Mertens Probate Lawyers

As a seasoned attorney currently practicing in the areas of family law and probate, my goal is to tenaciously fight for my clients while always taking time to provide compassionate communication and exceptional client service. As a litigator, I am involved in every step of a client's case - from intake to final trial. During a case, I take the time to listen to and know my clients, because I know that clear and regular communication is one of the most important pieces of practicing law.

A native of Commerce and Temple, Texas, Attorney Paul F. Wieneskie brings over 30 years of practice experience to Bailey & Galyen, with an emphasis on civil appeals, municipal law (representing cities or private citizens), economic development concerns, and land use and planning. He has been board-certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1994, an honor accorded to less than one in every ten lawyers in the state of Texas. He is also AV-rated by his colleagues in the legal profession under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System®* (since 1997). Paul has successfully represented clients...

Garrett L. Beach graduated magna cum laude from Abilene Christian University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Psychology. In 2016, Garrett graduated from Baylor Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor with a concentration in estate planning. Garrett is an accomplished attorney whose commitment to his clients is unwavering. He takes pride in investing the time and effort required to understand each of his client’s unique needs and goals. With a compassionate and personalized approach, Garrett ensures that his clients receive tailored advice and guidance every step of the way. After...

J.C. was admitted to the bar and to practice before the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas in 1988. He received his undergraduate degree from Abilene Christian University and his law degree from the Baylor University School of Law. J.C. is a member of the Order of Barristers, the State Bar of Texas, and the Tarrant County Bar Association. A frequent speaker on a wide array of subjects, he enjoys making presentations for professional groups, businesses, churches and schools. Addressing challenges in a constructive and professional manner is the highest priority of Mr. Bailey’s practice. J.C. has...

If you are thinking about filing for divorce, have a family law related case or need help with visitation or a child custody matter, contact our firm today, our experienced attorneys will be able to guide you through the process and will be able to handle your case. Call our firm today!

I am rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell. See my website for more information.

Everyone knows that the idiosyncrasies of our legal system can often result in unreasonably protracted legal disputes, as endless appeals and requests drag out even the simplest of cases for months and even years. At the offices of Dwain Downing Attorney at Law , we feel it is our mission to provide the fastest and best legal service possible

1982 graduate of Baylor Law School, I practiced as a prosecutor in Smith County, Texas, 1983-1984, as a shareholder in Cribbs & McFarland, an Arlington law firm, and as a solo practitioner since 2002. A-V rated.

Ronnie is a Texas attorney practicing primarily probate and estate planning with his firm, Hall & Mixon, PLLC. Ronnie is also very active with the Tarrant County Bar Association, serving as Assistant Director, Writer, Performer and Musical Director for Tortfeasors, the annual skit show benefiting the Tarrant County Bar Foundation. Ronnie is also an of counsel attorney for Jim Ross & Associates, PC, for which he does litigation support, motion practice and civil appeals.

Frank grew up in El Paso, Texas and attended Texas Tech University for both undergraduate studies and law school. After passing the bar exam in 1982 he worked in El Paso for 3 years as prosecutor before moving to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He has had his own firm since 1993. When not working, Frank enjoys golf and flying airplanes when not spending time with his wife of 44 years Brenda, his children and grandchildren..

Certified in Family Law for more than 30 years.
Primarily practicing Family Law, including, divorce, custody, terminations, and adoptions.

I am Alisha Melvin, Esq., I have been a practicing attorney for more than 10 years, a licensed broker of real estate since 1998, and a minority woman-owned (MWBE) business owner of both law offices and real estate brokerages in four states. I am extremely proficient in real property, probate and estates law. In addition, I broker the sale and purchase of commercial and residential real estate. I have consistently been a multi-million dollar producer in real estate sales. I represent individuals, churches, schools, cities, counties and state entities. In my spare time, I teach Legal Update...

With almost 14 years of dedicated experience, Angelica Farinacci provides legal counsel in estate planning, probate, and guardianship matters across Texas in both English and Spanish. As a trusted advocate, Angelica Farinacci has helped countless families secure their futures by drafting comprehensive estate plans, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advanced healthcare directives. Angelica offers compassionate guidance through the probate process, ensuring that the legal complexities of estate administration are handled efficiently and with care. She is also well-versed and passionate in guardianship law, assisting clients in establishing guardianship for loved ones in need of special care and most of...

