Wills & Estate Planning for Rio Grande Valley Families
Protect your family and make your wishes clear — with honest advice about what you actually need, in English or Spanish.
Do you actually need a will?
Not everyone does, and some families are sold documents they'll never use. In Texas, if an estate (not counting the home and exempt property) is $75,000 or less, a Small Estate Affidavit may avoid full probate.
A Transfer on Death Deed can pass a home to heirs without probate, and payable-on-death accounts pass directly.
A will genuinely matters when you have minor children (to name a guardian), a blended family, a business, specific wishes, or a larger estate. We'll tell you honestly which applies to you.
What We Help With
Simple Wills
Put your wishes in writing, clearly and definitively.
Guardianship for Minor Children
Name who raises your kids if you can't.
Updating an Existing Will
Keep it current as life changes over the years.
Do you actually need a trust?
Trusts are one of the most over-sold products in estate planning. For many Texans with a modest estate, a will - or even simple beneficiary designations - is enough, and Texas's straightforward probate process makes a living trust an unnecessary cost.
A trust genuinely earns its keep when you own property in more than one state, want privacy (probate is public), have a beneficiary with special needs, want to control how and when heirs receive assets, or have a large or complex estate.
We'll tell you honestly whether a trust fits - not sell you one you don't need.
When a Trust Makes Sense
Avoiding Probate
Pass assets to heirs without the public court process.
Property in Multiple States
Avoid probate in more than one state.
Special-Needs Planning
Protect a loved one's benefits with a special-needs trust.
Control & Timing
Decide how and when heirs receive what you leave.
Privacy
Keep your estate out of the public record.
Who makes decisions if you can't?
A power of attorney lets you name someone you trust to handle your finances or medical decisions if illness or injury ever leaves you unable to.
Without one, your family may have to go to court to get that authority - slow, costly, and stressful during a hard time.
Setting one up now is simple and inexpensive, and it saves your loved ones a great deal later. We will walk you through the right documents for your situation, plainly. Our team is fully bilingual - se habla español.
What We Help With
Durable (Financial) Power of Attorney
Name who manages your finances if you can't.
Medical Power of Attorney
Name who makes healthcare decisions for you.
Directive to Physicians (Living Will)
Put your medical wishes in writing.
Declaration of Guardian
Say in advance who you'd want as guardian.
Updating Existing Documents
Keep them current as life changes.
How To Get Started
01
Tell Us About You
Tell us about your situation using the form below. We offer services in English or Spanish.
02
We Review & Call
We review your information and call you to talk it through honestly, explaining what you actually need.
03
Schedule Consultation
If we're the right fit, we schedule your consultation to put your wishes in writing.
Start Your Estate Planning Consultation.
Answer a few questions and we'll reach out — in English or Spanish. No pressure.
Ready for Straight Answers?
Request a Case Review
Fill out the form below and we'll reach out to see how we can help.
McAllen Office
3827 N. 10th Street, Suite 304
McAllen, TX 78501
McAllen Office #2
606 S. 17th St., McAllen, TX 78501
Hours:
Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
SE HABLA ESPAÑOL
The DeGroot Law Firm PLLC
Clear, honest legal guidance for the Rio Grande Valley and Central Texas.
Our Offices
McAllen Office
3827 N. 10th Street, Suite 304
McAllen, TX 78501
McAllen Office #2
606 S. 17th St., McAllen, TX 78501
The information on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Viewing this site or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
© 2026 The DeGroot Law Firm PLLC. All Rights Reserved.