Trust Consultation at No Fee

A trust is a planning tool that allows you to hold and manage assets during your lifetime and determine how those assets are handled if you become incapacitated or pass away. When structured and funded properly, a trust can provide continuity, privacy, and efficiency for you and the people you care about.

At Goodcatt & Associates, we help individuals, families, and business owners determine whether a trust makes sense for their situation and, if so, design one that aligns with their goals and works as intended.

At its core, a trust is a legal arrangement that holds property for your benefit during your lifetime and for the benefit of others in the future. You can typically serve as your own trustee while you are alive and capable, maintaining control over your assets while putting a plan in place for the future.

A trust is not about giving up control—it is about planning ahead so transitions happen smoothly and according to your wishes.

Many clients consider a trust because of the advantages it can offer when compared to relying on a Will alone. Depending on the circumstances, a trust may help:

• Avoid or significantly reduce probate
• Maintain privacy, as trust administration is not public
• Provide continuity if you become incapacitated
• Streamline the transfer of assets to loved ones
• Simplify administration for families and fiduciaries 

A trust is not the right solution for everyone, but for many families and business owners, it can be a powerful planning tool when used thoughtfully.

A trust may be appropriate if you:

• Want to minimize probate for your family
• Own property or assets in multiple locations
• Have minor children or beneficiaries who need ongoing management
• Are part of a blended family
• Own a business or have complex assets
• Want a clear plan in place in the event of incapacity

Part of our role is helping you evaluate whether a trust fits your goals—or whether a different approach makes more sense.

One of the most common reasons clients consider a trust is probate avoidance. In Texas, assets that are properly titled in the name of a trust generally pass outside of probate.

That said, a trust must be structured correctly and funded properly to work as intended. A trust that is never funded—or only partially funded—may still require probate for certain assets.

As part of our planning process, we help clients understand how a trust functions in practice, how it interacts with other estate planning documents, and what steps are necessary to achieve the desired result.

Incapacity planning is often overlooked, but it is one of the most important benefits of a trust. If you become unable to manage your affairs, a properly drafted trust can allow a successor trustee to step in and manage trust assets without the need for court involvement.

This continuity can reduce disruption, protect your assets, and provide reassurance to family members during a difficult time.

Effective trust planning involves more than drafting a single document. A complete plan often includes coordinating:

• A pour-over will
• Deeds and asset transfers
• Beneficiary designations
• Business interests
• Powers of attorney and other planning tools 

We look at how all of these pieces fit together so your trust functions as part of a cohesive plan, not in isolation.

Trust planning should feel clear and manageable—not overwhelming. We take the time to understand your goals, explain your options in plain language, and guide you through each step of the process.

We work with clients from the initial conversation through implementation, ensuring the plan is properly structured and aligned with their objectives. We explain the process, scope of work, and fees upfront, so clients know what to expect and can move forward with confidence—without surprises along the way.

We assist clients with trust planning throughout San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and surrounding communities across Central Texas and the Hill Country. We meet by appointment and work with individuals, families, and business owners at various stages of life and planning.

If you are considering a trust—or want to understand whether one makes sense for your situation—we are here to help.