Walter Wm. Hofheinz

Education Employment Honors and Awards Publications Professional Activities Professional Organizations Community and Social Activities Special Skills and Interests Personal Information

 

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Education

University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 1976-1979, J.D.

McMurry College, Abilene, Texas, 1972-1976, B.A.

Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida, 1971-1972

O. H. Cooper High School, Abilene, Texas, 1968-1971

 

Employment

Walter Wm. Hofheinz, Attorney • Counselor • Mediator, 1982-present. Dallas and Abilene (1982-1990), Texas.

Board Certified - Estate Planning and Probate, Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Probate and trust litigation. Wealth protection and disposition: asset protection planning, estate planning (including multi-generation transfer tax and dispositive planning), business planning (including ownership and operating entities, operating maintenance, acquisitions and sales of closely held businesses), estate administration. Fully qualified for court appointment for mediation in civil and family cases. Expert witness regarding fiduciary issues and estate administration.
Copyright and trademarks. Training in mediation advocacy. Development and implementation of web-based online legal representation system providing online services. Admitted to practice before Texas Supreme Court and all Texas courts, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Fifth and Fourth Circuits, U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Western Districts of Texas.

Prior practice: civil trial and commercial collection representation of individual and institutional clients including Southwestern Bell Telephone, Hendrick Medical Center, The Abilene Reporter-News, and McMurry College; Counsel to McMurry College, Goodwill Industries of Abilene, Inc (including development of personnel policies and procedures). Development and implementation of highly systematized, efficient production systems; supervision of staff of six.

Numerous publications and presentations on estate planning, estate administration, and the effective use of computers and systems in law office management for professional and lay groups including presentations sponsored by the State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, South Texas College of Law, the University of Houston Law School, Baylor University Law School, Texas Woman's University, the Internal Revenue Service, and Apple Computer.

Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, Irving, Texas, 1991-1997.

Associate Professor of Law (1992, Adjunct and Visiting Associate Professor 1991-1992), teaching courses in Property, Estate Planning (including Wills, Trusts, Estate Administration, Transfer Taxation), Seminar on Law and Computers (substantive intellectual property and transactional issues in an electronic environment, including copyright, patent, trade secrets, contract, evidence and liability problems), and Texas Pre-Trial Civil Procedure. Chair/Facilitator, 1993-94 Texas Wesleyan University School of Law Self Study (primary managment and editorial responsibility for six month project involving entire faculty and staff in writing and production of comprehensive analysis of law school program required for and leading to accreditation). See detailed course listing for particular courses and terms. Assisting trainer for Mediation Clinic; co-sponsor of National Advocacy in Mediation Competition team.

Galactic Salvage, Inc., Dallas, Texas, 1985-1996.

Consultant (1993-1996, Founder and CEO, 1985-1993). Development and marketing of legal practice management and support software for the Apple Macintosh; consulting. Design and implementation of management information an decision support systems for law offices, including time and billing analysis, time utilization and productivity analysis, and docket control. Data structure analysis, design, and programming.

McMurry College, Abilene, Texas, 1983-1988.

Adjunct Professor: Paralegal Studies program, courses in Legal Research and Estates and Trusts.

Robert Jorrie, A P.C., San Antonio, Texas, 1980-1982.

Attorney: Estate planning, business planning, civil litigation.

Fillmore and Camp, P.C., Fort Worth, Texas, 1979-1980.

Attorney: Insurance defense civil litigation.

University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 1978-1979.

Research Assistant to Professor Stanley M. Johanson: Legal research and writing in the area of estate planning.

Minton, Burton, and Fitzgerald, Inc., Austin, Texas, 1977-1978.

Law Clerk: General civil legal research.

Media Development Corporation, Abilene, Texas, 1970-1976.

Production Manager and Photographer.

 

Honors and Awards

Lawyer of the Year, General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section, State Bar of Texas 2006

AV Preeminent rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Board Certified - Estate Planning and Probate, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1984, renewed 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009.

