Texas law recognizes holographic, or handwritten, wills, but such a will must be signed by the testator and drafted entirely in his or her handwriting. In this instance, the will does not need to have the signatures of witnesses and may be self-proved at any time during the lifetime of the testator.

If you die without a Will (often called dying "intestate"), your property (called your "probate estate") will be distributed according to D.C. laws. It will not go to the government as long as you have a living relative who can claim your estate.

A living trust is a legal entity that owns property you transfer into it during your lifetime. After your death, the trust distributes the assets to your beneficiaries. A living trust is an excellent way to manage your assets during your life and ensure they are distributed to your beneficiaries after your death while avoiding probate and keeping your business private.

If you have strong reason to believe that one or more members of your family may contest your wishes as described in your will, you should consider seeking professional advice. Wills created with a template are valid so long as they are executed properly. If you are unsure of the laws of your state regarding proper will execution, professional advice on at least that aspect of will creation is advisable.

Setting up an estate plan isn't a priority for many young people, usually taking a back seat to building careers, paying off student debt, starting families, or buying a first home. But while it's easy to push estate planning down the road, there are good reasons to take care of it sooner than later.

Failure to prepare a will typically leaves decisions about your estate in the hands of judges or state officials and may also cause family strife. At Abundance Law we believe in creating the ultimate gift for your loved ones through a solid will and estate plan. As your assets grow so will you estate plan in the future.