Why Estate Planning?
When my stepgrandfather lost his battle with colon cancer in 2004, he
died without leaving a will in place, creating an unnecessary and costly
headache for my grandmother to deal with. Instead of his meager estate
going to her, his wife of 43 years, the intestate laws of Texas
required that half of his estate to go to his children from a prior
marriage, children whom he had had little or no contact with for
decades. Although his property was valued at less than $2,500, my
grandmother could not sell or transfer ownership of this property
without the consent of his children. Fourteen difficult months later,
with the help of an attorney and costs of over $1,500, my grandmother
was finally able to sell the property.
A
properly crafted estate plan could have saved my family much time,
heartache, and expense, but all too often many families, especially
among poor and disadvantaged communities like the “colonia” in which my
grandparents lived, fail to plan for the future.
Through
this experience almost a decade ago, I realized that encouraging every
one I meet, especially the poor, to prepare an estate plan and leave
one’s final affairs in order would be the main focus of my future legal
career. My practice at CG Law Office is the outgrowth of my mission to assist people
with their estate planning needs, and this mission has expanded to
include legal services in areas very much related to Estate Planning, such as Probate Administration and some Real Estate and Business Formation matters.
CG Law Office also plays an active role in educating the public by presenting FREE and informational Estate Planning Seminars for churches, small groups, and local associations. “Knowledge is power,” my mother used to say, quoting Sir Francis Bacon, and I firmly believe that the best way to realize my law practice’s mission is by educating people of their options. By helping them make informed choices, they will have the power to protect their assets, pass on their values, and provide for their loved ones. If you would like to attend the next seminar or have me present a seminar to your group, please contact my office for more information.
