Westlake Hills, TX Wrongful Death Lawyer

Recognized & Trusted

A wrongful death recovery is meant for the family — but Texas law has particular rules about how it is divided, and those rules matter most when children are among the survivors. SMB Law, PC guides Westlake Hills families through it with care. A Westlake Hills wrongful death lawyer knows Texas has specific rules for dividing a recovery among survivors, especially when children are involved. Shane has been licensed since 2003 and personally guides Central Texas families through that division with care.

Families in the Westlake Hills area along Loop 360 and Bee Cave Road who lose a parent or spouse in a fatal crash often face not only grief but questions about how any recovery will be shared and protected.

Where a Westlake Hills wrongful death claim is handled

Westlake Hills is in Travis County, so a wrongful death suit is filed with the Travis County District Clerk at the Civil and Family Courthouse on Guadalupe Street in Austin, close to our office. Many claims resolve with the insurer first.

How a wrongful death recovery is divided among the family

When more than one family member is entitled to recover, a wrongful death settlement is not simply split evenly. Texas law directs that the recovery be apportioned among the statutory beneficiaries — the surviving spouse, children, and parents — in proportion to the loss each of them actually suffered, which the parties agree on or a court decides. Where minor children are beneficiaries, an extra layer applies: a court generally must approve the settlement and the share allocated to each child, and a child’s money is often protected in a court-registry account or structured settlement until adulthood. These protections exist to keep a child’s recovery safe, but they add steps that a grieving family should not have to navigate alone. We handle the apportionment and the court-approval process for Westlake Hills families so each person’s share is fair and a child’s recovery is properly safeguarded.

Protecting each family member’s share

Dividing a wrongful death recovery fairly is its own task, separate from proving the claim, and it is where families can quietly be treated unequally if no one is looking out for them. We work with Westlake Hills families to document each person’s relationship to and dependence on the one they lost, so the apportionment reflects real loss rather than a rushed formula. When minor children are involved, we prepare the settlement for court approval and help set up the protected account or structured settlement that keeps a child’s share secure and available when it is needed — for education or support — rather than spent early. Handled properly, the division of a recovery honors the family’s loss instead of becoming another source of stress.

Compassionate, experienced counsel when it matters most

A wrongful death case is never really about money — it is about accountability and about protecting a family’s future. You work directly with attorney Shane M. Boasberg, who has represented Texans for more than two decades and has been licensed by the State of Texas since 2003. He handles these cases with the care they deserve, keeps families informed at every step, and takes on the insurance company so you can focus on grieving and healing. You get a lawyer who treats your loss with respect — not a case manager reading from a script.

Working with us from Westlake Hills

Our office is in downtown Austin, an easy reach from Westlake Hills. We handle most consultations and case updates by phone and video, and there is no fee unless we recover for you. If travel is difficult, we can also come to you.

Why families choose SMB Law, PC

• Direct attorney access — you talk to Shane, licensed since 2003, not a call center.
• No fee unless we recover — wrongful death cases are handled on a contingency basis.
• Honest, patient guidance and transparent terms explained before you commit.

What working with us looks like

1. Free, private consultation to understand your family’s situation and the law that applies.
2. Investigation — we preserve evidence, obtain the reports, and identify every responsible party and insurer.
3. Negotiation or court — we settle when the offer is fair and litigate when it is not.
4. Resolution handled with care so your family can move forward.