Do I need a trust in Texas?

For most families with real estate, business interests, or estates above a modest threshold, a revocable living trust is a strong foundation. When properly funded, it generally avoids probate, keeps your affairs private, and simplifies administration for your loved ones. For smaller, simpler estates, a well-drafted will-based plan can be equally effective. The right choice depends on what you own, how it's titled, and your goals.

What is the difference between a will and a trust?

A will directs the distribution of your assets after death but must pass through probate. A revocable living trust holds assets during your lifetime and transfers them to beneficiaries at death without probate, offering greater privacy and simpler administration. Most comprehensive 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. Proactive planning using trusts, gifting strategies, and other techniques can help reduce or defer that liability.

How often should I update my estate plan?

Plans should 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. Tax law changes can also warrant a review.

Olive Branch Counsel, PLLC

What We Do

Estate Planning, Tax Planning, and Related Legal Services

We focus on estate and tax planning for individuals, families, and business owners across North Texas — with additional guidance available for clients whose planning extends further.

Estate Planning

Most families come to us with the same core need: they want to make sure the right people are protected, the right decisions get made if something happens, and their wishes are documented clearly. Whether you need a straightforward will and powers of attorney or a more comprehensive trust-based plan, we work with you to design an estate plan that fits your life — not a template.

Services Include

Wills
Trusts
Simple and complex estate planning
Gift planning
Health care powers of attorney
Financial powers of attorney

Tax Planning

Tax decisions made today can have a significant impact on what you pass on, what you owe, and how efficiently your estate and business interests are structured. We work with individuals, families, and closely held businesses on both proactive planning and specific advisory matters — and we coordinate directly with your CPA or financial advisor so your legal, tax, and financial strategies stay aligned.

Services Include

Individual and business tax planning
Estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning
Tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies
IRS and state tax advisory
Tax compliance and reporting guidance
Entity structuring and restructuring
Coordination with CPAs and financial advisors

Additional Services

For clients whose planning extends beyond estate and tax matters, we also advise on the following.

Philanthropic Planning

For clients who want their estate plan to reflect their values, charitable giving can be structured in ways that are both meaningful and tax-efficient. We help individuals and families incorporate philanthropy into their broader planning — whether that means a simple charitable bequest, a donor-advised fund, or a more formal structure like a charitable trust or private foundation.

Services Include

Charitable gifting strategies
Private foundation formation and governance
Donor-advised fund planning
Charitable trusts and split-interest arrangements
Integration of charitable giving into estate and tax plans
Ongoing compliance and administrative guidance
Coordination with investment, tax, and nonprofit advisors

Family Office Advisory

Some families reach a point where coordinating estate planning, tax strategy, investments, and governance across multiple generations requires a more structured approach. We bring direct experience advising in family office environments and can help families establish the legal and tax frameworks — entities, structures, and processes — that support long-term, multi-generational planning.

Services Include

Family office structuring and governance support
Coordination of estate, tax, and philanthropic planning
Succession planning and multi-generational wealth transfer
Entity formation and oversight
Advisory support for family governance and decision-making
Coordination with internal teams and external advisors

Let’s Talk About Your Plan

Whether you’re putting documents in place for the first time or need to revisit a plan that’s no longer current, we’re glad to help. We work with families at every stage.