Abraham C. Bloomenstiel of Bloomenstiel P.C. is a North Texas attorney with a strong, proven record of success in bankruptcy, probate, and estate planning. Mr. Bloomenstiel works closely with his clients to find smart, direct, and cost-effective solutions to even the most complicated problems. We can help with the following: BANKRUPTCY: If you are are struggling with debt, have had a judgement taken against you, or suffered a business failure, know that there are solutions. We can help. PROBATE: We can help you get letters testamentary, probate wills, access bank accounts of a deceased person, or get title to...

An experienced family law, appellate, and litigation attorney who prides himself on delivering practical legal solutions and individual attention, John works closely with his clients to help them overcome some of their most serious challenges. John is a passionate advocate for his clients inside and outside the courtroom. He is equally at home advocating for a better deal at the negotiation table, clinching a closing argument to ensure the best possible verdict, and distilling complex issues into a clear brief for appellate review. He represents individuals in a full range of family law matters with a particular emphasis on unusual and complex...

Board Certified Experience. It matters when it comes to hiring your attorney. Bob Leonard brings more than 30 years of legal experience to the table. He is an expert family law attorney representing adoption, divorce and custody clients in agreed matters and in highly contentions legal battles. Each year he spends hundreds of hours in court hearings and litigation. For one hour in court, he spends at least ten more preparing the case. In addition, every year the entire team earns more than triple the number of credits required by the State Bar of Texas....

Services We Provide Include: • Probate & Estate Planning: Estate Administration, Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills; • Business Formation & Transactional Matters: Creation of Business Entities (i.e. LLC, Corp., Partnerships) & Other Business Agreements including Mergers & Acquisitions; • Income Tax Returns: Planning & Preparation (Individuals, Partnerships, Corp., Trusts, Gift & Estate Tax, Tax-Exempt Org., Payroll & Others); and • Audits & Appeals: Representation in Problematic Tax & Regulatory Matters. • Personal Injury

Originally from New Orleans, Kathy E. Roux graduated from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center. While in law school, she was elected Freshman Class Representative and appointed Ombudsman for LSU’s Student Government Association. She won 1st place for the Southern Region in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court competition, and was chosen to represent LSU in the National Moot Court competition.
After graduation, she began working for Southeast Louisiana Legal Services in New Orleans, practicing poverty law. While there, her practice areas included Consumer Bankruptcy, Consumer Protection, Housing Law, and the Low...

I am a tax attorney and CPA with a varied work experience. I spent multiple years working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Houston in Mergers and Acquisitions. I also spent a couple of years teaching tax accounting at SFA; I still teach part-time at TJC. Although I no longer represent the Exxons of the world, my attention to detail and knowledge of the Internal Revenue Code is substantial. In my current practice, I focus on tax and business planning, estate planning, bankruptcy, and property issues in divorce.

I was raised in North Louisiana, but as a graduate of White Oak High...

Christopher (Chris) Parvin is the Founder & Managing Partner of Parvin Law Group, P.C. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, which is a prestigious certification earned by approximately 1% of all Texas attorneys. Chris is licensed to practice law in every court in the State of Texas and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Chris has been named a “Rising Star” in Estate Planning and Probate Law numerous years by Super Lawyers® a designation awarded by Thomson Reuters through an...

Mrs. Lori Ashmore Peters was admitted to practice in Texas in 1996. Her background is in Probate, Business Planning, Ancillary Probate, Estate Planning, Guardianships and Mental Health Law. She has been certified to serve as Attorney Ad Litem and Guardian Ad Litem in the Probate Courts in Texas. She has served as Court appointed Attorney Ad Litem on numerous cases, as well as Guardian and Guardian Ad Litem. She works with litigation law firms as a probate consultant and speaks with litigation attorneys regarding the necessity for probate, ancillary probate and possible estate planning as it relates to lawsuits. She...

Attorney P. Keith Staubus is the Senior Partner of Staubus & Randall, LLP, in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Staubus has dedicated his decades of practice to Will Contests, Trust Litigation, Fiduciary Litigation, Guardianship Disputes, and other disputes in the Probate Courts.

Matthew Tadlock was born in Dallas, but raised in Fort Worth. He studied political science at Baylor University and proceeded to the University of Tulsa College of Law, which was a natural fit. His love of learning and travel lead him to study abroad in Ireland and Austria, where he was taught by the United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy & studied European and International Business Law at the University of Vienna. Passionate about practicing law in Texas, Matt made is way back home so he could serve the community that had set him up so well...

Texas Attorney John B. Henry, III, practices throughout Texas, including Harris County, Rockwall County, Dallas County, Jefferson County, Galveston County, Fort Bend County and the surrounding counties. Mr. Henry is a native of Texas, and he brings his perspective and experience to represent his client with the knowledge and care their matters deserve. His practice focuses on guardianship, special needs trusts, probate and estate administration, estate planning, and elder law, including moderate to high net worth estates. Mr. Henry's experience with these areas of law began with his work in the non-profit arena where he continues to devote...