American Jurisprudence Award: Briefwriting and Oral Advocacy, Spring, 1977

National Merit Scholar, 1971

 

Publications

In preparation:

Effective Drafting to Alter a Trustee's Duties and Standard of Care (working title), law review article

Fiduciary duty of the Personal Representative? (working title), law review article

Privity and Legal Malpractice for Estate Planning (working title), law review article

Direct Modeling of Legal Analysis in the First Year Law Curriculum (working title), article and book

Publications:

"Now You See It, Now You Don't, Then You Do... Federal Transfer Tax And Related Income Tax Changes In 2010 And Beyond," GPSolo Section of the State Bar of Texas Website, March, 2010

Interview regarding online services, Dallas Business Journal, Dallas, Texas December 21, 2007

"Holiday Wills", HearSay newsletter of the Reading & Radio Resource, Dallas, Texas Fall, 2007

"Sibling Agreements", Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas, March 8, 2007

Quotation of excerpts from "Legal Analysis": Writing Law Dissertations, An Introduction and Guide to the Conduct of Legal Research, Michael Salter and Julie Mason, Pearson Education Limited, Harlow, Essex, England, 2007 (ISBN: 978-0-582-89435-8)

Published acknowledgment for research: Stanley M. Johanson, "The Use of Tax Saving Clauses in Drafting Wills and Trusts," University of Miami Law Center Institute on Estate Planning, 1981, paragraph 2100 et seq.

State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program Publications:

"Macintosh Advantages," The 5th Annual Practical Computer and Practice Seminar, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, June, 1994.

"Overview of Estate Planning," 1993 Wills ,Probate , and Alternatives, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, September, 1993.

"Macintosh Advantages," The 4th Annual Practical Computer Seminar, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, June, 1993.

"Effective Document Preparation," Estate Planning for the General Practitioner, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, March, 1993.

"Overview of Estate Planning," Wills, Probate, and Alternatives, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, September, 1992

"Macintosh Uses," The 3d Annual Practical Computer Seminar, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, June, 1992

"Planning and Crafting to Avoid Valuation Problems—How to Avoid the War," How to Determine and Prove the value of a Business, October, 1991

"Time, Billing, and Practice Management," 2nd Annual Practical Computer Seminar, June, 1991

"Production Systems for Document Assembly," Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning and Probate, November, 1990

"Wealth Transmission Among Generations: Practical Implications of the Generation Skipping Transfer Tax," 14th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, June, 1990

"Practical Applications of Systems for Estate Planning and Probate Practice," 14th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, June, 1990 (with Nan Lilianne Hofheinz)

"Using Computers for Substantive Systems and Practice Management," Law and Tactics for the Solo Practitioner and Small Firm, March and April, 1990 (with Nan Lilianne Hofheinz)

"Effective Use of the Apple Macintosh in the Law Office," Family Law: The Team Approach for Legal Assistants and the Lawyer, March, 1990 (with Nan Lilianne Hofheinz)

"Tools of the Trade," Planning and Building Your Law Practice, May, 1989 (with Nan Lilianne Hofheinz)

"Effective Time and Billing (and Practice Management) in the Apple Macintosh Environment," Computer Basics for the Small Law Office, November, 1988 (with Nan Lilianne Hofheinz)

"Handling a Typical Estate Administration," Administering the Estate: A Practical Guide to Probate, Its Alternatives and Guardianship, September, 1988 (with Nan Lilianne Hofheinz)

"Estate Planning: A Synopsis," The Estate: Planning and Administration for Lawyers and Legal Assistants, May, 1988

"The Practical Side: Forms, Systems, Equipment, and Staff," Practical Will Drafting and Representing the Estate and the Beneficiaries in Hard Times, April, 1987 (with Nan Lilianne Hofheinz)

"Wills, Trusts, and Probate," Drafting to Avoid Disaster: The Art of Preparation, Precision and Persuasion in Legal Writing, December, 1986 (with Nan Lilianne Hofheinz)

"Basic Estate Planning," The Estate: Planning and Administration for Legal Assistants and Attorneys, September, 1985

"Estate Planning—A Conceptual Approach," Estate Planning, Law Seminars Inc., Dallas and Houston, Texas, October, 1993.

