations. When there's no will and the identity or location of heirs isn't clear, a court must make a formal determination. We guide families through this process.
Small Estate Affidavits. For very modest estates, Texas provides a simplified option that avoids formal probate entirely. We help families determine whether this is an option and handle the paperwork correctly.
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Protecting Your Family Shouldn't Wait
The most common thing we hear from clients after completing their estate plan is: "I'm so glad I finally did that." Not because it was exciting, but because it's done. Because the people they love are protected. Because they can stop carrying that background anxiety of knowing they haven't gotten to it yet.
We make the process straightforward. We explain everything in plain language. And we build documents that actually reflect your wishes and your family's needs.
Not Sure If You Have a Case?
Tell us what happened — we'll give you an honest answer, no strings attached. Give us a call (832) 810-3664 or fill out the form below.