
Rachelle N. Maldonado
Associate Direct: 713.844.3096
Fax: 713.844.3030
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"Having experienced a family will and trust disputes firsthand, I understand the importance of clear, thoughtful estate planning. I create customized estate plans and guide clients through probate and trust administration with precision and care. My goal is to protect your legacy, minimize tax implications, and provide peace of mind for your family for generations to come."
Rachelle Maldonado is an attorney focused on estate planning, trust and probate administration, and guardianships. With a commitment to securing financial legacies for future generations, she creates comprehensive estate plans including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives. She also guides clients through trust administration and probate proceedings, ensuring smooth asset transitions while minimizing tax implications.
As a compassionate advisor, Rachelle extends her personal care to all her clients, whether guiding a cost-conscious family with young children through their first estate plan or assisting a multi-generational family and their business in transitioning to the next generation. She prioritizes making the process not only legally sound but also deeply meaningful and personalized for her clients.
Drawing from the personal experience of being in the crosshairs of a will and trust dispute within her own family, Rachelle brings a unique perspective to her practice. This experience deepened her understanding of family dynamics and showed her the true value of comprehensive estate planning. She creates customized plans that protect assets, minimize tax implications, and reduce future family conflict. Her approach focuses on anticipating issues and promoting harmony while ensuring clients' legacies are preserved for generations to come.
Rachelle recognizes that conflicts can arise even with good estate planning and emphasizes the importance of enhancing relationships within the family and proactively taking measures to minimize conflicts before they arise. Clients benefit from her hands-on experience and cross-disciplinary background in law and business, which includes tax mitigation, strategy, and compliance.
Rachelle's background in tax mitigation, compliance, and strategy enriches her estate planning practice. Having worked with businesses across oil and gas, manufacturing, construction, and aerospace sectors, she specialized in identifying and calculating significant tax credits and deductions for businesses. This work involved quantifying tax positions and substantiating claims through comprehensive analysis of intricate business and financial documentation.
This experience shows her understanding of how business assets, income streams, and tax implications affect family wealth - crucial knowledge for estate planning. Her background analyzing complex financial records and business operations helps her craft strategic plans that optimize tax benefits while protecting assets. This expertise particularly benefits clients with business interests or complex financial portfolios who need sophisticated estate planning solutions.
- LSU Law Center, J.D., 2019
- Centenary College of Louisiana, B.A., magna cum laude, 2016
- Texas
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Member, Houston Young Lawyers Association
- Member, Houston Estate Planning and Financial Forum
- Member, Probate Inns of Court
- "Overcoming Challenges in Estate Planning for Blended Families," Texas Law Blog, December 5, 2023
- Co-Chair, Annual Gala, Fresh Arts
- Member, Christian Community Service Center (Board of Directors, Back to School Program; Co-chair, Azalea Gala Committee)
- Member, UPWARD Women