For most Austin families, the question is not whether to have a will. The question is whether a will alone is enough. The Pabst Law Firm, PLLC is a boutique Austin estate planning practice focused on fixed-fee packages that pair wills, trusts, and directives into one coherent plan. Frank Pabst serves as our CEO and Primary Attorney, acting as the driver and lead architect of every document. Frank ensures every plan is drafted to current Texas Estates Code requirements and built to actually function the way families expect when the moment comes.
Whether you need a basic will and power of attorney to cover the essentials, or a full trust-based plan to keep your family out of court, the approach remains the same: Listen first, design second, and document third. Our COO, Nicky Pabst, leads the firm’s operational engine and administrative team to ensure the process is seamless and your family wealth inventory is meticulously organized.
Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Peace of Mind Consultation or call (512) 641-2676
How Wills and Trusts Work Together in Texas
Two different tools solve two different problems: A will is a set of instructions for what happens after you die. A trust is a separate legal entity that owns property during your life and after, on terms you control.
Wills tell the court who gets what when you die. They name guardians for minor children and name an executor to administer your estate. They only take effect at death, and they only direct property that the will controls, which excludes anything passing by beneficiary designation or trust.
Trusts hold property during your lifetime and continue after death. They manage assets if you become incapacitated and allow your family to avoid probate for the assets they own. A properly funded trust transfers wealth without court involvement.
The right plan for most Austin families uses both. The will catches what the trust does not, while the trust avoids probate and gives you control during incapacity. Each plays a role the other cannot.
Types of Wills We Draft for Texas Families
Texas recognizes several forms of wills: Frank determines the right format based on your assets and family goals:
Simple Will. Distributes property outright to named beneficiaries. Best suited for adults with minimal assets and no minor children.
Self-Proving Will. Executed with a self-proving affidavit so witnesses do not need to be located for probate. Frank includes this in every will he drafts to save your family time and cost.
Pour-Over Will. Paired with a revocable living trust. It captures any asset that was not retitled into the trust during your lifetime and pours it into the trust at death.
Testamentary Trust Will. Creates a trust at death rather than during life. Useful for controlling distributions to minor children or family members not yet ready to manage a lump sum.
How a Trust Complements a Will
Frank utilizes the revocable living trust to complement a will in three specific ways:
- Probate Avoidance. Assets properly retitled into the trust do not pass through Travis County Probate Court. The trustee distributes assets without court oversight.
- Incapacity Planning. If you become unable to manage your finances, the successor trustee steps in immediately. There is no need for a public guardianship petition.
- Privacy. Once admitted to probate, a will becomes a public record. Trusts remain private, keeping your asset values and beneficiary details between your trustee and your family.
What Happens if You Only Have a Will
Will-only plans route everything you own through the probate court. Even straightforward Travis County probate involves administrative delays; we design plans specifically to avoid court oversight. Probate is public, procedural, and carries costs (court fees, attorney fees, and bond premiums) that consume estate value before beneficiaries see anything.
During your consultation, Frank provides an honest assessment of whether a will-only plan is acceptable for your situation or if the math favors adding a trust to keep your family out of court.
Our Fixed-Fee Wills and Trust Packages
We do not use hourly billing: Our fixed-fee packages provide total clarity on your investment before any work begins:
Wills and Directives Package: Suited for young couples and individuals with straightforward financial situations. Includes a last will and testament, durable financial power of attorney, medical power of attorney, HIPAA release, and directive to physicians. Starts at $1,500 to $2,500.
Full Trust-Based Plan: Suited for families with real estate, business interests, minor children, or those wanting full probate avoidance. Includes a revocable living trust, funding assignments, a pour-over will, all powers of attorney, and the Pabst Kids Safeguard System. Ranges from $4,000 to $7,000+ depending on complexity.
Both packages include document organization and a defined scope so you know exactly what you are paying for.
Why Austin Families Choose the Pabst Law Firm
We are not a high-volume firm. We limit our caseload so every plan receives careful drafting and the discovery conversation it deserves.
Direct Attorney Access. Frank leads every plan: When you call, you reach the primary attorney who actually designed your documents.
Counseling, Not Form-Filling. Protections are designed to match your life rather than templates.
Asset Integration: Under the leadership of our COO, Nicky Pabst, our staff helps ensure your bank accounts and titles actually match your plan. This is where traditional plans fail, and where we excel.
(512) 641-2676