Your Texas Attorney

05/11/2026

In Texas, some estates go through the probate process with minimal court supervision, while in other cases, every major move must be reviewed and approved by the judge. Learn about independent vs. dependent administration in Texas, when each is required, and which type is preferred in different circumstances.

Houston probate lawyer Leigh B. Meineke describes independent vs. dependent estate administration in Texas, including when each is required or may be preferred.

04/02/2026

When someone passes away, long-standing grievances and family conflicts often bubble to the surface during the estate administration. These disputes make an already trying time even more difficult to deal with.

Learn about what to do when someone challenges a will or trust.

Houston estate planning attorney Leigh B. Meineke explains the bases for estate disputes in Texas & what to do when someone challenges a will or trust.

03/12/2026

Planning for a loved one with a disability requires careful coordination of financial resources, public benefits, and long-term care considerations. The result is ample funding to help your child leave an enriching and rewarding life with the greatest independence and support.

Learn how ABLE accounts and special needs trusts integrate with government benefits to provide for a loved one with special needs in Texas.

02/20/2026

Many people think of a prenuptial agreement in terms of what happens to marital or separate property if the couple divorces, but quite often these agreements also take effect if one spouse dies. For this reason, a will is often written with the terms of a prenup in mind, but what happens when it isn’t?

Learn about how prenups and wills work together, as well as which document controls when they conflict.

Houston estate planning & probate attorney Leigh B. Meineke explains how prenuptial agreements & wills work together, and which one controls when they conflict.

01/28/2026

Whether married or in a committed relationship without formal legal recognition, same-sex couples in Texas need to take extra steps to ensure their partner can inherit from them, care for their children, or assist with medical decisions. An estate planning attorney can help with all of that.

Learn about estate planning for same-sex couples in Texas.

Houston estate planning attorney Leigh B. Meineke helps Texas same-sex couples create wills, trusts, & advance directives to ensure their wishes are respected.

12/18/2025

Trusts are important tools in your estate planning toolkit. They can avoid probate, keep your estate private, and protect assets or eligibility for Medicaid & Social Security, & more.

Learn about different types of trusts and the benefits they offer.

Houston estate planning attorney Leigh B. Meineke explains how trusts can avoid probate, protect assets or eligibility for Medicaid & Social Security, & more.

11/10/2025

From failing to fund a trust, update beneficiaries, or make a plan at all, common lapses keep people from taking the right steps to secure the future for themselves and their families.

Learn the top ten estate planning mistakes to avoid.

Houston estate planning & probate attorney Leigh B. Meineke lists the top ten mistakes to avoid when it comes to securing the future for you & your family.

10/03/2025

After a divorce, it may or may not occur to you to update your will, life insurance beneficiary, ad other legal documents to reflect your change in marital status. Under Texas law, certain provisions in your legal documents can be automatically revoked. It’s vital to understand what changes occur and what steps you may want to take to reflect these life changes.

Learn how divorce can impact your estate plan in Texas.

Houston estate planning attorney Leigh B. Meineke talks about how divorce can impact your estate plan, including automatic revocation of certain provisions.

09/04/2025

If you die without a will, the state steps in and decides who gets your property according to state law. Your assets might go to people you didn’t want to inherit or skip people you wanted to include.

Learn about intestate succession in Texas and what happens when there’s no will.

Houston estate planning & probate attorney Leigh B. Meineke explains how intestate succession works in Texas & how to avoid letting the state decide your future.

08/06/2025

You’ve made a will, but now you want to change it. Do you edit the existing one, add a codicil, or tear up the old one and make a fresh one? Texas law provides only a few methods to do it correctly.

Learn how to effectively revoke a will in Texas and which method is usually best.

Houston estate planning & probate attorney Leigh B. Meineke explains the three methods to revoke a will in Texas & discusses which method is typically the best.

07/02/2025

A power of attorney is a legal document that lets you appoint someone you trust to act on your behalf, whether representing you in a business deal or managing your legal and financial affairs if you become incapacitated. It’s a valuable component of any comprehensive estate plan.

Learn more about what a power of attorney does and how to set one up in Texas.