"Word Processing Systems," Successful Practice Management of the Small Law Firm, University of Houston Law Foundation, Houston, Texas, July, 1993. (with Nan Hofheinz)

"Law Practice Management," General Practice Institute: Summer, University of Houston Law Center, June, 1992

"Avoiding Probate & Solving General Estate Planning Goals Through Asset Planning," South Texas College of Law Wills and Probate Institute, October, 1991

"Avoiding Dependent Administration," University of Houston Law Center Continuing Education, Houston, Texas, August, 1991

"Alternatives to Probate—Avoiding Dependent Administration," University of Houston Law Center Continuing Education, Houston, Texas, June, 1991

"Using Computers for Probate Systems and Practice Management," Probate and Estate Planning Seminar, Estate Planning and Probate Section of the Travis County Bar Association, Austin, Texas, November, 1989

"Practical Will Drafting," South Texas College of Law Wills and Probate Institute, September, 1988 (with Nan Lilianne Hofheinz)

"Ethical Considerations: Your Obligations to the Client Before You Start Drafting the Will," South Texas College of Law Wills and Probate Institute, September, 1987

"Ethical Considerations: Your Obligations to the Client Before You Start Drafting the Will," South Texas College of Law Wills and Probate Institute, October, 1986

"A Will Is Not Enough," The Courier, Volume 1, Number 4, March, 1986

"Wills and Probate," Texas Law for Clergy and Laity, Texas Young Lawyers Association, March, 1986

"Estate Planning for the Neglected Middle Class," Texas Leaders Round Table Report, 83-3. (Austin, Texas, August, 1983)

"Estate Planning for Those Without Testamentary Capacity," Texas Bar Journal, Volume 46, Number 5. (Austin, Texas, May, 1983) (with Robert Jorrie)

"How to Select a Tax Attorney," Bexar County Medical Society Journal. (San Antonio, Texas, 1981) (with Robert Jorrie)

Professional Activities

Invited Speaker: "Wills, Probate, and Trust Drafting in Light of the Estates Code," 37th General Practice Institute, Baylor University Law School, sponsored by the State Bar of Texas General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section and the Waco-McLenna County Bar Association, April, 2014.

Invited Speaker: "Planning Lessons From Litigation," Collin County Probate Bar Association, April, 2014.

Invited Speaker: "Planning Lessons From Litigation," 34th General Practice Institute, Baylor University Law School, April, 2011.

Judge, Regional American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution Representation in Mediation Competition, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas, March, 2008.

Invited Speaker: "Basic Estate Planning," Grace United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas, March, 2006.

Judge, Regional American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution Representation in Mediation Competition, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas, March, 2006.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: "Marital Property, Tax, and Financial Issues," Advanced Family Mediation Course, Texas Woman's University, March, 2002.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: "Marital Property, Tax, and Financial Issues," Advanced Family Mediation Course, Texas Woman's University, January, 2001.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: "Marital Property, Tax, and Financial Issues," Family Mediation Course, Texas Woman's University, March, 2000.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: "Marital Property and Financial Issues," Family Mediation Course, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, January, 2000.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: "The Meditor's Use of Risk in Mediation," 40 Hour Civil Mediation Course, Texas Woman's University Continuing Education Program, January, 1999.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: "Tax and Marital Property Issues," 40 Hour Divorce Mediation Course, Texas Woman's University Continuing Education Program, December, 1998.

