Wealth Planning & Probate

Sprouse Shrader Smith’s Wealth Planning and Probate practice group has more than 75 years of combined experience and boasts a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and two attorneys who are Board-Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. With individual experience levels ranging from seven to 37 years, we provide both innovation and proven experience.

Regardless of the size of your estate or the nature of what you own, we can assist you in developing an estate plan that best meets your needs and wishes. We accomplish this by meeting with you to understand your family and financial situation and intentions, keeping current on changing federal and state laws, and drafting the instruments necessary to implement the plan. We work cooperatively with your accountant, your financial planner and all of your other trusted professional advisors.

We also represent executors, trustees, beneficiaries and heirs in connection with the administration of estates and trusts, including litigation of contested matters. No matter the size or complexity of the estate, we can handle all legal matters related to its administration.

Some representative areas of our practice include:

Lifetime Estate Planning

• Simple and tax-planned wills
• Revocable and irrevocable trusts
• Gifting programs
• Financial and medical powers of attorney
• Directives to physicians
• Advice regarding the estate, generation-skipping, inheritance, and gift tax implications of any estate plan
• Gift tax returns
• All other documents related to estate planning

Business Planning

• Family limited partnerships, limited liability companies and other business entities
• Succession planning for owners of closely held businesses

Other Complex Planning Devices

• Conservation easements
• Grantor and non-grantor trusts
• Education trusts
• Residential trusts
• Dynasty trusts
• Private annuities
• Life insurance trusts

Domestic Agreements

• Rre- and post-marital agreements
• Cohabitation agreements

Charitable Planning

• Gifts to charities
• Family foundations
• Charitable remainder and charitable lead trusts

Charitable Organizations

• Forming nonprofit organizations
• Establishing and maintaining the federal and state tax-exempt status of nonprofit organizations

Estate Administration

• Probate of will and appointment of executor or administrator (independent or dependent administration)
• Ancillary probate of foreign wills
• Heirship proceedings
• Creditor claims
• Inventories and accountings
• Estate and generation-skipping transfer tax returns
• Estate distribution and settlement
• Mediation
• Family settlement agreements
• Will contests
• Representation of executors and administrators before the IRS

Trust Administration

• Representing trustees and beneficiaries in connection with funding, administering, modifying and terminating trusts
• Representing trustees and beneficiaries in litigation of contested trust matters

Guardianship

• Administering guardianship estates of any size
• Representing wards and guardians in guardianship litigation
• Representing guardians in connection with the preparation and filing of required annual accountings

Fiduciary Representation

• Representing executors and administrators in estate proceedings and matters before the IRS
• Representing trustees in connection with funding, administering, modifying and terminating trusts
• Representing trustees in litigation of contested trust matters
• Representing guardians in guardianship proceedings

Consultation with Attorneys, Accountants and Other Professionals

• Consulting with professionals regarding specific issues relating to any of the above items