Complex estates demand more than basic probate knowledge—they require attorneys who can navigate multiple properties, untangle business interests, and coordinate assets without losing track of important details or missing critical deadlines. If your loved one owned businesses, investment properties, mineral rights, or assets throughout Texas, you need counsel equipped to handle the full scope of the estate efficiently. The same goes for large estates, which often require advance estate tax planning.
Managing an estate with multiple properties, business interests, or diverse assets requires coordination that goes beyond what some probate law firms encounter in their typical practice. A local solo attorney who handles straightforward estates with a house and bank accounts may be overwhelmed when facing operating businesses, commercial real estate, partnership interests, or assets spread across multiple Texas counties. This is also true when an estate tax return has to be filed. These situations require not just probate knowledge but understanding of business operations, real estate transactions, tax implications, and the ability to coordinate multiple moving parts simultaneously.
Note: The “Typical Local Attorney” column reflects what we’ve commonly observed in the Texas probate market. Individual attorneys may vary. We are not comparing ourselves to any one attorney or firm, but, rather, explaining our experience and observations generally.
| Property Management | Our Firm | Typical Local Attorney* |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Properties in Different Counties | Single firm handles all locations, with in-house attorneys focusing on various nuanced aspects of probate cases | Often must hire outside co-counsel |
| Commercial Real Estate Experience | Experience with commercial properties, particularly properties in estates | Usually focused on residential only, such as landlord-tenant evictions |
| Ranch and Agricultural Property | Understand agricultural exemptions and special considerations | May lack rural property experience |
| Mineral Rights and Royalties | Navigate complex mineral interests and ongoing royalties | Often unfamiliar with mineral estates |
| Property Sales During Probate | Understanding of the process for selling estate property | May struggle with probate sales procedures that vary from county to county |
| Title Issues Resolution | Experience clearing title problems | Often need to refer to real estate attorney |
| Business Handling | Our Firm | Typical Local Attorney* |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Business Continuation | Focus on keeping the businesses running during probate | May not understand business operations |
| Partnership and LLC Interests | Navigate complex ownership structures | May lack entity transfer experience |
| Business Valuation Coordination | Established relationships with valuation experts | May not know when valuations are needed |
| Buy-Sell Agreement Implementation | Experience with triggering and completing buyouts | Rarely encounter buy-sell agreements |
| Employee and Vendor Management | Guide executors through business relationships | Typically no business management experience |
| Business Sale or Wind-Down | Strategic guidance for maximizing value | Usually lack business transaction experience |
| Asset Types | Our Firm | Typical Local Attorney* |
|---|---|---|
| Investment Portfolios | Coordinate with financial advisors and institutions | Often just basic bank accounts |
| Multiple Financial Institutions | Efficiently gather assets from numerous sources | Can be overwhelmed by multiple accounts |
| Digital Assets and Cryptocurrency | Procedures for securing and transferring digital assets | Frequently unaware of digital asset issues |
| Collectibles and Valuable Personal Property | Network of appraisers and auction houses | May not recognize valuable items |
| Intellectual Property | Handle patents, copyrights, and royalties transfer | Rarely encounter IP assets |
| Structured Settlements and Annuities | Navigate complex beneficiary designations | Often unfamiliar with these instruments |
| Management Systems | Our Firm | Typical Local Attorney* |
|---|---|---|
| Asset Tracking Processes | Digital processes to track estate assets | Often rely on paper lists |
| Document Management | Organized digital repository for all estate documents | Usually physical files only |
| Deadline Management | Automated systems for multiple filing deadlines | May use basic calendar reminders |
| Beneficiary Communication | Portal available for beneficiaries to track estate progress | Typically phone calls only |
| Accounting Integration | Systems that integrate with estate accounting | Often manual accounting methods |
| Multi-Party Coordination | Technology to coordinate with various professionals | Usually email and phone only |
We don’t just handle the probate filing, if our clients need it—we can manage the entire estate administration process for complex estates. Our team understands how to keep businesses operating, manage investment properties, coordinate with financial institutions, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks when assets are scattered across Texas.
Complex estates often require appraisers, accountants, business brokers, and other professionals. We’ve built relationships with qualified professionals throughout Texas, saving you the time and uncertainty of finding trustworthy experts in unfamiliar markets.
When estates include property or assets in multiple Texas counties, we handle everything from our statewide platform. No need to hire different attorneys in each county or worry about conflicting advice from multiple law firms—we provide consistent, coordinated representation across Texas.
| Tax Considerations | Our Firm | Typical Local Attorney* |
|---|---|---|
| Estate Tax Planning | Prepare estate tax returns | May not recognize estate tax issues |
| Business Tax Continuity | Ensure business tax obligations are met | Often overlook business tax requirements |
| Property Tax Management | Handle property tax protests and exemptions | Usually just pay whatever is billed |
| Income Tax Coordination | Work with accountants on final returns | May not understand income tax issues |
| Tax Basis Documentation | Provide detailed basis information to beneficiaries | Often don’t understand basis step-up |
| Generation-Skipping Tax | Identify and address GST tax issues | Rarely encounter GST situations |
*Based on common market observations. Individual attorneys may differ.
Complex estates take longer than simple ones, but inefficient handling can add months or years to the process. Our systems and experience help us identify potential delays early, coordinate parallel processes efficiently, and keep the estate moving toward resolution. We understand which tasks can happen simultaneously and which must be completed sequentially, allowing us to create realistic timelines and meet them.
While complex estates naturally involve higher legal fees than simple estates, the real cost comes from delays, missed opportunities, and mistakes. Properties sitting vacant, businesses losing value without proper management, or tax elections missed can cost an estate far more than professional fees. Our efficiency and expertise help preserve estate value while moving toward timely resolution.
The difference between adequate and excellent representation becomes most apparent in complex estates. Missing a tax election, mishandling a business asset, or failing to properly coordinate multiple properties can cost beneficiaries substantially. Our focused probate practice means we’ve seen these situations before, know the pitfalls to avoid, and have systems in place to manage complexity efficiently.
Don’t trust a complex estate to an attorney who primarily handles simple matters. Work with a firm that has the experience, systems, and statewide reach to handle every aspect of your complex estate efficiently and professionally. Contact us today to discuss how we can help preserve value and streamline administration of your loved one’s complex estate.
