Services
Estate Planning Attorney Serving McKinney, Texas
Families in McKinney often seek estate planning to coordinate trusts, tax planning, and long-term wealth transfer — and Olive Branch Counsel is positioned to help.
Estate Planning in McKinney, Texas
McKinney is one of the most desirable communities in Collin County, drawing families who are building wealth and thinking carefully about how to protect and transfer it. Olive Branch Counsel, PLLC provides estate planning legal services to McKinney residents who want an attorney with a strong tax background and a focused, thoughtful approach.
We design estate plans that reflect each client’s actual situation — the structure of their family, the nature of their assets, and the tax environment they are operating in. Our approach integrates estate planning with tax planning from the beginning, not as an afterthought, so that the plan we design works efficiently across both dimensions.
Why Estate Planning Matters
In the absence of a proper estate plan, Texas law governs what happens to your assets — and the default rules rarely match what most people would want. For McKinney families with growing estates, closely held businesses, or minor children, this gap between intention and outcome can have real consequences.
A thoughtfully structured estate plan ensures that your assets pass to the right people, at the right time, in the right form — with minimal exposure to estate taxes, probate costs, and family conflict. It also puts in place the legal framework to protect you and your family during your lifetime, through powers of attorney and healthcare directives.
Services We Provide
- Wills and testamentary planning
- Revocable living trusts
- Irrevocable trusts for long-term wealth transfer
- Financial and medical powers of attorney
- Advance healthcare directives
- Special needs trusts
- Gift planning and trust funding strategies
Clients We Work With
Our McKinney clients include business owners, dual-income households, and families who are in the process of building or transferring meaningful wealth. Some come to us for their first estate plan; others come because their existing plan was prepared years ago and no longer reflects their current situation or tax environment.
In every case, we start by understanding the client’s goals before recommending any particular structure. We do not use one-size-fits-all templates. Plans are designed to reflect each client’s specific family, asset base, and tax situation — and to remain relevant as those circumstances evolve over time.
Serving Families in McKinney
Olive Branch Counsel is based in Plano and serves clients throughout Collin County, including McKinney, Allen, and the broader North Texas region. We offer flexible scheduling for consultations and are accessible to clients who prefer to meet in person or remotely.
Our practice is intentionally focused. We concentrate on estate planning and tax planning — the areas where technical depth and careful drafting matter most. If you are looking for an estate planning attorney in the McKinney area who brings that level of care to every engagement, we welcome you to reach out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a trust in Texas?
Many individuals benefit from a revocable living trust to simplify administration and avoid probate, although a will-based plan may be appropriate in certain cases. The right structure depends on the size and complexity of your estate, your family situation, and your goals. We help clients evaluate these options and choose the approach that best fits their circumstances.
How often should an estate plan be updated?
Estate plans should typically be reviewed every three to five years, or sooner after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a significant change in assets, or the death of a named beneficiary or trustee. Tax law changes can also warrant a review of existing plans.
What is the difference between a will and a trust?
A will is a legal document that directs the distribution of your assets after death and must pass through probate. A revocable living trust holds assets during your lifetime and transfers them to beneficiaries at death without going through probate, offering greater privacy and often simpler administration. Both documents serve important but distinct roles, and many estate plans use both.
Does Texas have an estate tax?
Texas does not impose a state estate tax. However, estates above the federal exemption threshold may be subject to the federal estate tax. For high-net-worth individuals and families, proactive planning using trusts, gifting strategies, and other techniques can help reduce or defer federal estate tax liability.
Schedule a Consultation
We welcome the opportunity to discuss your estate planning needs. Contact our Plano office to schedule a consultation at your convenience.