With years of experience, our trust attorneys help Houston families create reliable trusts that protect their assets and secure their future
In Texas, creating a trust isn’t just for the wealthy. It can offer control, privacy, and peace of mind for many families. With over 76% of Americans dying without a trust or will, according to RetirementLiving.com, many families are left dealing with court delays, extra costs, and public exposure of their estate.
If you want to keep your affairs out of Harris County Probate Court, prepare for long-term care, or protect a loved one with special needs, a trust offers flexibility and protection that a will alone can’t match.
At Duffley Law, we help Houston families build personalized trusts with clear instructions. One client shared, “He made sure our special-needs adult was written into the trust with all TX laws so he wouldn’t lose benefits.” Another described our approach as “exceptional… professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring.”
Every trust we create reflects our clients’ goals. From Bellaire real estate to family land in Brazoria County, we help our clients protect what matters, with less need for court, less confusion, and more peace of mind.
Why Clients Choose Duffley Law for Trust Services
Why Clients Choose Duffley Law for Trust Services
Duffley Law is a Houston-based estate planning practice built for real people who want thoughtful, personalized legal guidance to achieve their goals and vision.
Here’s why Houston families trust us:
- Local Experience
We understand how Harris County Probate Court works and how to avoid it when possible. Our clients come from River Oaks to Spring, and our strategies reflect real local knowledge. - Real Reviews, Real Service
“Exceptional service and expertise,” wrote Mr. Owhadi. “They explained everything every step of the way,” said Dr. Dave. Our reviews reflect what we work hard to deliver: clear communication, steady support, and custom results. - Special Needs and Blended Family Planning
From special needs-oriented trusts to spousal setups, we design with our clients’ actual situations in mind. - Kindness and Clarity, Always
That’s our aim with every case.
What Is a Trust and Why Create One in Houston?
A trust is a legal tool that allows you to transfer assets to someone else (called a “trustee”) to manage those assets for the benefit of others (called your “beneficiaries”). Those beneficiaries are often your family, other loved ones, and charitable organizations.
Unlike a will, which only takes effect after death, a trust can begin operating while you’re still alive.
How a Trust Works
At its core, a trust has three roles:
- Grantor: The person creating and funding the trust (sometimes called the “settlor or trustor”).
- Trustee: The person or institution responsible for managing the trust.
- Beneficiaries: The people who benefit from the assets inside the trust.
You can name yourself as the initial trustee while alive, then appoint someone else (like a spouse, adult child, or a professional institution such as Houston Trust Company) to take over if something happens to you.
With a trust in place, the assets inside of the trust (which often includes your home, bank accounts, or investment property) don’t have to go through probate. They’re distributed according to your instructions and without a public court process.
Texas-Specific Benefits of Using a Trust
In Texas, probate is often faster than some other states, but it’s still public, court-supervised, and often takes many months, even with a valid will. A trust can eliminate that process entirely for most or all of your estate when set up properly.
Texas residents also benefit from:
- Real estate continuity: Transfer property to heirs without court delays or title issues.
- Privacy protection: Keep your estate plan and assets out of the public record (unlike a will which is often publicly posted during the probate process).
- Multigenerational planning: Provide long-term support for children, grandchildren, special needs individuals, or charitable causes.
For Houston families with property in The Heights or Midtown, business interests, or special-needs dependents, a trust can reduce legal hassle and increase flexibility in ways a will simply cannot in many situations.
Who Needs a Trust in Houston?
Trusts aren’t just for the ultra-wealthy or large estates. In fact, many everyday Houston families use trusts to gain peace of mind, stay out of probate, and protect loved ones long after they’re gone. You may benefit from a trust if you:
- Own real estate in Houston or elsewhere
- Have children or grandchildren you want to protect, especially minors or dependents with disabilities
- Are part of a blended family and want to help avoid inheritance disputes
- Care for a special-needs adult and need to protect their benefits
- Want to avoid probate costs and delays and to keep your estate private
- Have business interests, rental property, or complex assets
- Plan to leave a charitable gift, especially to organizations like Woodforest Charitable Foundation or local houses of worship
Even if your estate is modest, a trust can help you simplify what happens later while reducing costs and court involvement for your family when set up properly. For many, a well-structured trust is often the best way to protect their legacies while they’re alive and after they’re gone.
Our Trust Services in Houston
Every family’s needs are different, which is why we offer a variety of trusts and trust services designed to match your life and goals. We’ll help you choose the right structure with the right language, under Texas law.
Our services include:
- Revocable Living Trusts
- Irrevocable Trusts
- Testamentary Trusts
- Special Needs Trusts
- Charitable Trusts
- Asset Protection Trusts
- Spendthrift Trusts
- Marital or A/B Trusts
- Life Insurance Trusts
- Generation-Skipping Trusts
- Trust drafting and customization
- Trust review and updates
- Trust administration
- Funding a trust
- Special provisions drafting
- Trust termination
Our Process for Creating a Custom Trust in Houston
We make trust creation simple, transparent, and tailored to your life. At Duffley Law, we always strive to craft plans that work for your family, your assets, and your future goals.
Step-by-Step Support from Consultation to Signing
Your experience begins with a conversation. We listen first, trying to clearly understand your goals and situation. Those goals are our guiding light in the estate planning process.
Once your goals are clear, we build your trust plan, factoring in:
- Real estate or property titles
- Special-needs dependents
- Business ownership or partnerships
- Charitable giving (many clients include gifts to Woodforest Charitable Foundation, a frequently named Houston-based nonprofit, or other organizations like children’s hospitals, schools, and churches)
You’ll review your trust plan drafts with us to make sure everything is in line with your goals and intentions before finally signing them.
Flat Fees and Transparent Communication
We offer flat pricing for nearly all of our estate plans. As one client said, “For what they offer, their pricing is very fair and they are extremely thorough.”
We believe trust planning shouldn’t be stressful. Instead, it should feel like getting organized, with a professional on your side to get things done the right way.
Review Meetings and Ongoing Updates
Every trust we draft includes a built-in review discussion so you can ask questions, clarify terms, and make changes before signing.
Need to update your plan in the future? We’re here for that too, though that is often subject to a separate engagement depending on the updates desired. Either way, we’re happy to help make sure plans are kept up to date and in line with our clients’ goals.
Schedule Your Trust Planning Consultation
If you’re ready to protect your estate, avoid probate, and plan with confidence, Duffley Law is here to help. If you’re just getting started or need a second look at an existing plan, we’ll walk you through your options and can create a trust that fits your goals.
Take the first step toward peace of mind: schedule your free consultation today. A member of our team will give you a call to discuss next steps towards creating an effective estate plan.