Invited Speaker: "Ethical Mediation Advocacy," Dallas Bar Association Employee Benefit and Executive Compensation Section, Dallas, Texas, September, 1998.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: "Community Property Issues," Advanced Family Mediation Course, Texas Woman's University Continuing Education Program, June, 1998.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: "Tax and Marital Property Issues," 40-Hour Divorce Mediation Course, Texas Woman's University Continuing Education Program, June, 1998.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: "Property Issues," 40-Hour Civil Mediation Course, Texas Woman's University Continuing Education Program, April, 1998.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: "Tax and Marital Property Issues," 40-Hour Divorce Mediation Course, Texas Woman's University Continuing Education Program, February, 1998.

Invited Speaker: "Considerations for Practitioners in Solo and Small Practice:Planning your Own Estate," Dallas Bar Association Solo and Small Practice Section, Dallas, Texas, December, 1997.

Invited Speaker: "Effective Mediation Advocacy in Probate and Trust Cases," Dallas Bar Association Probate, Trusts and Estates Section, Dallas, Texas, October, 1997.

Invited Speaker: "Pro Se Litigants, Mediation, and the Unauthorized Practice of Law," Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution (SPIDR) Dallas Chapter, Dallas, Texas, September, 1997.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: "Financial and Tax Issues," Advanced Family Mediation Course, Texas Women’s University Continuing Education Program, August, 1997. (upcoming)

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: Texas Wesleyan University School of Law Mediation Workshop, June, 1997.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: "Financial and Tax Issues," Advanced Family Mediation Course, Texas Women’s University Continuing Education Program, June, 1997.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: Texas Wesleyan University School of Law Family Mediation Clinic, Spring, 1997.

Participant: Association of American Law Schools Annual Meeting, January, 1997.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: Texas Wesleyan University Mediation Clinic, Fall, 1996.

Invited Speaker: "Ethical Problems and When Should the Lawyer Be Liable?," Internal Revenue Service Estate and Gift Tax Section District continuing legal education program, Dallas, Texas, June, 1996.

Participant: Third Annual Advanced Estate Planning Strategies Course, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, April, 1996.

Participant: Association of American Law Schools Annual Meeting, January, 1996.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: Texas Wesleyan University Mediation Clinic, Fall, 1995.

Participant: AALS Workshop on New Ideas for Experienced Teachers, June, 1995.

Participant: Convergence ‘95, CALI Conference, June, 1995.

Participant: Texas Wesleyan University Family Mediation Clinic, January, 1995.

Participant: Association of American Law Schools Annual Meeting, January, 1995.

Invited Speaker: "Macintosh vs. Windows," LawTech94, Houston, Texas, October, 1994.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: Texas Wesleyan University Mediation Clinic, Fall, 1994.

Invited Speaker and Assisting Trainer: Texas Wesleyan University Mediation Clinic, Summer, 1994.

Invited Speaker: "Macintosh Advantages," The 5th Annual Practical Computer Seminar, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Austin, Texas, June, 1994.

Invited Speaker: "Estate Planning—A Conceptual Approach," Estate Planning, Law Seminars Inc., Dallas and Houston, Texas, October, 1993.

Invited Participant: Technology Workshop on Computer Software Protection, jointly sponsored by The George Washington University School of engineering and Applied Science and University of Wisconsin Law School, October, 1993.

Invited Speaker: "Overview of Estate Planning," 1993 Wills ,Probate , and Alternatives, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Austin and Dallas, Texas, September, 1993.

Invited Speaker: "Word Processing Systems," Successful Practice Management of the Small Law Firm, University of Houston Law Foundation, Houston, Texas, July, 1993. (with Nan Hofheinz)

Invited Speaker: "Macintosh Advantages," The 4th Annual Practical Computer Seminar, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Fort Worth, Texas, June, 1993.

Invited Speaker: "Estate Planning," Texas Wesleyan University Alumni Continuing Education, Fort Worth, Texas, June, 1993.

