Lawyers of DistinctionRecognizing Excellence In The Practice of Law

Home / Browse by state / Texas / Estate Planning Law

Texas Estate Planning Lawyers

8 distinguished estate planning law attorneys in Texas, each reviewed by the Lawyers of Distinction Selection Committee.

Texas estate planning law directory

Allison Phillips

Allison Phillips

Distinguished Lawyer

Estate Planning Law

203 Simonton St, Conroe, TX 77301, USA

Allison graduated from SHSU in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in both Forensic Chemistry and Criminal Justice. She began her first career as an analyst with Harris County ME’s Office in the Controlled Substances lab. She then transitioned into medical research at the VA Hospital. There she worked hand in hand with one of the leading infectious diseases doctors in Houston and was honored to have her work published in peer reviewed journals in the field. In 2011, Allison traded in her lab coat to begin her legal career. She studied at the prestigious University of Houston Law Center, graduating in 2014. Allison honed her trial skills as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, specializing in juvenile matters. She opened her private practice in 2017, and began helping people navigate the complexities of the adult and juvenile matters. In 2020, while the world reeled from the COVID pandemic, Allison added estate planning to her practice areas.

read more
Daniel Cherkassky

Estate Planning Law

3212 Westminster Avenue, Dallas, TX 72505

Dan is a founding member and partner of Dean Powell, PLLC. Dan graduated Austin College (Sherman, Texas) in 2001. In 2004, Dan graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law. After positions with the United States Small Business Administration and a Dallas-based Law Firm, Dan began working in the Oil and Gas Industry. He worked for several years in land services, before co-founding a nationwide Oil and Gas Law Firm. Then, he joined Katey Powell Stimek and Eric Dean to form Dean Powell, PLLC. Dan prides himself on creating and maintaining relationships with Dean Powell clients. When you work with Dan, you are working with family.

read more
Don D. Ford, III

Don D. Ford, III

Distinguished Lawyer

Estate Planning Law

700 Louisiana St 41st floor, Houston, TX 77002, USA

In 2010, Mr. Ford achieved the highest distinction available to an attorney practicing in the area of estate planning and probate in Texas. He has become Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, which is a coveted recognition bestowed on few attorneys who have demonstrated special competence in this area of law and who have received recommendations from fellow attorneys and judges with whom they have worked. In 2009, Mr. Ford completed the required course-work to become certified to serve as a mediator. In pursuit of this distinction, Mr. Ford attended the world-renowned Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California. He attended this intensive course with the goal of being able to conduct mediations in probate and guardianship cases, as few mediators in Texas specialize in these areas. In 2006, Mr. Ford was appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas to serve on the Guardianship Certification Board, which is a 15-member board that creates policy and oversees the regulation of private professional guardians in the State of Texas. At the inaugural meeting of the GCB, Mr. Ford was elected as the Chair of the Rules Committee, where he has served with distinction since that time. Mr. Ford’s recent distinctions are reflective of a dedication to the areas of estate planning, probate, and guardianship that began early in his education. In law school, Mr. Ford was fortunate to be able to concentrate his education in estate planning and business planning, not unlike a major in undergraduate school. His concentration in estate planning and business planning involved a curriculum designed around an in-depth study of those areas. Additionally, he was able to regularly work one-on-one with professors in those fields so that before he even graduated from law school he had experience in tax planning and will drafting. Mr. Ford graduated from Baylor University with degrees in Accounting and Law. He has also completed several post-graduate courses at Baylor in pursuit of a Masters in Taxation. Following law school, he began his career as a Tax Attorney for a large international accounting and consulting firm, where he assisted clients primarily in the areas of estate and gift tax and personal income tax. The combination of his tax-related degrees and his experience working as a tax attorney have given Mr. Ford a strong background in the areas of estate planning and probate, and he has focused his attention and expertise in these areas ever since. Mr. Ford devotes his knowledge and experience to maintaining the reputation of Ford+Bergner as a leading estate planning and probate firm in Texas.

