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Texas Last Will and Testament

A Texas Last Will and Testament (a "Will") is a legal document that lays out your wishes regarding asset distribution after death, including who will inherit your money, your home, or your personal belongings.

The individual making a Will is called the "testator," while the person or organization being appointed to oversee the testator's estate after death is known as the "executor." Designed for residents of Texas, this free Last Will and Testament is made for use in Harris County, Dallas County, Tarrant County, and in every other region in the state. Each Texas Will from Rocket Lawyer can be modified to address your unique scenario. Creating this essential legal document will provide proof of your decisions.

It's very easy to document your wishes using a free Texas Last Will and Testament template from Rocket Lawyer:

1. Make the document - Provide a few details, and we will do the rest
2. Send and share it - Look over it with an attorney, if needed
3. Sign it and make it legal - Mandatory or not, having two disinterested witnesses is a best practice

This route, in many cases, will end up being much more affordable than finding and working with your average attorney. If needed, you can start this Last Will and Testament on behalf of an elderly parent, a spouse, or another relative, and then have them sign it when ready. Please keep in mind that for this document to be considered legally valid, the testator must be a mentally competent adult when they sign. In the event that the testator has already been declared legally incompetent, a court-appointed conservatorship generally will be required. When facing this situation, it would be best for you to connect with a lawyer.

If you are over 18 years old, you should have a Last Will and Testament. Although it may be unpleasant to acknowledge, your loved ones will want to know your wishes for guardianship (when applicable), your assets, and your property should you pass away. Common circumstances where it can be helpful to make or update your Will include:

• You own a home or other property
• You have a new biological or adopted child
• You are aging or dealing with ongoing health issues
• Your marital status has changed

Whether this Texas Last Will and Testament is being drafted as part of a long-term plan or produced in response to a change in your life, notarization and witnesses are highly encouraged for protecting your document if anyone disputes its authenticity.

Writing a Will is typically easy to do, but you might still have questions. It can depend on whom you ask, but sometimes a lawyer may not even accept requests to review a document if they were not the one who drafted it. A better approach might be to request help from the Rocket Lawyer On Call^® attorney network. When you sign up for a Premium membership, you will be able to ask for a document review from an On Call attorney with relevant experience or send other questions related to your Will. We are here to support you.

The fees associated with meeting and hiring a conventional legal provider to make a Last Will and Testament could be anywhere between $200 and $1,000. Rocket Lawyer can offer much more protection than other Last Will and Testament template websites that you may come across. As a Rocket Lawyer Premium member, you can get up to 40% in savings when hiring an attorney.

Alongside your Texas Last Will, there's a set of tips to follow while finalizing your document. With a membership, you can make edits, download it in PDF format or as a Word file, and/or sign it. Even if you make copies, be sure to keep the signed original document in a safe place where it can't get wet or otherwise damaged. It is important that at least one other person knows where to find it after your passing.

The rules will vary by state; however, in Texas, your Will must be signed by two witnesses. As a general principle, your witnesses should be at least 14 years old. Furthermore, it is recommended that you have your Last Will acknowledged by a notary public in order to help reinforce the authenticity of the document.

Legal references for a Will in Texas: Sec. 251.001

A Last Will and Testament does not need to be filed with the court until the testator passes away. Filing the document (along with any specific forms requested by the county) allows for probate to begin.