Services
Estate Planning Attorney Serving Plano, Texas
Olive Branch Counsel, PLLC provides estate planning and tax planning services to individuals and families in Plano, Frisco, Dallas, McKinney, and throughout North Texas.
Estate Planning Services in Plano
Plano is one of the most established and prosperous communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, home to individuals and families with significant assets, business interests, and long-term wealth planning needs. Olive Branch Counsel, PLLC is based in Plano and provides estate planning services tailored to local clients who value precision, privacy, and planning that accounts for both their family dynamics and tax obligations.
A well-constructed estate plan does more than distribute assets — it establishes the legal framework that protects your family, preserves your wealth, and ensures your wishes are honored. We bring a tax-integrated approach to every engagement, designing plans that coordinate seamlessly with your broader financial picture.
Why Estate Planning Matters
Without an estate plan, Texas law determines how your assets are distributed — often in ways that do not align with your intentions. For families in Plano with substantial real estate holdings, investment portfolios, or privately held business interests, the absence of a plan can create unnecessary tax liability, prolonged probate, and family conflict.
Proper planning protects surviving spouses, provides for minor children or dependents with special needs, and structures wealth transfers in a manner that minimizes estate and gift tax exposure. Texas community property rules also add complexity that requires careful legal structuring, particularly for blended families or those with assets in multiple states.
Services We Provide
- Wills and testamentary planning
- Revocable living trusts
- Irrevocable trusts for asset protection and tax planning
- Durable and medical powers of attorney
- Advance healthcare directives
- Gift planning and annual exclusion strategies
- Special needs planning
Clients We Work With
Our Plano clients typically include professionals, business owners, and families who have accumulated meaningful assets and are looking for an attorney with the technical depth to handle complex planning. Many clients come to us after outgrowing a general practice attorney or finding that their existing plan no longer reflects their financial situation or family structure.
We also work with clients who are planning for a first estate plan — whether due to a new marriage, the birth of a child, the sale of a business, or the receipt of an inheritance. In every case, we take the time to understand your situation before recommending any particular structure.
Serving Clients in Plano
Plano is home to a highly educated and financially sophisticated community, including executives, professionals, and multi-generational families. Olive Branch Counsel is based in Plano and serves clients in Plano and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. We offer consultations by appointment and are accessible to clients who prefer to meet in person or via video conference.
Our practice is concentrated in estate planning and tax planning — we do not try to be all things to all clients. That focus allows us to bring a higher level of technical depth to every engagement, and to stay current with the legal and tax developments that affect our clients’ plans.
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 learn about your situation and explain how we can help. Contact our office to schedule a consultation.