Without a plan, Texas law decides for you:

Medical Decisions

If you cannot speak for yourself and do not have a Medical Power of Attorney, Texas law relies on a “default family list” of decision-makers (Tex. Health & Safety Code §166.039). This may not be who you would choose. Even worse, family members can disagree—and end up in court while you are lying in a hospital bed.

Money & Finances

Without a Durable Power of Attorney, banks will not let your spouse or children touch your accounts (Tex. Est. Code §1101). The only option is a court-ordered guardianship—slow, stressful, and expensive, with annual accountings and public filings. Meanwhile, bills go unpaid, credit suffers, and stress piles on your family.

Property & Inheritance

Without a will, Texas law dictates who inherits (Tex. Est. Code §201). This creates painful surprises:

In second marriages, a surviving spouse and children from a prior marriage may end up sharing property in ways nobody expected.

If you own property in your name only, it must go through probate.

The good news?

Texas has one of the simplest probate systems in the country. The legislature designed it to be efficient, with tools like Independent Administration (Tex. Est. Code §401.001) that allow your executor to settle your estate quickly, without constant court supervision.

Bottom Line:

A few well-drafted estate documents save you and your family months of conflict, thousands of dollars, and years of regret.

Estate planning is all about love, clarity, and responsibility.

Plan and protect yourself and your family today.