National Estate Planning Awareness Week | October 19–25, 2026

Most people think estate planning starts and ends with a will, but there’s a lot more to protecting your loved ones and your future. Helping people see the full picture is why attorney Chad Harlow launched Stewardship Law.

With a focus on helping individuals, families, and business owners plan for the future, Chad is looking forward to serving the Georgetown and Williamson County community through his new firm.

Chad brings experience in estate planning and legal structures, helping clients understand their options and create plans that fit their unique needs. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to update an existing estate plan, he’s a great resource to help you make informed decisions.

And what better time to talk about estate planning than National Estate Planning Awareness Week?

When most people think about estate planning, a will is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Maybe a trust, too. However, estate planning can involve much more than deciding who gets your home, savings, or other belongings.

In recognition of National Estate Planning Awareness Week, we’re highlighting five estate planning structures that people often overlook, along with when each one might make sense for you.

There are several estate planning structures in Texas that can serve different purposes depending on your family, finances, and long-term goals. Here are five worth knowing about.

1. Irrevocable Trusts: For Long-Term Planning and Asset Management

An irrevocable trust is a legal arrangement that generally cannot be changed or canceled once it’s established, except in certain circumstances allowed by law.

Unlike a revocable living trust, where you typically maintain control over your assets, an irrevocable trust generally involves transferring ownership and giving up certain rights over those assets.

So why would someone choose one?

When it fits: an irrevocable trust may make sense for someone looking to establish a long-term plan for transferring wealth, providing for loved ones, or addressing specific tax and asset protection goals.

For example, parents may want to set aside assets for their children while establishing clear guidelines for how and when those assets can be used.

Irrevocable trusts are just one of the many types of trusts available in Texas, and the details matter. Not every irrevocable trust provides creditor protection, and Texas generally does not recognize self-settled asset protection trusts designed to shield assets from the person creating the trust’s own creditors.

2. Trust-Owned LLCs: For Families With Business or Real Estate Interests

If you own rental properties, investment real estate, or a family business, you may have considered forming a limited liability company (LLC).

But have you considered how that LLC fits into your estate plan?

A trust-owned LLC combines two separate legal structures. The LLC holds business or investment assets, while a trust owns the membership interest in the LLC.

When it fits: This arrangement may be useful for families who own multiple properties, operate a business, or want to establish a clear process for passing ownership to the next generation.

For example, imagine a couple who owns several rental properties. Rather than leaving each property individually to their children, they might use an LLC to organize ownership and a trust to outline how their interests should be managed and transferred.

The LLC and trust serve different purposes. An LLC may offer liability protection for its owners, while a trust can provide instructions for managing and transferring ownership interests.

An asset protection attorney in Georgetown, TX can help evaluate whether this combination fits your goals and how the structures should work together.

3. Special Needs Trusts: For Supporting Loved Ones With Disabilities

Everyone knows estate planning focuses on distributing money. However, many people don’t realize estate planning can also make sure someone you love has continued access to the care, support, and resources they need.

A special needs trust allows assets to be set aside for a person with disabilities and managed according to specific instructions.

When it fits: This type of trust may be appropriate for parents, grandparents, or other family members who want to provide financial support to a loved one who receives, or may eventually need, means-tested government benefits.

For example, parents may want to leave an inheritance to an adult child with disabilities. Rather than giving the money directly to their child, a properly designed special needs trust may allow funds to support additional expenses without unnecessarily affecting eligibility for programs such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

These trusts require careful planning because different rules apply depending on who funds the trust and how it’s structured.

Working with a trust attorney in Georgetown, TX can help families understand their options and develop a plan tailored to their loved one’s needs.

4. PLLCs and Business Succession Plans: For Business Owners and Professionals

If you’ve spent years building a business, it’s worth considering what happens to that business when you retire, step away, or pass away.

This is especially important for professionals such as doctors, attorneys, and other licensed service providers who may operate through a professional limited liability company (PLLC).

A PLLC is a business structure available to certain licensed professionals in Texas. A business succession plan, on the other hand, establishes how a business will transition when its owner is no longer involved.

When it fits: Business succession planning is valuable for entrepreneurs, practice owners, and anyone whose business represents a significant part of their estate.

For example, a business owner may want a trusted partner to take over operations while ensuring their family receives the financial value of their ownership interest.

A succession plan can address who may assume control, how ownership interests will be valued, and how a transition should take place.

For PLLCs, Texas has specific professional licensing and ownership requirements, which makes planning particularly important.

An estate planning attorney in Williamson County, TX can help business owners coordinate their estate planning documents with business agreements and succession goals.

5. Spousal Trusts: For Providing for a Spouse and Future Generations

For married couples, estate planning often starts with a simple goal: making sure the surviving spouse is financially secure.

But couples may also want to consider how their assets will eventually pass to children, grandchildren, or other beneficiaries.

A spousal trust can help address both goals.

When it fits: Spousal trusts may be useful for couples with significant assets, blended families, children from previous relationships, or specific wishes about how their estate should be distributed.

For example, someone in a second marriage may want their spouse to benefit from certain assets during their lifetime while ensuring those remaining assets eventually pass to their children.

Depending on how the trust is designed, it may provide income or other financial support to a surviving spouse while establishing instructions for future distributions.

There are several ways to structure these arrangements, and tax considerations, property ownership, and family circumstances all play a role.

Choosing the Right Estate Planning Structure for Your Life

Not everyone needs an irrevocable trust, an LLC, or an elaborate business succession plan. And that’s the point.

The goal with estate planning is about choosing the right tools that make sense for your life.

Texas provides certain protections for qualifying homesteads, retirement accounts, and life insurance benefits under applicable law. Understanding these existing protections is another important part of deciding whether additional planning structures are appropriate.

The right approach depends on what you own, who you want to provide for, and what you hope your assets will accomplish in the future.

Contact Stewardship Law Today

If you’re looking for an estate planning attorney in Georgetown, TX, our team can help you explore the structures that may fit your circumstances and build a plan around what matters most to you.

Contact us to schedule a consultation and take the next step in planning for your future.