For Austin families with minor children, naming a guardian is not just paperwork, it is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. The Pabst Law Firm, PLLC is a boutique Austin practice that helps parents legally name long-term guardians, document short-term protectors, and design the Pabst Kids Safeguard System. Our goal is to prevent your children from ever ending up in the wrong hands or in temporary state custody while the court catches up.
Frank Pabst serves as our CEO and Primary Attorney, acting as the lead designer of every guardianship plan. Nicky Pabst, our Chief Operating Officer (COO), leads the firm’s operational engine and administrative team, guiding families through the organization and client-experience process. We focus on proactive planning to keep your family out of court and your children with the people you trust most.
Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Peace of Mind Consultation or call (512) 641-2676
When Texas Families Need a Guardianship Lawyer
Most parents in Austin do not think about guardianship until a specific event forces the question. The reality is that any parent of a minor child needs to make these decisions before an emergency forces a judge to make them for you.
Frank helps families navigate three critical scenarios:
Long-Term Guardianship: Naming the people who will raise your children to adulthood if both parents are gone.
Short-Term Protectors: Designating local friends or neighbors who can step in during the immediate hours or days following an emergency.
State Custody Prevention: Building the legal protocols that ensure first responders call your chosen protectors instead of Child Protective Services.
Our practice is dedicated to preventative planning. While we do not handle contested guardianship litigation or adult guardianships, we specialize in comprehensive protection for families with minor children.
What is the Pabst Kids Safeguard System
The Pabst Kids Safeguard System is a layered strategy for naming guardians that goes far beyond a single sentence in a will. Traditional wills only name a long-term guardian and take effect only after a death and a probate process. This leaves a dangerous gap.
Consider the timeline: Both parents are in an accident while a babysitter is home with the children. Without immediate documentation, responding officers may have no choice but to call the authorities for temporary placement until a court can identify a legal guardian.
Our system closes that gap by including:
Legal Designations for Short-Term Guardians: Local protectors authorized to take immediate custody.
First Responder Instructions: Clear directions for law enforcement on who to call.
Medical Authority: Granting temporary custodians the power to make healthcare decisions.
Emergency ID Cards: Custom cards for your wallet (featuring the Pabst Law Crest) so authorities know exactly who to contact on the scene.
The Texas Guardianship Process (and Why to Avoid It)
Without a proactive plan, your children enter the Texas guardianship system through the Travis County Probate Court. Even straightforward Travis County probate involves administrative delays; we design plans specifically to avoid court oversight. The court must appoint an attorney ad litem, conduct an investigation, and hold a hearing to evaluate a proposed guardian’s fitness.
During this period, your children may be in temporary placement with people you would never have chosen. The Pabst Kids Safeguard System replaces this uncertainty with a private, immediate, and predictable outcome.
Guardian of the Person vs. Guardian of the Estate
Texas law recognizes two distinct roles, and Frank ensures your plan addresses both:
Guardian of the Person: Responsible for the child’s daily care, education, and medical decisions.
Guardian of the Estate: Responsible for managing the child’s financial inheritance or trust distributions until they reach legal age.
In many families, the same person fills both roles. In others, you may choose one person to raise the child and another with financial knowledge to manage the money. Frank architectures your plan to let you choose these roles rather than letting a court decide.
Alternatives to Court-Appointed Guardianship
For adult children with disabilities or aging parents, Frank utilizes less restrictive alternatives to avoid court-supervised guardianship:
Durable Financial & Medical Powers of Attorney: Naming trusted agents to manage affairs.
Revocable Living Trust: Allowing a successor trustee to manage assets during incapacity.
Supported Decision-Making Agreements: Allowing adults with disabilities to retain rights while receiving formal help.
Special Needs Trusts: Protecting an inheritance while preserving essential government benefits.
How We Protect Your Children
The process begins with a Discovery Conversation led by Frank. We discuss who you trust, who has the stability to raise your children, and just as importantly, who you would never want involved.
Under Nicky’s operational leadership, our team then coordinates the drafting of your Pabst Kids Safeguard System, including:
- Legal Confirmation. A will that confirms long-term guardians.
- Immediate Power. Medical and custodial authorizations for short-term protectors.
- Visual Alerts. Secure wallet ID cards and caregiver instructions.
- Signing. Every document is executed via secure video signing for your convenience.
(512) 641-2676