Steve Ortega identifies himself as a fifth-generation El Pasoan, a distinction that carries specific meaning in a border city where families have lived across what is now the U.S.-Mexico line for generations longer than either modern nation has existed. That deep local rootedness informs the approach of his probate and estate planning practice on the banks of the Rio Grande.
Overview
The Law Office of Steve Ortega, PLLC is an estate planning and probate law firm based in El Paso, Texas. Attorney Steve Ortega focuses his practice on wills, trusts, probate, guardianship, and powers of attorney, serving El Paso individuals and families with the legal documents and guidance needed to manage and transfer assets.
Steve Ortega attended Cathedral High School in El Paso before earning bachelor’s degrees in Government and Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin, and subsequently a law degree from The George Washington University Law Center in Washington, D.C. He returned to El Paso after law school and served two terms on the El Paso City Council from 2005 to 2013, contributing to civic projects including the restoration of San Jacinto Plaza, a $500 million quality of life bond, and various neighborhood infrastructure initiatives. He is fluent in Spanish.
Beyond his law practice, Ortega has consulted on local, state, and federal public policy and serves on boards including the El Paso Downtown Management District, the El Paso Chamber’s Mobility Coalition, and the El Paso History Museum Foundation.
The firm’s address is 521 Texas Ave., El Paso, TX 79901. The phone is (915) 304-5050. The email is office@steveortegalaw.com. The website is www.steveortegalaw.com
Practice Areas
Estate Planning
Estate planning at the Law Office of Steve Ortega covers the documents and strategies that allow El Paso residents to direct how their assets are managed and transferred. The firm handles advance directives that guide medical decision-making, gifting strategies that can reduce estate tax exposure, transfer on death deeds, Ladybird deeds (enhanced life estate deeds under Texas law), and probate avoidance strategies that allow assets to pass outside the court system.
Texas has specific estate planning tools not available in all states, including the Ladybird deed, which allows a property owner to retain control of real estate during their lifetime while transferring it automatically to a named beneficiary at death without triggering probate. The firm incorporates these Texas-specific mechanisms into its planning work.
Wills
A last will and testament directs the distribution of a person’s assets at death, names an executor to administer the estate, and can designate guardians for minor children. In Texas, dying without a will means assets pass according to the state’s intestacy statutes, which distribute property to heirs in a fixed statutory order that may not reflect the deceased person’s wishes. The firm prepares both simple wills and wills with testamentary trusts for clients whose circumstances require more complex distribution planning.
Trusts
Trusts are legal arrangements that hold and manage assets according to specified terms. A revocable living trust allows assets to pass to beneficiaries outside the probate process, avoiding the time, expense, and public nature of court-supervised estate administration. The firm establishes trust arrangements appropriate to each client’s assets and family circumstances.
Probate
When a person dies, assets held in their name alone typically require probate before they can be transferred to beneficiaries. The firm guides families and executors through the Texas probate process in El Paso’s county courts, including the filing of required documents, the handling of creditor claims, and the final distribution of estate assets. The firm handles probate for both testate estates (with a will) and intestate estates (without a will).
Guardianship
Guardianship is a court-supervised legal arrangement that grants a named person authority over another person who lacks the legal capacity to manage their own affairs. The firm assists families in obtaining guardianships and also handles contested guardianship matters, where the appropriateness of a guardianship or the identity of the proposed guardian is disputed. Guardianships can also be contested at the original hearing or at subsequent stages, and the firm provides representation in those proceedings.
Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney authorizes a trusted person to manage financial and legal decisions if the principal becomes unable to do so. The firm prepares both financial and medical powers of attorney as part of comprehensive estate planning.
Attorney Profile
Steve Ortega is the founder and sole attorney at The Law Office of Steve Ortega, PLLC. He is a fifth-generation El Pasoan who attended Cathedral High School and earned undergraduate degrees in Government and Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin, followed by a law degree from The George Washington University Law Center. He served on the El Paso City Council from 2005 to 2013. He is fluent in Spanish and focuses his practice on estate planning, probate, guardianship, and powers of attorney in El Paso and the surrounding area.
Clients who have worked with Ortega consistently describe responsive communication, fair pricing, and knowledgeable guidance through the probate process, with several noting that his rates were significantly more reasonable than other El Paso probate attorneys they consulted.
Location and Service Area
Address: 521 Texas Ave., El Paso, TX 79901
Phone: (915) 304-5050
Email: office@steveortegalaw.com
Website: www.steveortegalaw.com
The office is in downtown El Paso, in the 79901 zip code, serving El Paso County and the surrounding region of west Texas. The firm also handles probate and estate matters for out-of-town clients with Texas estates to administer.
Client Focus
The Law Office of Steve Ortega serves El Paso area individuals and families who need estate planning documents, families navigating probate after the death of a family member, and those seeking guardianship arrangements for incapacitated loved ones. The firm also assists out-of-town attorneys who need local El Paso counsel for probate matters.
The firm’s accessibility, fair pricing, and attorney’s deep roots in El Paso make it a resource for clients across the economic spectrum of the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Ladybird deed and when is it useful?
A Ladybird deed, also called an enhanced life estate deed, is a Texas real estate instrument that allows a property owner to retain full control of the property during their lifetime, including the right to sell or mortgage it, while naming a beneficiary who automatically receives the property at death without going through probate. It is a useful tool for clients who want to simplify the transfer of real estate to a specific heir.
How long does probate take in Texas?
Texas probate timelines vary depending on the complexity of the estate and whether the will is contested. Independent administration, available in many Texas estates, can proceed more efficiently than dependent administration. The firm guides executors through the process to manage it as efficiently as the circumstances allow.
Can I contest a guardianship in Texas?
Yes. Guardianship can be contested at the original hearing or at subsequent stages. The Law Office of Steve Ortega handles contested guardianship matters, including disputes about whether a guardianship is necessary or who should serve as guardian.
Does the firm handle out-of-state clients with Texas estates?
Yes. The firm can assist out-of-town clients and out-of-state attorneys who need El Paso-based representation for Texas probate and estate administration matters.
How can I contact the firm?
The firm can be reached at (915) 304-5050 or by email at office@steveortegalaw.com. The website is www.steveortegalaw.com
Closing
El Paso’s families face the same estate planning and probate needs as families anywhere in Texas, with the added dimension of a border community where cross-border family ties and real estate holdings sometimes create additional complexity. The Law Office of Steve Ortega, PLLC serves that community from a downtown El Paso location, with a fifth-generation El Pasoan attorney whose knowledge of the area and its courts informs his work. Contact the firm at (915) 304-5050 or visit www.steveortegalaw.com