Estate Planning

Why do people say that you need an “estate plan,” when it’s really your family (not your estate) that’s the most important thing in your life?

Wouldn’t it make more sense to do a total “Family Protection Plan” – a plan that protects you, your family and your assets?

A plan that privatizes your life, keeping both the government and the courts out of it.

A plan that can even allow you to build in protections against lawsuits, creditors, bankruptcy and divorce.

A plan that allows you to make decisions both during your life and for after your death.

At Haiman Hogue, we create customized estate plans based on your family structure, life plans, goals, values, principles and vision. There is no such thing as a “one-size fits all” estate plan. We will learn about what you want to accomplish and find the tools necessary to achieve your goals.

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Haiman-Hogue-Multigenerational-Family-Time

At Haiman Hogue, total family protection
is exactly what we do.

Your estate plan will determine how your estate will be passed on to your loved ones and can include living trusts, wills, powers of attorney and advanced healthcare directives.

Essential Estate Planning Tools

What you need for total family protection.

Last Will & Testament

If you don’t do a Will, the government has one in place for you. It’s the difference between what the government says will happen to your assets upon your death or what you want to happen to your assets upon your death. The primary purpose of your last will and testament is to distribute any property you own in the event of your death. It outlines what to do with your assets (money, home, cars, belongings, investments, valuables, etc.), whether you want to leave them to another person, a group, or donate them to charity. It also allows you to say what happens to other things you are responsible for, such as custody of dependents (minor children or adults for whom you are the legal guardian).

Revocable Living Trust

Not just for the wealthy anymore. This allows you to transfer your assets into a structure that holds legal title of your assets during your life but allows you to use them as you wish and then securely transfer them upon your death. While you are alive and well, you have complete control of the trust, so you can modify, amend, restate, or terminate it whenever you want. A properly drafted and funded trust will avoid probate upon your death and can even avoid guardianship during your life if you or your spouse become totally incapacitated. That’s because a trust never gets sick and never dies. It can also provide tax protections and asset protections, if needed. It is a very important part of a great “Family & Money Protection Plan.”

Power of Attorney

This allows you to appoint a person whom you trust to manage your financial affairs (pay bills, collect paychecks, manage bank accounts, manage investments, deal with Social Security, handle business matters, etc.) if you become incapacitated or unable to handle your own estate planning.

Medical Power of Attorney

This allows you to appoint a person whom you trust to make healthcare and medical treatment decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make these decisions because of physical or mental impairment. This might include medications, tests, nourishment and hydration, as well as decisions regarding surgery, doctors, hospitals and rehabilitation facilities.

Directive to Physicians

Also known as the Advance Medical Directive or Living Will. This allows you to instruct your physician not to use artificial methods to extend the natural process of dying. It describes the treatments you would want if you were terminally ill or permanently unconscious. It could be medical treatments that will help you live longer. You can use an advance directive form to tell your doctor that you don’t want to be resuscitated.

HIPAA Authorization Form

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was put in place to help ensure the privacy and ease of access of your medical records. This form allows you to designate with whom healthcare providers may share your specific health information.

Declaration of Guardian in Case of Future Incapacitation

This allows you to tell the court whom you want to serve as your guardian if there is ever a guardianship proceeding for you. A guardianship proceeding might become necessary if you become incapacitated to the point that you cannot take care of yourself or your financial affairs. It also lets you to tell the court whom you don’t want your guardian to be – allowing you to disqualify family troublemakers or people who are unable to serve.

Appointment of Agent to Control the Disposition of Remains

This allows you to appoint a person or persons whom you trust to carry out your cremation, burial and funeral wishes.

Anatomical Gift Form

This allows you to donate your organs and/or tissue after death for the purpose of transplantation, research, or other medical reasons. It also allows you to donate your entire body for medical or forensic studies and research. You can also designate whether or not you will allow an autopsy to be performed.

Educational Resources on Wills & Trusts

Should I Let The State Write My Will?

Death is not a favorite conversation topic. However, we all know it is something we must at some point discuss. The loss of a close friend or family member, or an event, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, seems to bring the topic to the forefront.

What Is a Testamentary Trust?

One component of your estate plan may be a testamentary trust, which is a legal document, usually created within a will, that becomes effective at your death.

Why Should I Think about My Death?

Talking about death makes most of us uncomfortable, so we don’t plan for it. That’s a big mistake, because if you don’t have an end-of-life plan, your state’s laws decide who gets everything you own. A doctor you’ve never met could decide how you spend your last moments, and your loved ones could be saddled with untangling an expensive legal mess after you die.

          
   Katy Plyler 
 2023-07-28
 
 
  Susan Barnett at Haiman & Hogue was extremely helpful, provided excellent insight and information, and gave us a personal experience with our Estate Planning and Will. She worked diligently to ensure that every detail was lined out exactly as we wished, and took the time to meet with us and inform us of every part of our Estate Planning. Everyone in the office is extremely helpful, personable, kind, genuine, and willing to assist in any way necessary. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Haiman & Hogue and fully trust them with our Estate Planning.
  
 
       
   Jack Carpenter 
 2023-07-02
 
 
  Haiman+Hogue is a Faith-based, Service-based, Client-first Law Firm unlike any law firm that I have worked in and been a client of.  If you are seeking Estate Planning with Asset Protection services, you will be Delighted by Haiman+Hogue.  They are the "Peace of Mind and Soul" legal experts.
  
 
       
   Jean Graham 
 2023-06-20
 
 
  Our attorney worked with us so carefully and efficiently that the process of setting up our estate seemed painless. We are confident that our heirs will be able to handle our estate with a minimum of hassle. The whole team at Haiman-Hogue was kind and responsive. I highly recommend using this firm.
  
 
       
   Gwen Thomas 
 2023-06-02
 
 
  Fred Haiman is a font of knowledge on all aspects of estate planning.  We really appreciate his insights and help in getting us organized for any future eventuality.  We recommend Haiman Hogue, PLLC very highly.
  
 
       
   Mark Mimms 
 2023-05-09
 
 
  The team at Haiman Hogue , PLLC were great to work with on my mom’s estate. Susan and her group were very knowledgeable, professional and patient with us as we worked through the process. I would highly recommend them to anyone for their estate planning.
  
 
       
   Sharon Kraft 
 2023-03-31
 
 
  We recently created and updated our trust. Rex Hogue was great. He accommodated our crazy schedule, explained the documents thoroughly and we appreciated his humor. Highly recommend!
  
 
       
   McKee Realty Services 
 2023-03-30
 
 
  Sat in on the estate planning 101 at Sam Johnson recreation center in plano texas.  Wow I must say Fred Haimen is truly passionate about helping and is extremely knowledgeable.
  
 
       
   Kathryn W. P. 
 2023-02-14
 
 
  Excellent presentation on "Does a Trust Make Sense in Texas."  Great information given for different types of trusts and their significance. I love that you gave your testimony at the start of the presentation.  I was touched that your faith in God and testament to Him is shown in your words and on the business paperwork provided to us.
Love the examples provided with different scenarios and the folder with notes had great explanations. Thank you and be blessed. Kathryn
  
 
  
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   Google rating score: 4.9 of 5, based on 126 reviews