Many people easily postpone estate planning. It’s a conversation about aging, death, disability and difficult family decisions—topics most avoid.
Yet at Texas Trust Law, those are the conversations attorneys have every day, helping families create plans that bring clarity before a crisis.
The firm’s story began with a turning point. Before Texas Trust Law became a growing estate planning practice, its founder faced a life-changing health challenge that reshaped his career and perspective on helping others prepare for the unexpected.
A family legacy in law
Attorney Brad Wiewel practiced family law for years before a health scare changed everything.
In 1996, at age 43, he underwent heart bypass surgery after years of handling high-conflict divorce and custody cases. Seeking a different direction, he transitioned to estate planning in 1997.
“Estate planning is a great area of law; you get to help people,” Wiewel said. “Unlike divorce or a lawsuit, they aren’t in crisis. They want to plan to avoid a crisis—and having gone through a health crisis myself, I understand how important that is.”
Over the years, that practice grew. Wiewel became board certified in estate planning and probate law, and the firm expanded its services and footprint across Central Texas. Today, Texas Trust Law serves clients through offices in Austin, Georgetown, Dripping Springs and Horseshoe Bay, and focuses exclusively on:
- Estate planning
- Special needs planning
- Estate tax and charitable planning
- Probate and trust administration
- Asset protection
Help with more than documents
While wills and trusts are often what bring clients through the door, the attorneys say the conversations usually go much deeper.
While wills and trusts attract clients, attorneys say the conversations usually go much deeper.
Many families are trying to answer complex questions, including:
- How can children from a first marriage be protected while providing for a surviving spouse?
- What if a loved one develops Alzheimer’s or another cognitive impairment?
- How can a child with special needs remain eligible for government benefits while receiving financial support?
- How can a family’s wealth and values be passed to future generations?
The firm assists families after a loved one’s death, guiding them through probate and estate administration during a stressful period.
Planning for real life
One trend attorneys have noticed is a shift in concerns.
While estate taxes were once a primary focus for many clients, today's families are more concerned about protecting inheritances from divorce, remarriage or family disputes. They're also focused on planning for incapacity rather than just death.
“People often come in thinking about what happens when they pass away,” Brad Wiewel said. “But we spend a lot of time discussing what happens if they’re alive and can’t manage their own affairs.”
That includes incapacity-planning tools and long-term structures to adapt to aging, health changes and shifting family dynamics.
The firm also helps clients revisit their plans as laws, assets and family circumstances change. This approach reflects a philosophy that estate planning is not a one-time event.
A family-centered approach
Texas Trust Law has grown from a single-attorney practice into a seven-attorney firm, making it one of the larger estate planning firms in the Austin area.
Despite growth, the attorneys say their focus remains the same: listening, educating clients and helping families make informed decisions.
“We educate and motivate,” Brad Wiewel said. “Once people understand the process, there’s often a tremendous sense of relief. They can check that box and move forward knowing they’ve taken care of their loved ones.”
For many families, that peace of mind is what they are looking for.
To learn more about how Texas Trust Law can help you with estate planning, click here.
The above story was produced by Multi-Platform Journalist Chloe Chapel, with the Community Impact's Storytelling team, using information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.