I tried over 50 jury trials and, as a trial lawyer, I loved every minute of it, but as a human being, I came to realize that a trial in a courtroom is no place to restructure a family who is having to go through a divorce. The courtroom will finalize a divorce, but the collateral damage done to a family, especially the children, in a trial, is something from which they (and future generations) many never recover. Even though over 95% of all cases are settled before trial, few people consider the difference in a case that is settled...

I help people and businesses solve legal problems and plan for the future. My clients range from individuals who have never used a lawyer to banks and multi-national corporations. I provide honest, straight forward advice and solutions that are designed to accomplish your goals, protect your assets, avoid disputes, and save you time, money, and headaches. So, if you need to plan your own estate, need help handling the estate or affairs of a family member, or have a legal issue impacting your business, give me a call. In addition to myself, my firm has lawyers who specialize in real...

Do you want to avoid legal problems? It’s quite easy, frankly, as a general rule. Treat others the way you wish to be treated. Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly. If you do that, most of the time you will avoid legal trouble, at least real legal trouble. There are always those that will abuse the system or who will do unto others in a way that they would not want done to them. And they can abuse you; they can accuse you; they can say false things about you; they can try to hurt you. It has happened to...

Matthew Davidson was born in Austin, Texas. He spent his high school years on a family ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. After High School, Matthew attended and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in English and American Studies. After working in the financial industry, Matt attended Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia where he earned his Juris Doctorate. After law school, Matthew moved back to his home state and began practicing law in Fort Worth, Texas. Ultimately, Matthew and his brother,...

I was born and raised in Denton, Texas and graduated from Denton High School in 1998. My mother is and has been a physician in Denton since 1980. I feel that my educational background in science, business, and law gives me a unique perspective on any dispute including those involving complex business structures. Additionally, due to my experience with small businesses, I understands the issues and potential obstacles that affect them as well.

I received my law degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in 2008. Prior to law school, I received an undergraduate degree in Mechanical...

Entering her fourth decade as a practicing attorney, Gretchen Benolken has chosen to divide her professional time into a small handful of areas. First, she spends some time in the service of long time, loyal, existing clients with various needs. Second, the majority of her time is spent with new clients, providing legal services in two specific areas: a) the drafting of wills and trusts for the purpose of protection of assets, and b) representing clients in the probating of the estates of their deceased loved ones and guiding them step-by-step through this judicial process during what is a most...

I manage a diverse law practice to meet the unique legal needs of individuals. My primary practice areas are in Criminal Defense and Family Law. I have 18+ years of courtroom, trial, and consulting experience in entrepreneurial, small office, and government work environments. My multi-discipline practice in criminal defense and prosecution, family law, and environmental regulatory consulting (non-legal) provides me with a diverse and robust background that aids me in all my cases. Along with experience working at my own firm, I have worked at the Collin County District Attorney’s office, where I was responsible for investigation and prosecution of atypical criminal...

Laura Starr joined the firm in 2014. Laura received her undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University, graduating with a B.S. in political science. Laura attended law school in Chicago, Illinois at DePaul University College of Law where she received a certificate in business law. During law school, Laura externed for the Honorable Michael F. Otto at the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois and was a member of the International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team. She was also a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. As a member of Starr Law Firm, P.C. Laura focuses in the areas of...

A dedicated advocate for her clients, Jill is experienced in serving clients in a wide range of legal needs. Born and raised in Denton, she is very involved in the local community and has been recognized with numerous awards. For instance, She was appointed by the Governor of Texas to the Texas Woman’s Board of Regents and was elected Chair of the Board in 2019. Jill graduated from Denton Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Denton program and currently serves as Board Chair of the Chamber. Jill was voted Best Civil Lawyer in the “Best of Denton County” publication (for 2016,...

With almost twenty-five (25) years of experience as a dual-licensed Attorney and Certified Public Accountant, Darryl V. Pratt has practiced law in all areas of corporate and business law, non profit law, estate planning, probate, guardianship, asset protection planning, bankruptcy (Chapters 7, 13 and 11), real estate, and taxation. Mr. Pratt focuses his practice on business representation and estate planning-probate and is a regular speaker on a variety of business law, non profit law, estate planning, asset protection, tax, bankruptcy, real estate and taxation topics. Mr. Pratt is a member of the Collin County, Denton County and Dallas...