Invited Trainer: Junior Mediation Training Course, Sumfun, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Dallas, Texas, June, 1993.

Member, planning committee: 1993 Wills ,Probate , and Alternatives, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, April, 1993.

Invited Speaker: "Effective Document Preparation," Estate Planning for the General Practitioner, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Bryan/College Station, Texas, March, 1993.

Participant: Texas Wesleyan University Mediation Clinic, January, 1993.

Invited Speaker: "Estate Planning," Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Rotary Club, Dallas, Texas, November, 1992

Invited Speaker: "Effective Use of Computers in an Estate Planning Practice," 37th Annual Advanced Estate Planning Seminar, Apple Computer, Inc. in conjunction with the 37th Annual Advanced Estate Planning Seminar sponsored by the Washington State Bar and Seattle Estate Planning Council, Seattle, Washington, November, 1992

Invited Speaker: "Macintosh Time and Billing," Apple Computer, Inc., Los Angeles, California, July, 1992

Invited Speaker: "Law Practice Management," General Practice Institute: Summer, University of Houston Law Center, San Antonio, Texas, June, 1992

Invited Speaker: "Macintosh Uses," The 3d Annual Practical Computer Seminar, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Corpus Christi, Texas, June, 1992

Participant: Workshop on Wills and Trusts, Association of American Law Schools, Washington, D.C., March, 1992

Invited Speaker: "Comprehensive Estate and Asset Protection Planning—Killing Three Birds With One Stone," Rotary Club of Fort Worth—North, January, 1992

Invited Speaker: "Comprehensive Estate and Asset Protection Planning—Killing Three Birds With One Stone," 1991 Wills and Probate Institute, South Texas College of Law CLE Program, Houston, Texas, October, 1991

Invited Speaker: "Planning and Drafting to Avoid Valuation Problems—How to Avoid the War," How to Determine and Prove the Value of a Business, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Midland and Austin, Texas, October, 1991

Invited Speaker: "Avoiding Dependent Administration," 1991 Wills and Probate Institute, University of Houston Law Center, Houston and San Antonio, Texas, August, 1991

Invited Speaker: "Time, Billing, and Practice Management," The 2nd Annual Practical Computer Seminar, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Houston, Texas, June, 1991

Invited Speaker: "Alternatives to Probate," General Practice Institute: Summer, University of Houston Law Center, San Antonio, Texas, June, 1991

Member, Planning Committee: Evaluating Businesses, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Austin, Texas, May, 1991

Invited Speaker: "Law Practice Solutions," Apple Computer, Inc., Dallas, Texas, April and August, 1991

Invited Speaker: "Law Practice Solutions," CompuRize, Dallas, Texas, April, 1991

Invited Speaker: "Production Systems for Document Assembly," Smith County Bar Association, Tyler, Texas, November, 1990

Invited Speaker: "Production Systems" and "Economics vs. Ethics: Packaging, Marketing, Fees, Ethical Considerations," Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning and Probate, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, San Antonio, Texas, November, 1990

Invited Speaker: "Effective Use of the Apple Macintosh in the Law Office," 1990 Advanced Civil Trial Law Course, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Dallas, Texas, September, 1990

Invited Speaker: "Effective Use of the Apple Macintosh in the Law Office," 1990 Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Houston, Texas, August, 1990

Invited Speaker: "Wealth Transmission Among Generations," 14th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Austin, Texas, June, 1990

Member, Planning Committee: 1990 Advanced Will Drafting Course, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Austin, Texas, May, 1990

Invited Speaker: "Using Computers for Substantive Systems and Practice Management," Law and Tactics for the Solo Practitioner and Small Firm, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, El Paso, Lubbock, and Brownsville, Texas, April, 1990

Invited Speaker: "Effective Use of the Apple Macintosh in the Law Office," Family Law: The Team Approach for Legal Assistants and the Lawyer, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Austin, Texas, March, 1990

