Estate Planning & Probate Attorney Serving The Woodlands, Texas
Dickey Law Group is proud to call The Woodlands home. Our office at 2001 Timberloch Place sits in the heart of the community, minutes from The Woodlands Waterway, Market Street, and Town Green Park. If you live or work in The Woodlands, you've got an estate planning team right in your backyard.
Estate Planning Services for The Woodlands Residents
- ◆Wills & Trusts
- ◆Powers of Attorney
- ◆Advance Directives
- ◆Guardianship
- ◆Asset Protection
Probate Services for The Woodlands Residents
When a loved one passes away in The Woodlands, the probate process can feel overwhelming. Whether you're dealing with a straightforward will or a more complicated estate, our office — right here in The Woodlands — handles probate cases in Montgomery County courts every week. We'll walk you through each step, from filing the application to distributing assets.
- ◆Probate of Will
- ◆Muniment of Title
- ◆Independent Administration
- ◆Dependent Administration
- ◆No-Will (Intestate) Probate
- ◆Small Estate Affidavit
Why The Woodlands Families Need an Estate Plan
The Woodlands is one of the most successful master-planned communities in the country, and it's not hard to see why families put down roots here. Conroe ISD and The Woodlands Township schools rank among the best in Texas, and the community offers everything from lakeside trails to world-class dining at Hughes Landing. But all of that success comes with real financial stakes — and those stakes deserve a plan.
Median home prices in The Woodlands run well above $400,000, with many neighborhoods like Sterling Ridge, Creekside Park, and Indian Springs pushing past $600,000 or more. Plenty of residents also hold stock options, retirement accounts, and business interests that add up fast. If something happens to you without a will or trust in place, all of that goes through probate in Montgomery County — and your family may not end up with the outcome you'd want.
The Woodlands also draws a large number of dual-income professional families with young children. If you've got kids, your estate plan should name guardians, set up a trust for their benefit, and spell out how money gets managed until they're old enough to handle it themselves. These aren't luxury decisions — they're the basics every Woodlands family should have locked down.
About The Woodlands
The Woodlands started as George Mitchell's vision in the 1970s and has grown into a community of more than 120,000 people spread across 28,000 acres of piney woods. It's organized into villages — Panther Creek, Alden Bridge, Sterling Ridge, Creekside Park, and others — each with its own character and amenities. The Woodlands Waterway runs through the Town Center, connecting shops, restaurants, and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Hughes Landing and Research Forest have turned the community into a major employment hub, with companies like Chevron Phillips, Huntsman, and McKesson setting up headquarters. Families here benefit from top Conroe ISD schools, miles of hike-and-bike trails, and access to Lake Woodlands. The mix of high-earning professionals, growing families, and retirees means estate planning needs vary widely — from simple wills for first-time homebuyers to complex trust structures for business owners and high-net-worth households.
Texas Estate Planning Law
Texas community property rules hit Woodlands families in ways that aren't always obvious. Everything earned or bought during your marriage — your salary, the house, retirement contributions — belongs equally to both spouses. If one spouse dies without a will, the surviving spouse doesn't automatically keep everything. When there are children from a prior marriage, the deceased spouse's half of community property goes to those children, not the surviving spouse. That can force a sale of the family home or create painful disputes during an already difficult time. Most of The Woodlands falls in Montgomery County, which means probate cases are filed at the Montgomery County Court at Law in Conroe. The court handles everything from will validation to full estate administration. Texas also has a strong homestead exemption that protects your primary residence from most creditors — but that protection doesn't replace the need for a proper estate plan. Without a will, the homestead exemption won't stop your home from going through probate.
Why The Woodlands Families Choose Dickey Law Group
We're based right here in The Woodlands at 2001 Timberloch Place — you can't get much more local than that. Dickey Law Group has helped more than 50 families in the north Houston area protect their homes, savings, and children through proper estate planning. We've earned a 5.0-star rating from our clients, and we're proud of the relationships we've built in this community.
Our firm offers bilingual services in English and Spanish, which matters in a community as diverse as The Woodlands. We quote fixed fees upfront — not hourly rates that leave you guessing. Whether you need a basic will or a trust that accounts for business interests, rental properties, and multiple beneficiaries, you'll know the cost before we start. And your first consultation is always free.
James and Mireya Dickey are a husband-and-wife team — both members of the Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, and active members of the Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery County Hispanic Chamber. We're the only firm in The Woodlands that provides full legal counsel in Spanish, not just translation. Our trust packages include deed transfers at no extra charge. And because your estate plan will need updates over the years — new kids, new property, changes in Texas law — it matters that we're early-career attorneys who'll be practicing for 30+ years. The attorneys who draft your plan today are the same ones updating it decades from now.
The Woodlands, Texas
Probate Court — Montgomery County
The Woodlands is primarily in Montgomery County. Probate matters are handled by the Montgomery County Court at Law at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Conroe, about 18 miles north on I-45.
Getting Here
Our office is located at 2001 Timberloch Place, Suite 500, in The Woodlands. From The Woodlands Mall area, head east on Lake Woodlands Drive, turn south on Six Pines Drive, then left on Timberloch Place. Free parking is available on-site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dickey Law Group located in The Woodlands?
We’re at 2001 Timberloch Place, Suite 500, The Woodlands, TX 77380. The office is near the Waterway district with easy access from I-45, Woodlands Parkway, and Research Forest Drive. Free parking is available on-site.
Which county handles probate for The Woodlands residents?
Most of The Woodlands falls in Montgomery County, so probate cases are filed at the Montgomery County Court at Law in the Conroe courthouse. A small portion of The Woodlands extends into Harris County — we’ll help you determine which court applies to your situation.
What estate planning services does Dickey Law Group offer in The Woodlands?
We handle wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, medical directives, probate administration, and guardianship matters. Our firm also helps with business succession planning for Woodlands-area business owners.
Do I need a trust if I own a home in The Woodlands?
It depends on your goals. A revocable living trust can help your family avoid probate on your Woodlands property and keep the transfer private. If your estate is under the federal exemption threshold, a well-drafted will might be enough. We’ll walk you through both options.
How much does estate planning cost at Dickey Law Group?
Costs vary based on the complexity of your situation. A basic will package is different from a comprehensive trust-based plan. We offer a free initial consultation so you’ll know what you need and what it’ll cost before you commit to anything.
How does probate work in Montgomery County for Woodlands residents?
Probate in Montgomery County is handled at the courthouse in Conroe. You’ll file an application to probate the will, and the court will set a hearing — usually within a few weeks. If the will names an independent executor, the process moves faster because there’s less court oversight after the initial hearing. Our firm appears in Montgomery County courts regularly, so we know the local procedures and staff well.
What if someone dies without a will in The Woodlands?
If a Woodlands resident dies without a will, the estate goes through intestate probate in Montgomery County. The court appoints an administrator — usually a close family member — and Texas law dictates how assets are divided. For married couples with children, the surviving spouse doesn’t automatically get everything. That surprises a lot of families. We can walk you through the intestacy rules and help you file the right paperwork to move things forward.
How long does probate take in Montgomery County?
An independent administration in Montgomery County typically takes 6 to 9 months from start to finish. Muniment-of-title proceedings — where there’s a valid will and no debts to pay — can wrap up in about 6 weeks. If someone contests the will or the estate has complicated assets, it can take a year or more. We’ll give you a clear timeline at your first consultation.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Serving families in The Woodlands and throughout North Houston.