At Duffley Law, our wills attorneys help Houstonians take control of their future. With years of experience, we provide personalized plans that help to avoid costly probate complications down the road.
More than 68% of Americans have no will in place, according to Caring.com’s 2024 survey. In a city the size of Houston, that means thousands of families risk drawn-out probate battles, unexpected legal costs, and painful family disputes, all because a basic will or estate plan was never written.
If you’re recently retired, planning for your kids, or simply making sure your property goes to the right people, we make will creation straightforward, specific, and stress-free. Our team is known for being thorough, responsive, and incredibly clear.
Our client, Dr. Dave shared how Duffley Law “explained everything every step of the way” and helped him and his wife build a full estate planning portfolio after years of uncertainty
And when one client needed focused help outside our scope, Jack Duffley didn’t hesitate to make the right referral, because as she put it, “He genuinely cares about his clients and wants the best outcome for them.”
We’re here to make sure your wishes are honored, your family is protected, and your plan is done right. With flexible consults, and personalized service, Duffley Law is helping Houston families prepare with confidence.
Why Houston Clients Choose Duffley Law for Will Services
We’re a local practice built for real Houston families who want clarity. Our approach is to deliver reliable legal guidance with respect, responsiveness, and results.
Clients consistently choose Duffley Law because they feel heard. That’s because we answer questions with patience, not pressure. After all, wills are not just a form to fill out. They are extremely important documents that should be done with extreme care.
Here’s what makes us different:
- Flat-fee pricing wherever applicable, so there are no billing surprises.
- Free consultations to help you decide what’s best for your situation.
- Thoughtful, high-touch service, we customize plans to our clients’ needs.
- Payment flexibility through LawPay, including “Buy Now, Pay Later” options.
- Kindness and clarity, from first meeting to final signing.
We’ve helped families in Bellaire protect generational property and guided young couples in the Heights who are planning ahead for the first time. No matter your story, we’re here to make sure your plan reflects it.
What Is a Will and Why Does It Matter in Houston?
A will is a legal document that tells the court who should receive your property and who should manage your affairs after you pass away.
What Happens If You Don’t Have a Will in Texas?
If you pass away in Texas without a valid will, the state uses a fixed formula called intestate succession to distribute your assets. This process doesn’t consider any preferences you may have had.
This can lead to major delays, unexpected outcomes, and emotional stress for your family. A well-known example is the estate of former Texas Representative Curtis Graves, which became the focus of a public legal dispute involving questions of mental capacity and family inheritance, reminding us how quickly things can unravel when a will is unclear or contested.
Even if you don’t have a huge estate, a simple will help make sure your final wishes are spelled out clearly. It can name guardians for your children, specify how personal items are to be divided, and give clear instructions to your executor.
For Houston families, especially those with property in high-value neighborhoods like The Heights or River Oaks, having a valid will also helps avoid probate complications tied to real estate or family-owned businesses. A more comprehensive estate plan can make the process even smoother.
Because Texas courts, like the Harris County Probate Courts, rely on written, signed instructions to distribute assets, having a will prepared is often one of the most important steps you can take to protect the people you love.
Why Wills Are Important Even If You Have a Trust
Having a living trust is a great way to manage and transfer assets, but it doesn’t always cover everything. In Texas, even with a revocable trust in place, a will can tie up loose ends and make sure your full estate is handled correctly.
For example, any assets not formally titled in the trust, like newly purchased property or forgotten bank accounts, could end up needing to go through probate. A “pour-over” will is often used to direct those stray assets into your trust, allowing for your overall plan to stay intact.
A will also lets you do things that a trust can’t, like naming guardians for minor children.
If you’ve created a trust but skipped the will, your estate plan could be incomplete, and your family could be left with avoidable complications.
What Our Houston Wills Attorneys Can Do for You
At Duffley Law, we make sure your wishes are clearly expressed in your will, providing peace of mind that your loved ones will be cared for according to your intentions. Every will we draft is thorough, precise, and designed to include the following key elements:
Control Who Inherits What
Your will allows you to decide exactly who should receive your assets. This includes assets like your home, car, savings accounts, or family heirlooms. Without a will, Texas law makes those decisions for you, and it might not be the outcome you’d expect.
Appoint Guardians for Children or Dependents
If you have minor children or care for someone with special needs, your will is where you can name the person you want to serve as that person’s guardian if you were to pass away. Without this in writing, a judge may be more likely to assign someone you wouldn’t have chosen.
Choose the Person Who Manages Your Estate
You can also name an executor. The executor is someone you trust to carry out your instructions, handle paperwork, and make sure your estate is settled correctly. It’s an important role, and choosing the right person can prevent conflict, delays, and added stress for your family.
Our Will Services in Houston
At Duffley Law, we guide you through creating an estate plan that fits your life, your values, and your Houston roots. Regardless of whether you live in Midtown, Memorial, or Magnolia Park, we understand the specific challenges Houston families face when planning for the future.
Our will services include:
- Last Wills and Testaments
- Advanced Directives (“Living Wills”)
- Pour-Over Wills
- Mutual or Mirror Wills
- Holographic Wills
- Joint Wills
- Guardianship and Beneficiary Designation
- Will Review and Updates
- Executor Guidance
- Probate Avoidance Strategies
Tailored Legal Help for Houston Families
Our clients range from longtime homeowners in neighborhoods like West University to recent transplants settling into communities near the Texas Medical Center. No matter your background or stage of life, our team makes the process approachable and efficient.
Every consultation starts with listening. We take time to understand your goals, ask questions for important context, and walk you through your options step by step.
Meet with Us
In addition to in person meetings, we regularly meet with our clients virtually across the Houston metro. From Kingwood to Katy, you can get professional, local legal advice without battling traffic on the 610 Loop or I-10.
We offer flexible scheduling and flat-fee packages. Our job is to make sure your documents are exactly how you want them, without extra stress or guesswork.
Houston Legal Resources That Influence Your Will
Your will doesn’t exist in a vacuum, it works within a framework shaped by local courts, probate rules, and court customs.
Harris County Probate Court
Every will probated in Houston eventually interacts with the Harris County Probate Courts. There are multiple probate courts in Harris County, and they handle thousands of estate filings annually, making it one of the busiest probate venues in Texas.
Having a clearly written, locally valid will can help your estate avoid delays and reduce the chances of disputes, which is even more important in a high-volume court system.
Local Property Records and Historic Land Transfers
From long-established neighborhoods like River Oaks to redeveloped areas near East Downtown (EaDo), Houston’s property history is diverse. If your estate includes land or other real estate, your will should account for property records, title history, and deed restrictions that may go back generations.
We’ve helped clients untangle inherited lots with roots in Freedmen’s Town and manage newer holdings in Spring Branch with equal care.
Cultural and Community Factors
Houston is home to more than 145 spoken languages, and family dynamics can vary widely across our communities.
Regardless of if you’re part of a tight-knit Vietnamese community in Alief, a multigenerational Hispanic family in Gulfgate, or a second-generation homeowner in Braeswood, we make sure your will honors your culture, your values, and your family’s expectations.
Ready to Create Your Will?
Writing a will doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and you don’t have to figure it out alone. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Houston proper or just outside of the beltway, Duffley Law is here to guide you every step of the way with clear answers and a process that fits your goals.
We’ll help you protect what matters most, avoid probate surprises, and make sure your will reflects your wishes.
Schedule your free consultation today and take the first step toward peace of mind. Our team will figure out how we can best assist in creating the plan that gets what you want done.