Member, Planning Committee: 1990 Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Austin, Texas, December, 1989

Member, Planning Committee: Law and Tactics for the Small Law Office, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, El Paso, Lubbock, and Brownsville, Texas, November, 1989

Invited Speaker: "Using Computers for Probate Systems and Practice Management," Probate and Estate Planning Seminar, Estate Planning and Probate Section of the Travis County Bar Association, Austin, Texas, November, 1989

Invited Speaker: "Tools of the Trade," Planning and Building Your Law Practice, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, San Antonio, Texas, May, 1989

Invited Speaker: "Practical Will Drafting," Wills & Probate Institute — 1988, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, December, 1988

Member, Planning Committee: Planning and Building Your Law Practice, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, San Antonio, Texas, May, 1989

Invited Speaker: "Handling a Typical Estate Administration," Administering the Estate: A Practical Guide to Probate, Its Alternatives and Guardianship Institute Series, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Beaumont, September, 1988; Dallas, September, 1988; Austin, September, 1988; Houston, September, 1988; Fort Worth, September, 1988; San Antonio, September, 1988

Invited Speaker: "Panel Discussion: Generation Skipping Tax Problem Resolution," Twelfth Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Houston, Texas, June, 1988

Invited Speaker: "Estate Planning: A Synopsis," The Estate: Planning and Administration for Lawyers and Legal Assistants, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Dallas, Texas, May, 1988

Member, Planning Committee: Administering the Estate: A Practical Guide to Probate, Its Alternatives and Guardianship Institute Series, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Austin, Texas, May, 1988

Member, Planning Committee: Wills & Probate Institute — 1988, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, May, 1988

Invited Speaker: "Estate Planning and Administration: An Overview," Bank of Commerce, Abilene, Texas, February, 1988

Member, Planning Committee: Estate Planning: For Lawyers and Legal Assistants, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, Austin, Texas, January, 1988.

Invited Speaker: "Recent Appearances and Coming Attractions in Income and Transfer Tax Law," Abilene Business and Estate Planning Council, Abilene, Texas, November, 1987

Invited Speaker: "Wills, Trusts, and Probate — Drafting to Avoid Disaster," Legal Assistant's Association/Permian Basin, Midland, Texas, Fall, 1987

Invited Speaker: "Ethical Considerations: Your Obligations to the Client Before You Start Drafting the Will," South Texas College of Law Wills and Probate Institute, Houston, Texas, September, 1987

Invited Speaker: "Transfer Tax Planning & Probate," Wisteria Place, Abilene, Texas, September, 1987

Invited Speaker: "Where There's a Will There's a Better Way," Wisteria Place, Abilene, Texas, August, 1987

Invited Speaker: "Where There's a Will There's a Better Way," St. Paul United Methodist Church, Abilene, Texas, May, 1987

Invited Speaker: "Wills, Trusts, and Probate," Arming the General Practitioner, Bell-Lampasas-Mills Counties Bar Association, Temple, Texas, May, 1987

Invited Speaker: "The Practical Side: Forms, Systems, Equipment, and Staff," Practical Will Drafting and Representing the Estate and the Beneficiaries in Hard Times, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, presented in Austin, Texas, April, 1987; Houston, Texas, April, 1987; San Antonio, Texas, April, 1987; Dallas, Texas, April, 1987; San Angelo, Texas, March, 1987

Invited Speaker: "Probate: Beyond the Basics," National Business Institute, Inc., Abilene, Texas, January, 1987

Invited Speaker: "Wills, Trusts, and Probate," Drafting to Avoid Disaster: The Art of Preparation, Precision and Persuasion in Legal Writing, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, presented in Dallas, Texas, December, 1986; Austin, Texas, December, 1986

Invited Speaker: "Ethical Considerations: Your Obligations to the Client Before You Start Drafting the Will," South Texas College of Law Wills and Probate Institute, Houston, Texas, October, 1986

