Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84goodADVICE Q: With three kids still at home, we know we need to plan for “What if something happens to us?” What do we need to know and how do we get started? A:First off, you need a will. If you die without a will in the state of Texas, your estate can be probated intestate. In other words, the State of Texas has a will for you. Depending on who is in your family (spouse, children, parents, siblings, and so on) certain relatives will acquire a percentage of your estate. A will (or lack thereof) can be the least expensive issue to deal with. Disability and guardianship can be worse for the unprepared. Who will be guardian of your children? Who will be your guardian? Does your family have access to funds they need? To get started call a lawyer and make an appointment. You may think you can buy a form or copy someone else’s and it will have the same effect. You can buy a “will-in-a-box” or other similar product that enables you to write legal docu- ments for yourself, but an attorney knows the laws, or the implication of some of the language, or how one situation might be solved by one approach but not another. The will or contract might work, and it might not. That’s a large gamble to take with your family’s future. It’s a good idea to hire someone you are comfortable with, can afford, and can contact easily. It’s not a bad idea to make sure they have malpractice insurance. You can look them up on the State Bar’s website and see if they are licensed or if they have blemishes on their record. You can also ask a friend or family member for a referral. Most estate plans will cost $1,000 to $4,000 for a husband and wife with children. Lawyers traditionally charge by the hour. Other lawyers will charge by the job. For example, a lawyer may charge $1,000 to write a will. When you sit down with a lawyer, they will ask you about your family and what you want to happen in certain situa- tions. One of the first things they need to know is who will handle things if something happens to you. This can seem overwhelming at first, but it all boils down to this: If you can, get a list together of three people that you trust implicitly. We’ll take it from there. Colin Smith, Colin Smith Law PLLC Living Trusts & Trust Administration, Wills & Probate, Living Wills, Asset Protection Colin earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Dallas Bar Association, and the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association. See his complete bio on page 11. www.colinsmithlaw.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL! Get the latest on trending topics, hot events & pics PLUS #pinworthy ideas! GoodLifeFamilyMagazine @GLFmagazine GoodLifeFamily_Magazine GLFmagazine