A clear estate plan gives the people you trust written instructions instead of leaving important decisions unresolved. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and beneficiary choices should work together and change as your life changes.
Planning today gives your family clear instructions
Without an estate plan, the people you trust may have to make important decisions without written direction. Estate planning can be useful at many stages of adult life, not only in retirement.
Bring any existing will, deed, or beneficiary form. If nothing exists yet, that is normal. Most planning starts from zero.
A plan is more than who gets what
Name who receives your property, a guardian for minor children, and a successor for a family business. Strong planning also passes on instructions and values, not just assets.
What matters in these cases
Update the plan as life changes
Marriages, divorces, new children, new property, deployments, and deaths all change what the documents should say. An estate plan is not something you do once.
Killeen counsel since 1976
Ted Smith opened his Killeen practice in 1976. Estate-planning conversations can cover wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, and planning for incapacity.
Your plan should say who makes healthcare and financial decisions if you cannot, including resuscitation, organ donation, and end-of-life wishes. Without directions, those decisions can be made for you.
The planning conversation usually starts with practical family and property questions.
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Wills and trusts
Clarify who acts, who receives property, and whether a trust conversation is needed.
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Powers of attorney
Discuss who may need authority if illness, deployment, or age makes action harder.
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Family protection
Plan around blended families, minor children, special-needs concerns, or vulnerable beneficiaries.
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Updates
Review plans after deaths, marriages, divorces, moves, new property, or major life changes.
Why Ted Smith Law Group
For over 50 years, Ted Smith has assisted people throughout Texas communities with both simple and complex estate planning. Our team is compassionate about your life and legacy and understands the emotional connection many people have with their estates.
Since 1976
Ted Smith opened his Killeen practice after Fort Hood JAG service.
Bell County
Local office and long Central Texas community record.
“I used Ted Smith Law group to probate my wife's estate. Ted Smith and Barbie King were absolutely terrific in supporting my Probate case. They far exceeded my support expectations.”
“The Ted Smith Law group helped me with my SSDI case. It was a lengthy process and they were there all the way through. They kept me up to date on what was needed to be done and documents that needed to be completed.”
“The Ted Smith Law Firm is #1 in both customer service and professional service. They help me with all my Will and Deed issues when my husband passed in a very timely manner. I want to thank everyone from the firm for their care and support in this very difficult time.”
“Ted Smith is the best in the area! I can't say enough good things. The whole office cares about their clients and make sure your case is taken care of swiftly and done perfectly.”
The right plan depends on property, family structure, privacy goals, cost, and how assets would transfer. A will can name beneficiaries and an executor. A trust may make sense when property management, incapacity, privacy, blended-family planning, or beneficiary control needs more structure.
When should I update my estate plan?
Review a plan after marriage, divorce, death in the family, a new child, a move, a major property purchase, military transition, health change, or a change in who should make decisions. Older documents may still exist, but they may no longer match the family situation.
Can Fort Hood families use on-base JAG?
On-base legal assistance may help eligible service members with some basic documents. Private counsel can be useful when the planning involves civilian spouses, retirees, trusts, probate risk, blended families, special-needs planning, real property, or coordination beyond a basic form.
What should I bring to an estate-planning consultation?
Bring any current will, trust, power of attorney, beneficiary forms, deed information, account lists, family notes, and questions about who should act if you cannot. The first conversation is easier when the lawyer can see what already exists and what has changed.
Start an estate-planning conversation
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and the questions in between. The first conversation sorts what your family actually needs, nothing more.