Invited Speaker: "Ethical Considerations: Your Obligations to the Client Before You Start Drafting the Will," Second Thursday Lunch Group, Abilene, Texas, September, 1986

Invited Speaker: "Wills and Trusts: An Overview," Abilene Business Women's Association, Catclaw Chapter, Abilene, Texas, June, 1986

Invited Speaker: "Death and Dying: Gift to the Church, Right to Die, Wills and Probate," Texas Law Conference for Clergy and Laity, Texas Young Lawyers Association, Abilene, Texas, March, 1986

Invited Speaker: "Pitfalls in Estate Planning and Probate," Abilene Bar Association, Abilene, Texas, January, 1986

Invited Speaker: "Wills and Trusts: An Overview," Southwest Kiwanis, Abilene, Texas, January, 1986

Invited Speaker: "Where There's A Will There's a Better Way," The Sorosis Club, Abilene, Texas, November, 1985

Invited Speaker: "Evaluating the Client's Needs," The Estate: Planning and Administration for Legal Assistants and Attorneys, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, presented in San Antonio, Texas, September, 1985; Dallas, Texas, September, 1985

Invited Speaker: "Basic Estate Planning," The Estate: Planning and Administration for Legal Assistants and Attorneys, State Bar of Texas, presented in San Antonio, Texas, September, 1985; Dallas, Texas, September, 1985

Invited Speaker: "Wills and Trusts: An Overview," Money, Money, Money Seminar, InterFirst Bank Abilene, N.A., Abilene, Texas, April, 1985

Invited Speaker: "Wills and Trusts: An Overview," The Life Underwriters Training Council Business Course, Abilene, Texas, January, 1985

Invited Speaker: "Estate Planning for Small Estate Owners," Abilene Business and Estate Planning Council, Abilene, Texas, November, 1984

Invited Speaker: "Mineral Property Liens," National Association of Credit Management, Abilene Division, Abilene, Texas, October, 1984

Invited Speaker: "Estate Planning: Auntie Em or Uncle Sam?," The Circle C Cowbelles, Coleman, Texas, September, 1984.

Invited Speaker: "Death and Dying: Gift to the Church, Right to Die, Wills and Probate," Texas Law Conference for Clergy and Laity, Texas Young Lawyers Association, Austin, Texas, August, 1984

Invited Speaker: "Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxation — Developments," Second Thursday Lunch Group, Abilene, Texas, July, 1984

Invited Speaker: "An Introduction to Legal Research," Taylor County Legal Secretaries Association Seminar, Abilene, Texas, April, 1984

Invited Speaker: "Wills and Trusts: An Overview," Abilene Association of Life Underwriters, Abilene, Texas, August, 1983

Invited Speaker: "Insurance Planning after the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982," Abilene Association of Life Underwriters, Abilene, Texas, Abilene, Texas, July, 1983

Invited Speaker: "Insurance Planning after the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982," Abilene Chartered Life Underwriters, Abilene, Texas, April, 1983

Invited Speaker: "Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Estate Planning — An Overview," San Antonio Board of Realtors, San Antonio, Texas, September, 1982

Invited Speaker: "Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Estate Planning — An Overview," Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Agency, San Antonio, Texas, August, 1982

Invited Speaker: "Will Drafting after the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981," Gillespie County Bar Association, Fredericksburg, Texas, July, 1982

Invited Speaker: "An Introduction to Wills, Trusts, and Probate," Southwestern Bell Telephone Company Retirement Benefits Orientation, San Antonio, Texas, June, 1982; April, 1982; January, 1982; October, 1981; August, 1981

Invited Speaker: "Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Estate Planning — An Overview," San Antonio Board of Realtors, San Antonio, Texas, June, 1982

Invited Speaker: "Will Drafting after the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981," San Antonio Bar Association, San Antonio, Texas, May, 1982

