Dallas Bar Association

Probate, Trusts & Estates Section

Concentrates activities in three areas: 1) providing continuing legal education for members; 2) promoting good working relationships among the probate bar and three Dallas County statutory probate courts; and 3) serving the needs of the public in the area of wills, guardianships, probate matters, and probate court dispute resolution on a pro bono basis.

Meeting Schedule:

This Section meets at noon on the 4th Tuesday of every month. No meeting is scheduled in December.

The program schedule for our 2011-2012 section meetings is a follows:

Section News:

PROBATE SECTION - TRUSTS & ESTATES MAGAZINE DISCOUNT

DBA Members receive 28% off the regular $275 rate for an annual subscription to Trusts & Estates Magazine. Subscribe for just $199 by using this link Subscription includes hard copies of the monthly periodical, two annual supplements of the Texas Year in Review and Charitable Giving , a yearly Wealth Management Resource Guide, at least three e-newsletters, unlimited access to the website’s premium content, Wealth Watch (posted bimonthly) and Technology Review (posted monthly). To find out more, click here.

NEW - DALLAS COUNTY PROBATE COURTS INFORMATION

Please see the Probate Section downloads for two new items from the Probate Courts. The first contains new fees and copy procedures. The second contains information concerning required changes to muniment of title pleadings.

PROBATE SECTION PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES
Judith Tobey is revitalizing the Pro Bono Committee of our Section. If you would like further information, are interested in serving on this Committee, or if you have pro bono projects that you would like the Committee to consider, please contact Judith Tobey at Judith.Tobey@klgates.com. The following pro bono opportunities are available in conjunction with DVAP.

DALLAS VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM

WILLS INTAKE CLINIC

The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP) is requesting DBA Probate, Trust & Estate Section members to volunteer to conduct intake interviews once a month at a Wills Intake Clinic site operated by DVAP and the Dallas Area Agency on Aging. Clinics are usually scheduled the second Wednesday of the month (10 a.m. to 12 noon.). Other Wills Intake Clinics with other groups and organizations are also scheduled throughout the year.***By emailing Jigna Vyas Gosal at gosalj@lanwt.org with your Name, Address, and Telephone Number, you will be notified by DVAP each time a Wills Intake Clinic is scheduled. Please note that we handle only intake applications at the Wills Intake Clinics; we do not draft the Wills. Your commitment of 1-2 hours sharing your skills and expertise in probate law, or serving as an intake clinic lawyer in general will be greatly appreciated and remembered. Please sign up to help!

PROBATE SECTION MENTORS

The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP) is requesting experienced mentors in Probate, Trusts, & Estate Planning matters to participate in the staffing of probate cases. Every other Monday afternoon usually at around 1:30 p.m., DVAP reviews several probate cases for referral to and placement with a pro bono lawyer. Probate Mentors will hear only probate law cases during the staffing, and may be asked to read a Will or other relevant documents. You will be contacted regarding a date based on the information you provide. ***Please email Jigna Vyas Gosal at gosalj@lanwt.org with your Name, Telephone Number, and available Mondays (no holidays) by indicating the Month and Day. Your commitment of 1-2 hours sharing your expertise in probate law will be greatly appreciated and remembered. Please sign up to help!

Section Officers:

Name: Norm Lofgren
Officer Position: Chair
Firm: Looper Reed & McGraw, P.C.
Firm Address: 1601 Elm Street, Suite 4600
Firm City, State, Zip: Dallas, TX 75201
Business Phone: 214-954-4135
Email:  nlofgren@lrmlaw.com

Name: Fred Hartnett
Officer Position: Vice Chair
Firm: The Hartnett Firm
Firm Address: 2920 N. Pearl Street
Firm City, State, Zip: Dallas, TX 75201
Business Phone: 214-742-4655
Email:  fred@hatrnettlawfirm.com

Name: Larry A. Flournoy, Jr.
Officer Position: Secretary/Treasurer
Firm: Jordan, Houser & Flournoy, LLP
Firm Address: 10000 N. Central Expressway, Suite 800
Firm City, State, Zip: Dallas, TX 75231
Business Phone: 214-369-0361
Email:  lflournoy@jhflegal.com

Name: Dani D. Smith
Officer Position: Program Chair
Firm: Strasburger & Price, LLP
Firm Address: 2801 Network Blvd., Suite 600
Firm City, State, Zip: Frisco, TX 75034
Business Phone: 469-287-3918
Email:  dani.smith@strasburger.com

Name: Sally Crawford
Officer Position: Board Advisor
Firm: Jones Day
Firm Address: 2727 N. Harwood Street
Firm City, State, Zip: Dallas, TX 75201
Business Phone: 214-220-3939
Email: scrawford@jonesday.com

Resource Links

Section Membership

Section Admin-Webpage

Section Downloads: