Ellen Williamson Law, PC

05/24/2026

You probably haven't read the Texas Estates Code.
But our legal system assumes that you have.
And if you don't create an estate plan of your own, it assumes that you agree with the one the State of Texas wrote for you.

05/07/2026

Today's episode of the Lawyerist podcast features...me! I talk about my journey from a true do-it-all solo to building systems and empowering my team to do the work so we can serve more clients more efficiently.

It can feel tempting for lawyers to "hide out" in the legal work because we're good at it, it's a discreet task that we know when we've finished it, and it has a specific dollar value that it yields fairly quickly. Business owner work, on the other hand, can feel harder. It feels less clearly-defined. Harder to know what "done" looks like. And the ROI may be uncertain or take longer. But I've increasingly realized that while I should always be striving to become a better lawyer, the firm's ability to grow depends much more on my growth as a business owner and manager--the parts of the job we didn't learn about in law school.

That's where the Lawyerist Lab comes in. I've learned so much from the wonderful coaches and from fellow "Labsters." Even for solos, practicing law is better and more fun when we do it with friends and have people to lean on and hold us accountable. If you're wondering if Lab might be a good fit for you, happy to chat about my experience.

05/02/2026

I just spent a great 2 days at North Texas Probate Bench Bar. Informative and relevant CLE sessions and fun with colleagues I get to call friends. Aside from just being fun, it’s part of how I make myself a better lawyer and more effective advocate for my clients. The educational content is important, but so is the socializing, the karaoke, the “probate law prom.”

The NTX probate bar is a fairly small world. Those of us who do this know each other well. That means when I run across a new issue to me, I can get help from someone else who’s seen it or, if it’s a case we’re not the best fit for, I can send that client to a trusted referral and know they’ll be in good hands.

That also means when we have a case together, we start from a position of respect and trust that can make finding resolution easier. That makes practicing law more enjoyable. It also means we can serve our clients better.

04/29/2026

This video addresses one of the most common questions I get as an estate planning attorney. In this short explainer, I’ll tell you why the answer is “both…sort of.”

04/24/2026

How do trusts work, and why is it important to fund them? This short explainer video shares an analogy I use with my estate planning clients. Want to set up a trust of your own or did this make you realize you need to update yours? Let us know!

04/16/2026

You've probably heard that Texas is a community property state — but what does that mean for you in practice?

Many people assume community property laws only matters if you get divorced, but the rules that govern ownership and management of property during a marriage are the same rules that determine property rights at death and upon the incapacity of a spouse.

If you're married, community property law defines what you own, and your estate plan can only give away what you own. And regardless of your marital status, if you plan to leave something to children or other loved ones in your estate plan, how you structure that gift can determine whether it stays clearly theirs or becomes subject to commingling with marital property.

Like a lot of legal concepts, community property is less about finding the "right" answer and more about making sure the answer you end up with is an intentional choice you made, rather than one the state of Texas chose for you.

We put together a practical overview, consolidating the things most relevant to your situation into a few minutes' read.

https://www.ellenwilliamsonlaw.com/blog/community-property-in-texas-estate-plan

03/22/2026

If you've been appointed as executor of a Texas estate, one of the first things we'll sort out is what type of administration applies — and that choice has real consequences for how long probate takes, how much it costs, and how often you'll have to go back to court. Here's what independent and dependent administration actually mean in practice.

Most Texas estates are better served by independent administration — but not all. Here’s what the difference means for executors and beneficiaries.

12/31/2025

Looking back at 2025; did your stuff or your people change?

We hope you’ve enjoyed the holiday season and had opportunity to spend time with loved ones and relax. As we head into 2026, it's a natural time to take stock: What changed in 2025? For many of you, the answer includes significant life events—new family members, new assets, relocations, or relat...

11/18/2025

This holiday season, consider giving your loved ones the gift of transparency about your estate planning. Sharing your wishes and thinking with your children allows you to leave not just an estate plan but a legacy.

As you prepare for holiday gatherings with your family, I want to suggest a gift you might not have considered—one that costs nothing but could save your children from confusion, conflict, and heartbreak when you're gone. The gift is simply this: a conversation about your estate plan. I know what

12/03/2024

The book “Mouse Tales: A Behind-the-Ears Look at Disneyland” describes an incident in 2002 when hidden cameras caught someone spreading a substance on the Haunted Mansion ride. With anthrax attacks fresh in the public’s consciousness, the situation warranted a police and fire department response, the book says, though the dust was determined to be human remains.

Pellman and fellow ex-custodial cast member Lynn Barron wrote in the book “Cleaning the Kingdom: Insider Tales of Keeping Walt’s Dream Spotless” that attractions need to be shut down when someone spreads suspected ashes.

“Unless you want your loved one swept up into a dust pan or vacuumed up — in either case, to be dumped in an industrial trash compactor — do not spread their cremated remains in the Haunted Mansion,” they wrote.

Disney superfans are having their ashes spread on park rides like the Haunted Mansion. It’s a big no-no.