Invited Speaker: "An Introduction to Wills, Trusts, and Probate," First Presbyterian Church Children's Center, San Antonio, Texas, April, 1982

Invited Speaker: "An Introduction to Wills, Trusts, and Probate," United States Army Reserve, Detachment 1, 94th General Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, March, 1982

Invited Speaker: "Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Estate Planning — An Overview," Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Texas, February, 1982

Professional Organizations

Abilene Bar Association, Abilene, Texas

Chairman, Continuing Legal Education Committee 1985-1986

Abilene Business and Estate Planning Council, Abilene, Texas

President 1987-1988; Vice-President 1986-1987

Secretary/Treasurer 1985-1986

Director 1984-1987

American Bar Association

Member (1982-1997)

Law Practice Management Section
Real Property, Probate, and Trust Section
Section on Legal Education

Dallas Bar Association, Dallas, Texas

Member 1991-1998
Wills and Probate Section
Intellectual Property Law Section

Dallas Estate Planning Council, Dallas, Texas

Member 1990-1992, 1996-2004

State Bar of Texas

Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law Section
Intellectual Property Law Section
General Practice and Solo Section; Council member 2013 to present
Business Law Section

 

Community and Social Activities

Candidate for 32nd U.S. Congressional District of Texas, 2012

Dallas County Democratic Party, Dallas, Texas: Candidate for Chair, 2005; Member Strategic Planning Committee 2005-2008; Member Technology Committee 2005-2012; Chair Information Systems Subcommittee, 2005-2010, developed web-based Voter Information System.

Candidate for 32nd U.S. Congressional District of Texas, 2002

PC-TAG, Dallas, Texas: Member, 1998-present, Board 1998-2001 (Directory and Website).

First Unitarian Church of Dallas, Texas: Member Sanctuary Choir 1997-present; Member Music Committee 2002-2005, Member Intern Committee, 2003-2005.

Maria Kannon Zen Association, Inc., Dallas, Texas: General Counsel (pro bono), 1991-2004.

Grace United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas: Evangelism Work Area, 1992; counsel to planned giving program, capital campaign for renovation of facilities.

St. Paul United Methodist Church, Abilene, Texas: Trustee, St. Paul United Methodist Church Foundation, 1989-1991; Chairman of Evangelism Work Area, 1988; member of Administrative Board, 1986-1988.

Abilene Preservation League, Abilene, Texas: Member, Trustee, 1984-1986; Chairman, Membership Committee, 1984-1986.

Goodwill Industries, Abilene, Texas: Member, Board of Directors, 1983-1987; Chairman, Personnel Committee, 1984-1987.

Landmarks Commission, City of Abilene, Abilene, Texas: Alternate, 1984-1985.

Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Texas: Member, Legacy Council, 1981-1982.

Laurel Heights United Methodist Church, San Antonio, Texas: Chairman, Committee on Planned Giving, 1982.

First Presbyterian Church Children's Center, San Antonio, Texas: Member, Board of Directors, 1982.

Meadowbrook United Methodist Church, Fort Worth, Texas: Member, Commission on Social Concerns, 1979-1980.

Democratic Party of Texas: Delegate, State Conventions of 2012, 2010, 2006, 20042002, 1998, 1980, 1976, 1974, and 1972; Alternate Delegate 2000, 2008.

Texas AFL-CIO Summer Youth Citizenship Conference, Austin, Texas: President, 1971; Delegate, 1970.

O. H. Cooper High School, Abilene, Texas: President, Class of 1971.

White House Conference on Children and Youth, Texas Session, Delegate, 1970.

Special Skills, Interests and Experience

Public speaking

Technical writing

Computer needs analysis and software development

Photography

Science Fiction

Jungian Depth Psychology

Ritual studies

Choral music performance

Audio recording

Tai Chi

Metal art

 

Personal Information

Four children: Hannah, 34; Daniel, 30; Tessa, 27; Benjamin, 17

Born October 30, 1953, Dallas, Texas