Best Lawyers in Texas, United States for Trusts and Estates
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Andrea Barr is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Andrea, who practices law in Sugar Land, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrea is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jason concentrates his practice in trusts, estates, and taxation. Jason builds estate plans for individuals, keeping in mind their family values, goals and needs, and desire to protect and care for their family and loved one while minimizing taxes. Jason also assists individual fiduciaries and professional trust companies with probate, trust and estate administration, family settlement agreements, and all matters related to trusts and estates. Jason enjoys pre-liquidity event planning for ent...
Christian S. Kelso is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Christian S., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christian S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Thomas C. Baird is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates. Thomas C., who practices law in Temple, Texas, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
John M. Ransom II is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law and Trusts and Estates. John M., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Frank N. Ikard, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Frank N., who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 1983. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Frank N. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Duncan E. Osborne is a partner of Osborne, Helman, Knebel & Scott, LLP. He graduated from the University of Texas Law School (JD, with honors, 1971). His core practice is domestic and international estate planning with an emphasis on asset protection planning. A former adjunct professor of law at The University of Texas School of Law, Mr. Osborne devotes significant energy to lecturing and writing in his practice area as well as helping clients with regard to all aspects of their estate p...
Molly Dear Abshire has been licensed to practice law in the State of Texas since 1993 and is certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. She received a J.D. from South Texas College of Law and her B.A. in English from Texas A&M University in 1989. Ms. Abshire has authored professional papers and Houston Chronicle articles, which typically focus on topics such as estate planning, Medicaid planning, elder law and special needs trusts. She is a former President o...
Michelle Rosenblatt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Michelle, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michelle is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mike Stukenberg assists clients in preparing and developing their estate plans and structuring their family businesses. He also represents clients in income and estate tax audits and probate and trust matters. Mike’s clients include companies and individuals involved in ranching and farming, oil and gas exploration and development, banking, real estate, construction and retailing. EDUCATION B.A., Princeton University, 1973 J.D., Vanderbilt University, 1976 – Executive Editor, Vand...
Omar Leal is a member of the firm’s Estate Planning and Probate Group. His practice focuses on estate planning, asset protection planning, probate, guardianship and trust administration. He regularly assists and advises clients concerning wealth preservation issues, including estate and gift tax planning, asset protection, incapacity planning and business succession. His work includes substantive contested estate, trust, and guardianship matters, including community and separate propert...
Doug focuses his practice on estate planning through the use of trusts, family business entities, and life insurance. His experience includes charitable planning, asset protection planning, and planning to mitigate transfer tax and income tax. He is an expert in charitable planning, asset protection planning, and planning for mitigation of transfer tax and income tax.Doug is a frequent speaker as various estate planning organizations and associations including: Austin Financial Planners Assoc...
Barbara B. Ferguson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Barbara B., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Barbara B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Phillip W. McCrury is the chair of the firm’s Estate, Trust, Probate, and Asset Protection section. He assists individuals, families, and family offices with all varieties of estate planning, generational wealth transfer strategies, trusts, life insurance strategies, and asset protection planning. In addition, he is involved in probate matters throughout Texas, including contested probate matters. Mr. McCrury is an active member of a number of bar sections involving estate and probate m...
Scott Sherman practices in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust law. EDUCATION B.A., Dartmouth College, 1973 J.D., Southern Methodist University, 1977 — Member, Phi Delta Phi Board Certified, Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, since 1983 PROFESSIONAL AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®for Litigation Trusts & Estates and Trusts & Estates Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Texas, the Un...
Larry D. George is a Houston-based attorney and shareholder at Crain Caton & James. Larry focuses on corporate and tax planning, estate planning, trust structure, and probate law for high-net-worth individuals, multi-generational families, privately owned companies, and charitable organizations. Larry advises clients on wealth preservation, strategic wealth transfers, and minimizing gift and estate tax exposures. Key areas of practice include structuring family limited partnerships (FLPs)...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.