about us
Estate Planning Attorney Serving San Antonio, Boerne, and the Texas Hill Country
Estate planning isn't just for the wealthy or the elderly. If you have children, a home, a bank account, or someone who depends on you — you need a plan.
What an Estate Plan Actually Does for Your Family
Most people think of estate planning as something they'll get around to eventually. What changes that calculation, every time, is a specific scenario: a young couple realizes that if something happened to both of them tonight, a judge they've never met would decide who raises their children. A college student discovers that without a medical power of attorney, her parents can't speak to her doctors in an emergency. An executor finds out that his late mother's assets are stuck in probate for months — public, delayed, and expensive — because there was no trust.
An estate plan prevents all of that. It names the people you trust to make decisions when you can't. It transfers your assets to your family without unnecessary delay or court involvement. It documents your intentions so clearly that there's nothing left to guess.
At Aria Law, every estate plan is built through a structured five-meeting process with Jacqueline C. Ramon directly — from the first conversation through signed documents. Flat fees, no surprises, and consultations available in English and Spanish.
What Documents Make Up an Estate Plan in Texas?
A complete Texas estate plan typically includes several core documents, each serving a distinct purpose for your family.
Last Will and Testament
Directs how your assets are distributed after your death and, for parents, names a guardian for minor children. Without one, Texas intestate succession law controls the outcome.
Revocable Living Trust
Holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to your beneficiaries after your death without going through probate court. Private, efficient, and fully revocable while you're alive.
Durable Power of Attorney
Designates someone to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. Without this document, your family may need a court-ordered guardianship to act on your behalf.
Medical Power of Attorney
Designates someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. This applies at any age — and is one of the most urgent documents for any adult over 18.
Directive to Physicians (Living Will)
Documents your wishes for end-of-life medical treatment, so your family isn't forced to make that decision without guidance from you.
Not every plan requires every document. The right combination depends on your assets, your family structure, and your goals — which is exactly what the first consultation is for.
Estate Planning Services at Aria Law
Wills
A legally valid Texas will that names your beneficiaries, designates a guardian for your children, and appoints an executor you trust to carry out your wishes.
Trusts
Revocable and irrevocable trust planning that transfers your assets to your family privately, without probate, and on your terms.
Powers of Attorney
Durable and medical powers of attorney that designate trusted people to act on your behalf — financially and medically — if you ever cannot act for yourself.
Trust Administration
Guidance for successor trustees and beneficiaries navigating the post-death settlement of a trust — without litigation, without confusion, and without unnecessary delay.
Every tier is priced as a flat fee — quoted before any work begins. Payment plans are available for all three tiers. You'll know the number before you agree to anything.
Who Needs an Estate Plan?
The honest answer is: anyone over 18 with assets, a family, or someone who depends on them. Here's how that breaks down in practice.
Young parents and families
If you have minor children, a will naming a guardian is not optional. It is the only document that lets you choose who raises your kids if something happens to you. Families in Northwest San Antonio and the surrounding communities make up a significant portion of Aria Law's clients for exactly this reason.
Single parents
A single parent's estate plan needs to address both guardian designation and asset management with particular care. Who inherits? Who manages money for your children until they're adults? These decisions belong in writing.
Blended families
Stepchildren, prior relationships, and shared assets create planning complexity that a basic will may not resolve cleanly. A trust-based plan with precise beneficiary designations is often the right structure.
Retirees and those transitioning wealth
If you've accumulated significant assets, your plan needs to address how and when they transfer — not just to whom. Trust planning, beneficiary coordination with your CPA and financial advisor, and updated documents are all part of a complete retirement-era plan.
Young adults (18+)
The moment your child turns 18, you lose legal authority to make decisions on their behalf. A medical POA and durable POA change that. These documents are urgent for college students in particular.
Executors and heirs
If you're managing a loved one's estate after their death, Aria Law handles uncontested probate and trust administration in Texas. We don't do litigation — we do the peaceful, structured side of estate settlement.
Planning, Not Litigation — By Design
Aria Law handles estate planning and peaceful estate administration. That's the full scope of the practice — intentionally. Jacqueline doesn't take contested matters, courtroom disputes, or litigation of any kind.
That distinction matters to a lot of clients. Families who've been through difficult dynamics — blended households, complicated relationships, prior disputes — often come specifically because they want an attorney focused on resolution and clarity, not conflict. If your situation involves a contested estate or active litigation, Jacqueline will tell you directly and refer you to an attorney who handles that work. If it doesn't, you're in the right place.
Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning in Texas
Do I need an estate planning attorney, or can I do it myself in Texas?
Texas law permits self-drafted wills under specific conditions, but a document that isn't executed correctly is invalid — and you won't know until it's too late to fix. An attorney ensures your documents meet every legal requirement, reflect your actual intentions, and work together as a complete plan. For families with children, property, or any complexity, professional drafting is the right call.
How do I find an estate planning attorney in San Antonio, Texas?
Look for an attorney who focuses specifically on estate planning — not a generalist who handles it occasionally. Verify they explain their process clearly, charge flat fees, and will work with you directly rather than delegating to staff. Aria Law serves Northwest San Antonio, Boerne, and the Hill Country, with virtual consultations available throughout Texas.
What documents make up an estate plan in Texas?
A complete Texas estate plan typically includes a will, one or more powers of attorney (durable and medical), a directive to physicians, and — depending on your assets and goals — a revocable living trust. The right combination depends on your situation, which is what the first consultation is for.
How much does an estate plan cost in San Antonio?
Aria Law charges flat fees for all estate planning services — no hourly billing. The cost depends on which planning tier fits your situation, and you'll receive a specific quote after your free initial consultation. Payment plans are available.
Serving Northwest San Antonio, Boerne, and the Texas Hill Country
Jacqueline C. Ramon works with families throughout Northwest San Antonio — including Helotes, Shavano Park, Fair Oaks Ranch, and Leon Springs — as well as Boerne and the Hill Country communities of Comfort, Bulverde, and Bandera. Virtual consultations via Zoom are available for clients throughout Texas.
The office is located at 17806 I-10 East, Suite 300, San Antonio, TX 78257.
