McCulloch & Miller, PLLC
Practice focus: Estate planning, wills, trusts, probate, elder law
35+ years of Houston estate planning. Texas Board Certified attorneys. Strong individual + family practice.
- Fee structure
- Flat + hourly
If you live in Texas and don't have a will, the State writes one for you.
Top 10 Estate Planning Lawyers in Houston
Most Texans don't think about estate planning until something — a parent's death, a baby, a real-estate purchase — forces it. By then, you're already behind. Without a valid will or the right trusts, Texas's intestacy and probate rules quietly decide who inherits what, who controls minor children's money, and how much of your estate the IRS or probate court consumes.
These 10 Houston firms specialize in wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, probate administration, and elder-law planning. Texas has no state estate tax (only federal applies), so most Houston estate planning focuses on probate avoidance, asset protection, and federal estate-tax planning for HNW estates.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo), client review patterns, and bar association recognition. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Porter Hedges LLP — Trusts & Estates
Practice focus: HNW estate planning, family wealth, business succession, probate
Major Houston firm with premier T&E practice. Multiple Best Lawyers and Chambers ranked attorneys.
- Fee structure
- Hourly + retainer
- Free consultation
- Paid
Stepp Law Firm PLLC
Practice focus: Wills, trusts, probate, elder law
35+ years of Houston practice. Strong individual + family flat-fee estate plans.
- Fee structure
- Flat + hourly
- Free consultation
- Free initial
The Hatchett Law Firm
Practice focus: Estate planning, trusts, business succession, elder law
Boutique focused on aligning client values with comprehensive estate plans.
- Fee structure
- Flat + hourly
- Free consultation
- Free initial
Bayley Law Houston
Practice focus: Wills, trusts, estate planning, asset protection
Houston estate-planning boutique with strong client communication and personalized service.
- Fee structure
- Flat + hourly
- Free consultation
- Free initial
Masterly Legal — Houston Estate Planning
Practice focus: Wills, trusts, probate
Personalized wills + trusts practice. Free consultations and transparent flat fees.
- Fee structure
- Flat fee
- Free consultation
- Free initial
Vinson & Elkins LLP — Trusts & Estates
Practice focus: HNW estate planning, family wealth, energy-industry estates
Houston-headquartered global firm. Premier HNW T&E practice especially for energy-industry families. Chambers ranked.
- Fee structure
- Hourly + retainer
- Free consultation
- Paid
Looper Goodwine, P.C.
Practice focus: Estate planning, probate, fiduciary, business succession
Long-established Houston estate-planning boutique. Multiple Best Lawyers attorneys.
- Fee structure
- Hourly + retainer
- Free consultation
- Paid
Roach & Newton, L.L.P.
Practice focus: Trusts and estates, probate, elder law, fiduciary
Texas Board Certified attorneys in estate planning and probate. Strong T&E + tax practice.
- Fee structure
- Hourly + retainer
- Free consultation
- Paid
Peoples and Connell, LLP
Practice focus: Estate planning, probate, elder law
Boutique with personal-attention model and strong Houston T&E practice.
- Fee structure
- Flat + hourly
- Free consultation
- Free initial
Not sure which firm is right for you?
Tell us about your situation and we'll match you with vetted estate planning attorneys in Houston. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Request Free Consultation →What to expect from a Houston estate planning engagement
Most basic plans (will, statutory durable POA, medical POA, HIPAA release, directive to physicians) come together in 2-4 weeks. Trust-based plans (revocable trust, life-insurance trust, special-needs trust) take 4-8 weeks and may include real-estate retitling and beneficiary updates. Larger estates with federal estate tax exposure (above ~$13.99M) require additional gifting and trust design. Probate after a death typically runs 6-12 months in Harris County's Probate Courts (Probate Courts 1-4).
What does an estate planning lawyer in Houston cost?
Basic flat-fee will package: $1,500-$3,500 individual, $2,500-$5,000 couple. Revocable trust packages: $3,500-$7,500. More complex plans involving life-insurance trusts, GST planning, or business succession run $10,000-$25,000+. Texas probate is typically billed hourly ($300-$500/hour) or as a percentage of the estate. Texas's independent administration (Tex. Estates Code Ch. 401) makes probate cheaper than many states.
Red flags to watch for when picking a estate planning lawyer in Houston
The legal directory you find on Google has thousands of Houston estate planning firms. Most are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, or visa approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior partner at intake, then never speak to them again. The case is handled by an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the retainer in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill, not a craftsperson's practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. "We've helped thousands of clients" is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. "Don't worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate Houston lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what's covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most Houston firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
- Who, specifically, will handle my case day-to-day? Get a name. Get an email.
- How many cases like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
- What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the answer in writing before you sign.
- What case expenses am I responsible for, and when? Out-of-pocket costs surprise people. Ask now.
- What is the realistic range of outcomes for a case like mine? A good lawyer will give you a range. A bad one will promise the high end.
- How long will it take? Honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
- Who else might be involved? Experts? Co-counsel? Larger cases routinely involve outside experts. Know who's on the team.
- How and how often will I hear from you? Email-only? Calls? Monthly updates? Set the expectation now.
- What happens if I want to change lawyers later? Rules allow it; the fee is sorted between firms. Make sure you understand the mechanics.
- What's the worst-case outcome for my case? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What's specific about a estate planning case in Houston
Houston is its own market. The procedure, the courts, and the strategy are city- and state-specific in ways that matter to your outcome.
Local courthouses matter. Harris County District Courts and the Southern District of Texas have judges, calendars, and procedures that shape how cases move. A firm that knows the local courthouse has an advantage.
Filing deadlines are strict. Notice of Claim windows for cases against the City or County, Statute of Limitations periods, and pre-suit certification requirements vary by case type and are unforgiving. A missed deadline often means a lost case — full stop.
Local procedure rules matter. Each court has its own forms, motion practice, and judge preferences. The right Houston firm will know not just the law, but the unwritten rules of the courthouse you'll be in.
Local plaintiffs/defendants do well in front of local juries. Verdict patterns vary by venue, and a trial-capable firm uses venue strategically.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I die without a will in Texas?
Your estate passes by Texas intestacy rules (Tex. Estates Code Ch. 201). Spouse and children share. Community vs. separate property has different rules. The probate court appoints an administrator — and probate is harder/longer without independent administration (usually authorized only by a will).
Do I need a will or a trust?
Most Texans need both. Texas's independent administration makes probate cheaper than in many states, so many simple estates are fine with just a will. A revocable living trust is valuable for incapacity planning, blended families, business interests, or out-of-state real estate.
How much can I leave without paying federal estate tax?
The 2026 federal estate tax exemption is approximately $13.99M per individual. Texas has NO state estate tax. Spouses can transfer everything to each other tax-free.
What's a Texas Statutory Durable Power of Attorney?
Tex. Estates Code Ch. 752 provides a statutory short form that names someone to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. Pair with a Medical Power of Attorney (Tex. Health & Safety Code Ch. 166), HIPAA release, and Directive to Physicians.
Can I just use an online will service in Texas?
For very simple, modest estates with no minor children and no real estate — sometimes. For anyone with a house, blended family, business, special-needs beneficiary, or estate tax exposure, the savings of online services often disappear in the first probate fight or tax mistake.
Related reading
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many cases like mine have you taken to verdict in the last three years? The answer tells you everything. — The LawFirmSquare team