read more
Julia Dean

Estate Planning Law

6528 Greatwood Parkway., Sugar Land, TX 77479

Ms. Dean's professional experience encompasses a broad range of legal matters. Her primary emphases are civil appeals, estate planning and probate. Her estate planning practice involves helping clients orchestrate their estates by drafting a vast array of trusts, wills and powers of attorney. Ms. Dean also provides compassionate legal advice while assisting families through the probate process. Ms. Dean's legal expertise in civil appeals includes both advising at the trial court level and handling all aspects of the appeal. She has handled appeals dealing with complex insurance matters, business matters, personal injury and family law appeals. She has successfully argued in federal and state courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, on behalf of a major insurance company, corporations, and individuals. She works with trial attorneys and clients to preserve error on the trial court level, preparing legal motions, handling mandamus actions, preparing and arguing the jury charge and handling all post-judgment motions. At the appellate level, Ms. Dean leads the appeal of a judgment, including preparing briefs, petitions for review and briefs on the merits to the Texas Supreme Court, and presenting oral argument before diverse panels of judges. Throughout her career, Ms. Dean has handled other civil matters as well, such as complex commercial litigation, corporate buy-outs, employment and business contracts, consumer issues, family law litigation, adoptions, real estate transactions and personal injury litigation. She successfully negotiated and closed a multi-million dollar buy-out of a snowboard clothing company to a major sporting goods conglomerate. Prior to specializing in appellate law, Ms. Dean engaged in a successful trial practice and as a result, understands the needs of trial attorneys and what it takes to make them successful at the trial level and on appeal.

read more
Karen D. Walker

Karen D. Walker

Distinguished Lawyer

Estate Planning Law

3701 Kirby Dr suite 1000, Houston, TX 77098, USA

Houston attorney Karen Walker practices in the areas of estate planning and probate. Her practice includes preparation of wills, trusts, marital property agreements, family limited partnerships, limited liability corporations, and other estate planning and asset protection matters. In addition, she assists clients in the areas of estate administration, trust administration, and probate.

read more
Kevin R. Chaney

Kevin R. Chaney

Distinguished Lawyer

Estate Planning Law

14350 Northbrook Dr suite 130, San Antonio, TX 78232, USA

I’m Kevin Chaney. As an attorney and mediator, I bring more than 25 years of legal and business experience to every client matter and mediation. ​ Practice Areas Estate Planning (Wills and Trusts) Business Law & Formations (LLCs, Corporations, Non-Profits) Real Estate Transactions Mediation Services Fiduciary Services • Trustee Services for Irrevocable Trusts ​ Licensed in Texas and Nebraska, I'm dedicated to helping families protect their assets, their legacies, and their peace of mind. My practice is built on clear communication, a personalized approach, and practical guidance grounded in real-world experience. ​ Experience Highlights 25+ years in business law and startups 20+ years in manufacturing, construction, and international business 20+ years of investment experience Front Plaid small_edited.png In addition to my legal practice, I’ve owned and managed companies in the United States, Hong Kong, and mainland China. I’ve launched, grown, and successfully exited businesses, and I bring practical, hands-on experience in business operations and startups to the clients I serve. I’m a Marine Corps veteran, active in my church and community, a volunteer mediator at the Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center.

read more

Wesley Goenawein

Distinguished Lawyer

Estate Planning Law

7300 State Highway 121, Suite 510, McKinney, TX 75070

Wesley A. Goenawein, Jr., is an estate planning and probate attorney in McKinney, Texas. Sullivan Evans Goenawein, PC, includes him on its lawyer roster under the name Wesley “Wes” A. Goenawein, Jr. His legal education took him to South Texas College of Law in Houston, where he earned a Juris Doctor. The State Bar of Texas records his graduation in May 1985 and his Texas license date as November 8 of that year. He also attended Austin College in Sherman and Seattle Pacific University in Seattle. The bar currently identifies him as eligible to practice in Texas; his firm biography lists admission to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas as well. Goenawein’s work encompasses wills and complex trusts, family limited partnerships, and tax matters. Business formation and real estate are also listed in his individual practice profile, with deeds, contracts, acquisitions and sales specified under real estate. He has written published articles on estate planning and tax issues. The firm’s account of his activities beyond his practice includes two roles at a volunteer fire department: firefighter and treasurer. It also describes church board service and work as personal counsel to his pastor. Golf and fishing are his stated leisure interests.

read more
Chloe Satterfield

Estate Planning Law

400 W Oak St, Denton, TX 76201, USA

Email: Chloe Satterfield Born in Lockney, Texas and raised in Denton, Texas, Chloe R. Satterfield is an attorney with the firm. She is licensed to practice law in Texas. Chloe received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014 and her J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston in 2017. Chloe’s practice focuses on estate and trust administration and litigation as well as guardianship proceedings. Her practice also involves estate and trust planning. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and a member of the bar’s Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law section. Locally, Chloe is a member of the Denton County Bar Association and its Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law section.

read more
Inactive memberView Profile

Choosing a estate planning lawyer in Texas

Every Lawyers of Distinction estate planning law member in Texas is licensed to practice law and has passed a review of achievements, peer recognition and ethics. Compare profiles and reviews, look for experience with matters like yours, then contact an attorney directly from their profile.

All Texas lawyers

Other practice areas in Texas