Terms of Service

By accessing and using this website (simplewilltexas.com) and the services provided by Howell Legacy Planning, you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our website or services. These terms apply to all visitors, users, and others who access or use our services.

Legal Services

Howell Legacy Planning provides estate planning legal services in the State of Texas, including but not limited to the preparation of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, medical directives, and related estate planning documents. Our services are provided by Gary M. Howell, a licensed attorney in the State of Texas.

Online Forms

This website provides online forms to collect information necessary for estate planning document preparation. Completion of these forms does not create an attorney-client relationship until you have been formally accepted as a client and have signed an engagement letter.

Use of this website and submission of information through our online forms does not automatically create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship is established only when: (1) you have completed our intake forms, (2) we have conducted an initial consultation, (3) we have determined there are no conflicts of interest, (4) you have signed a written engagement letter, and (5) any required retainer or fees have been paid. Until these conditions are met, no attorney-client relationship exists, and no confidential or privileged relationship is created.

Texas Law Only

Our legal services are limited to Texas estate planning law. We do not provide legal advice or services regarding the laws of any other state or jurisdiction. If you have property or legal issues in other states, you may need to consult with attorneys licensed in those jurisdictions.

Limited Scope

Our representation is limited to the specific estate planning matters for which you have retained our services. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, we do not provide ongoing legal representation, tax advice, investment advice, or legal services outside the scope of estate planning.

Your Responsibility

You are responsible for providing complete, accurate, and truthful information through our online forms and during consultations. The quality and effectiveness of your estate planning documents depend on the accuracy of the information you provide. We rely on the information you provide and are not responsible for errors or omissions resulting from incomplete or inaccurate information.

Updates

You are responsible for notifying us of any changes in your circumstances that may affect your estate plan, including changes in family status, assets, beneficiaries, or wishes.

Fee Structure

Our fees for estate planning services are outlined on our Pricing page and in our engagement letters. Fees are subject to change and will be confirmed in writing before services begin. Additional fees may apply for services beyond the initial scope of representation.

Payment Terms

Payment is typically required before document preparation begins, unless other arrangements are made in writing. We accept various payment methods as outlined in our engagement letter. Failure to pay agreed-upon fees may result in termination of services.

Once an attorney-client relationship is established, all information you provide is protected by attorney-client privilege and will be kept strictly confidential in accordance with Texas State Bar rules and professional ethics requirements. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for information about how we handle your personal information before an attorney-client relationship is established.

General Information Only

The content on this website, including blog posts and informational pages, is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every estate planning situation is unique, and the information on this website may not apply to your specific circumstances.

No Legal Advice

Nothing on this website should be construed as legal advice or as creating an attorney-client relationship. Do not rely on information from this website as a substitute for professional legal advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney about your specific legal situation.

Accuracy

While we strive to keep the information on this website current and accurate, laws change frequently, and we make no warranties about the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of the information provided.

This website may contain links to third-party websites, including our blog articles hosted on hlpfirm.com. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of third-party websites. Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk and subject to their terms and conditions.

Copyright

All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, and images, is the property of Howell Legacy Planning or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws.

Limited License

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use this website for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any content on this website without our express written permission.

You agree not to use this website for any unlawful purpose or in any way that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair our servers or networks. Prohibited activities include but are not limited to: attempting to gain unauthorized access to our systems, transmitting viruses or malicious code, harvesting or collecting information about other users, using automated systems to access the website, or engaging in any activity that interferes with others' use of the website.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Howell Legacy Planning and Gary M. Howell shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or relating to your use of this website or our services. Our total liability for any claims arising from your use of this website shall not exceed the amount of fees you have paid for our services. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or the limitation of liability for consequential damages, so some of these limitations may not apply to you.

Nothing in these Terms of Service limits our professional liability for legal malpractice or our obligations under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. Claims of legal malpractice are subject to applicable statutes of limitation and must be brought in accordance with Texas law.

This website and its content are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. We do not warrant that the website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components.

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Howell Legacy Planning, Gary M. Howell, and their respective officers, employees, and agents from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to your use of this website, your violation of these Terms of Service, or your violation of any rights of another party.

Website Access

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend your access to this website at any time, without notice, for any reason, including violation of these Terms of Service.

Attorney-Client Relationship

Either party may terminate the attorney-client relationship in accordance with the terms of the engagement letter and applicable professional rules. Upon termination, you remain responsible for payment of fees for services rendered.

These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms of Service or your use of this website shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Harris County, Texas, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

Informal Resolution

Before filing any legal action, you agree to first contact us to attempt to resolve any disputes informally. Many disputes can be resolved through communication.

Fee Disputes

Disputes regarding legal fees may be subject to arbitration or mediation as provided in the engagement letter or as required by Texas State Bar rules.

If any provision of these Terms of Service is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

These Terms of Service, together with our Privacy Policy and any engagement letter you sign, constitute the entire agreement between you and Howell Legacy Planning regarding your use of this website and our services, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with a new "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of this website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified terms. We encourage you to review these terms periodically.

If you are interested in retaining our legal services or have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us using the information below. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your estate planning needs.