Your estate plan should accomplish far more than simply deciding who receives which assets when you are gone. Because of the numerous and varied roles your estate plan will play in your life, creating your plan should be a priority. At the Mendel Law Firm, L.P. we understand how important a well drafted and comprehensive estate plan is to you and your family and we would be honored to help The Woodlands, Texas residents create your plan.
History of The Woodlands, Texas
The Woodlands is a master-planned community and census-designated place (CDP) that began when oil industry investor George P. Mitchell attended a symposium that discussed the development of HUD financed Title VII towns similar to Columbia, Maryland. Development of The Woodlands started back in 1974 with plans to build a conference center, hotels, office parks, retail malls, schools, large distribution centers, and golf courses. Houses built within the community were to range from affordable to high-end. At the time, it was said that Mitchell wanted to “entice city slickers looking for far-flung suburban quality of life”. Since its beginning, The Woodlands has continued to grow with ownership changing hands several times, including as recently as 2011 when it was sold to the Howard Hughes Development Corporation.
The Woodlands, Texas Today
Located just 30 miles directly north of Houston, Texas, The Woodlands began as a “bedroom community”. Although development within The Woodlands got off to a relatively slow start, the population has increased almost 100 percent in the last 15 years from about 55,000 residents at the time of the 2000 Census to over 100,000 as of 2014. The Woodlands remains a suburban option for people who work in Houston; however, the community has also attracted a number of large corporations in recent years as well.
Residents and visitors alike enjoy the Town Center where you will find numerous shopping and dining opportunities. A waterway resembling the San Antonio River Walk is a favorite attraction near the Town Center where you can hop into a water taxi, known as a “Waterway Cruiser,” that is enclosed and cooled for your comfort. Music lovers will likely want to check out who is playing at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion which is also the summer home of the Houston Symphony. You may also want to take a walk down Market Street, an old style “Main Street” pedestrian shopping district, where you will find a movie theater along with boutique shops and several unique dining options. The Woodlands is separated into “villages,” with each “village” also having its own shopping center. There you will find a grocery store, a bank, a gas station and other necessities.
In music circles, The Woodlands has reached some notoriety as a result of its community concert band officially known as “The Woodlands Concert Band”. Established in 2001, the band consists of 75-85 amateur and professional musicians who perform every year at the Independence Day celebration on Market Street. The band also hosts the Bayou City Community Band Festival.
The Mendel Law Firm & Texas Estate Planning
Founding partner Stephen A. Mendel has called Texas home for his entire life. Attorney Mendel completed his undergraduate studies in Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin and then went on to South Texas College of Law to study law. Attorney Mendel opened The Mendel Law Firm, L. P. in the hope that he could give back to the communities, and the state, that he has called home for so many years by helping people with their estate planning needs.
Unlike many other areas of the law, estate planning does not involve legal issues that are resolved and not revisited. On the contrary, once your initial estate plan is in place, you will need to revisit your plan on a regular basis to make sure it reflects your current estate planning needs and goals. The ongoing nature of estate planning means that it is in your best interest to develop a solid relationship with your estate planning attorney. At The Mendel Law Firm, L.P. we understand that many aspects of estate planning involve highly personal, and sometimes sensitive, information that you may not be comfortable sharing with just anyone. For us, this is yet another reason why we feel it is important to develop lifelong relationships with our clients – so that they become comfortable confiding in us which, in turn, allows us to help them create a truly personal and highly effective estate plan.
Contact Us to Get Started on a Comprehensive Estate Plan Today
Ideally, you will create your first estate plan when you are relatively young, long before you have complicated or complex estate planning needs. That original estate plan will almost certainly be expanded upon and modified over the course of your lifetime. A simple Last Will and Testament may be sufficient when you are in your early 20s, fresh out of college and have yet to marry or have children. Events such as your marriage, a promotion at work, or the birth of a child will eventually call for a review and revision of your original estate plan. You may need to add an incapacity planning component to your plan or start thinking about probate and tax avoidance. As your estate grows, asset protection planning may also become important as will the need to plan for your retirement years. As your “Golden Years” loom nearer, you may realize the need to add Medicaid planning and funeral planning into your estate plan as well.
At The Mendel Law Firm, L.P. our goal is to be there with you throughout your life’s journey and help you create an estate plan that protects you, your family, and your assets. If you would like to get started on your estate plan, contact the experienced The Woodlands, Texas estate planning attorneys at The Mendel Law Firm, L.P. by calling 281-759-3213 to schedule your appointment today.
