In a recent episode of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, host Bryan Eisenberg sits down with veteran Texas attorney Jeff Barnett of Barnett & Leuty to discuss estate planning mistakes that can have costly consequences for families. The episode, titled "Jeff Barnett | Estate Planning Mistakes That Can Cost Your Family," published on August 18, 2026, tackles the often-avoided topic of what happens when a Texan dies without a proper estate plan.
Barnett, who has over 30 years of legal experience, breaks down the misconceptions that can cost families time, money, and peace of mind. The conversation covers the five essential documents every adult should have: a will, medical power of attorney, durable power of attorney, directive to physicians, and agent for disposition of remains. Barnett also explains why every 18-year-old needs medical and durable powers of attorney before leaving for college, and how Texas probate compares to states like California, Massachusetts, and New York.
One of the key topics is the use of Lady Bird deeds and Medicaid asset protection trusts, and when they are appropriate or not. Barnett also discusses how blended families and prior marriages can complicate intestate succession, the legal process that occurs when someone dies without a will.
Barnett is blunt about the biggest mistake he sees: do-it-yourself documents pulled from the internet or generated by AI. "I would never do my own dental work. I'm not a trained dentist," he tells Eisenberg, comparing DIY estate planning to garage-based root canals. "Very, very intelligent people, doctors, engineers, architects, even CPAs, will miss nuances that need to be in a will in Texas. They'll leave out a word, and that word makes a huge difference in what probate looks like."
Barnett highlights that Barnett & Leuty offers free consultations, ensuring clients aren't charged from the outset. The conversation also draws on Eisenberg's work operating a home care agency alongside his wife, and their shared involvement with the Parenting Aging Parents community founded by Austin natives Kim and Mike Barnes. Barnett urges adult children to start uncomfortable conversations early: Do your parents have a will? Who drafted it? When was it last updated? Where is it stored? He warns that an early dementia diagnosis does not automatically disqualify someone from executing documents, but waiting is the single worst move.
The pair also touch on Round Rock's growth, the new art center, Music on Main, and the region's role as one of the country's largest senior communities alongside Georgetown's Sun City. The episode is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
