Estate Planning & Probate Attorney in McKinney, TX
We help McKinney families write wills and trusts and settle loved ones' estates by explaining every document and every court step in plain language, so no one is left guessing about what to sign, what to file, or who decides for your family.
For McKinney families looking for an estate planning lawyer, McKinney is close to home for us. Our office is at 12800 Westridge Boulevard, Suite 161, Frisco, TX 75035, and we work with families across McKinney and the rest of Collin County, whether you are building a plan for the first time or handling an estate after a death.
A Wills and Trusts Attorney McKinney Families Can Understand
A good plan answers the questions your family would otherwise face in a courtroom: who raises your children, who makes medical decisions if you cannot, and who receives what you have built. Your estate plan is written around your family and explained line by line before you sign anything.
The documents a McKinney family plan usually includes:
- Last Will & Testament: names who receives your property and who serves as executor of your estate.
- Revocable Living Trust: holds your assets during your life and passes them to your beneficiaries without probate.
- Durable Power of Attorney: lets someone you trust handle your finances if you become unable to.
- Medical Power of Attorney: names the person who makes health care decisions when you cannot speak for yourself.
- HIPAA Authorization: gives the people you choose access to your medical information.
- Directive to Physicians: records your wishes about life-sustaining treatment at the end of life.
- Declaration of Guardian: tells a Texas court who you want caring for your children or for you.
- Children Protection Planning: puts instructions in place so your children stay with the people you chose if something happens to you.
Planning for Every Stage of McKinney Family Life
Families usually come to us at a turning point:
- Parents of young children who need to name a guardian and put a plan in writing.
- Parents of kids turning 18, who legally become adults and need their own powers of attorney and HIPAA authorization.
- Adult children caring for aging parents who want decisions and finances handled before a crisis.
- Business owners who want their company and their family provided for under one plan.
For parents of young children, we also prepare a
Children's Emergency Care Plan so the people caring for your kids have what they need if something happens to you.
A Probate Lawyer McKinney Families Can Lean On After a Loss
McKinney is the Collin County seat, and estates of Collin County residents are handled by the Collin County Probate Court here in McKinney. When a loved one dies, you may be facing that court for the first time while you are still grieving. We explain what the court needs, prepare the filings, and walk you through each step of Texas probate so you always know what comes next.
The paths we handle for McKinney families:
- Probate of a will (testate probate): the court validates the will and appoints the executor named in it to settle the estate.
- Intestate probate and determination of heirship: when there is no will, the court identifies the legal heirs under Texas law and may appoint an administrator.
- Muniment of title: a shorter process that validates a will and transfers property when the estate has no unpaid debts other than those secured by real estate.
- Small estate affidavit: a simpler option for estates without a will valued at $75,000 or less, not counting the homestead and exempt property.
The right path depends on whether there is a will, what the estate holds, and whether there are debts. We help you find the simplest one that fits your family's situation.
More Ways We Help McKinney Families
Estate planning and probate are often where the conversation starts, and many families need help with what comes next:
- Elder Law: planning for long-term care, Medicaid and the decisions that come with an aging parent.
- Guardianship Law: guardianship for aging adults, minor heirs and adult children with special needs, along with less restrictive alternatives.
- Special Needs Planning: special needs trusts and ABLE accounts that provide for a loved one without putting public benefits at risk.
- Trust Administration: guidance for trustees carrying out a trust after the person who created it has passed.
Why McKinney Families Trust Amy L. Jenkins
20+ years of legal practice
When Amy's grandmother passed away in 2003, Amy probated her will and watched her family argue over how to divide the estate. That experience is why she helps families plan ahead and guides them through probate with patience.
What working with us looks like:
- Amy explains legal language patiently, so you leave every meeting understanding your plan and your options.
- A signed plan is the beginning of our relationship, and we stay available for questions for years afterward.
- You work directly with a small, personal team, including paralegal Ash Jenkins.
- Amy is a member of the Collin County Bar Association and the Collin County Women Lawyers Association.
Our clients’ stories
What Our Clients Say About Working With Amy
Estate Planning and Probate Questions From McKinney Families
Does a McKinney family need a will or a trust?
Most families need at least a will, and many benefit from a revocable living trust as well. A will names guardians for your children and directs your property, but it still goes through probate. A trust lets assets pass to your family privately and without probate, which matters most if you own real estate or want to control how and when children inherit.
What happens in Collin County if someone dies without a will?
Texas law decides who inherits, and a family member usually files an application to determine heirship with the Collin County Probate Court in McKinney. The court identifies the legal heirs and, if needed, appoints an administrator to manage the estate. A surviving spouse does not always inherit everything, especially when there are children from a prior relationship.
Do I need a lawyer to probate a will in McKinney, Texas?
In most cases, yes. Texas courts generally require an executor to be represented by an attorney in probate, because the executor acts on behalf of the estate and its beneficiaries. An attorney also helps you choose the right path, such as a muniment of title, which can save time and cost.
Is probate always required in Texas?
No. Assets held in a living trust, accounts with a named beneficiary, and property owned jointly with survivorship rights pass without probate. Smaller estates without a will may qualify for a small estate affidavit, and a family whose loved one had a will and no unpaid debts may be able to use a muniment of title.
Where can I find an estate planning lawyer near McKinney that offers a free consultation?
We offer a free 15-minute call to McKinney families from our Frisco office. It gives you time to describe your situation, ask your first questions, and learn what a plan or a probate case would involve before you commit to anything.
Start Your McKinney Estate Plan or Probate Case Today
Whether you are planning for your children or settling a loved one's estate, you do not have to work it out alone. Call us or schedule a free 15-minute call, and we will explain where you stand and what comes next.
