Business Details
41 Years
experience
Trusted Estate Planning & Probate Lawyers in McKinney, TX
Caton Law Firm has served McKinney, Texas since 1985, providing personalized legal solutions through three generations of female leadership. Our practice focuses on estate planning, probate administration, and business formation, guided by the principle that every client deserves tailored attention to their unique needs. With Karen C. Caton as the first Board Certified Estate Planning attorney in Collin County and Cate Carter continuing the legacy, we combine decades of experience with a commitment to client education and practical problem-solving.Our reputation for quality legal services at reasonable rates has fostered long-standing client relationships and consistent referrals. We specialize in creating comprehensive estate plans including wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, while maintaining A-V ratings through Martindale-Hubbell peer reviews. Our office procedures emphasize efficiency through structured consultations and transparent fee discussions, ensuring clients receive both expertise and accessibility in every engagement.
Services
Estate Planning
Probate Administration
Business Formation
Trusts
Wills
Details
- Year established: 1985
Highlights and features
- Three generations of family legal expertise since 1985
- First Board Certified Estate Planning attorney in Collin County
- Personalized approach to individual estate planning needs
- Transparent fee discussions during initial consultations
- A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell peer reviews
Associations and certifications
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Services
Estate Planning
Our estate planning services create comprehensive strategies for asset distribution, including wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. We educate clients on options like living trusts versus wills while developing customized plans that reflect individual priorities and family dynamics. Our board-certified expertise ensures legally sound documentation that minimizes future complications.
Probate Administration
We guide executors through probate processes with clear explanations of personal representative roles. Our services include estate tax return preparation, asset inventory management, and creditor claim resolution. With decades of experience handling Texas probate procedures, we streamline complex legal requirements while maintaining compliance with court mandates.
Business Formation
Our business formation assistance covers entity selection, registration, and compliance documentation. We help clients evaluate corporation, LLC, and partnership structures while preparing necessary filings. Initial consultations discuss tax implications and liability protection strategies tailored to each business's operational goals and ownership structure.
Trust Administration
We establish and manage various trust arrangements including living trusts, bypass trusts, and family limited partnerships. Our services cover trust funding strategies, tax planning, and trustee responsibilities. We also provide guidance on life insurance trusts and intergenerational wealth transfer mechanisms to preserve family assets.
Wills Preparation
Our will preparation focuses on straightforward estate plans for clients with simple family arrangements. We offer economical packages that include financial powers of attorney and healthcare directives. The process involves document review, personal consultation, and final execution assistance to ensure clear expression of testamentary intentions.
People
Karen C. Caton
Attorney
With over 35 years of experience, Karen C. Caton was the first Board Certified Estate Planning attorney in Collin County. She specializes in complex estate planning and serves as trustee for multiple trusts while maintaining an A-V Martindale-Hubbell rating.
Cate Carter
Attorney
Cate Carter joined the firm in 2012 and became an attorney in 2017 after graduating from SMU Dedman School of Law. She continues the family practice tradition with expertise in estate planning and probate matters for both new and existing clients.
Questions
What estate planning services do you offer?
We provide comprehensive estate planning including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Our services also cover trust administration and business formation.
What is the cost of an initial consultation?
Cate Carter's initial consultation has a minimum fee of $300, which includes one hour of discussion about your estate planning or probate needs.
Do you serve areas outside McKinney?
We primarily serve McKinney, Collin County, and Denton County residents with estate planning, probate, and business formation legal services.
Are your attorneys board certified?
Karen C. Caton is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, the first in Collin County.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept Discover, MasterCard, and VISA for our legal services and consultations.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Call us at 972-562-0777 during office hours (Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) to schedule a consultation with our attorneys.
