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About Our Firm

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Christopher L. Smith Law Office, established in 1992, specializes in probate, inheritance law, estate planning, and family law. With over 30 years of legal experience, Christopher guides clients through every step of the legal process, handling all matters with precision and care. The firm ensures clients are protected during judicial procedures such as probate, which validates wills and oversees asset distribution after death.

Additionally, the firm assists with estate planning, helping clients decide how their assets will be allocated upon their passing. The practice also covers inheritance law and family law, addressing issues like marriage, divorce, child custody, and adoptions.  Christopher approaches each case with care, working closely with clients throughout the process.

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Frequently
Asked Questions

Please refer to our frequently asked questions to learn more about our firm. If you have further questions, you may fill out our contact form or send us an email.

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Probate is a legal process. One that is triggered once someone has passed away. Probate’s the method by which a court formally recognizes the death and oversees the administration of the deceased’s estate.
Probate makes sure that the deceased’s final wishes are accurately honored, their assets are distributed the way the deceased intended, and that any of their outstanding debts are settled. By better understanding how probate works, much of the stress and worry about assets can be alleviated. As a Dallas probate law firm, we can help you understand all of the details involved with probate.

Simply put, probate is the legal process which involves the court recognizing a person’s death and helps oversee the administration of deceased’s estate. Without a Will present, this process is referred to as “intestate probate.” Intestate probate means that the court will determine how to distribute the deceased’s assets in alignment with Texas state laws, rather than according to the deceased’s specific wishes.

Heirship determination is a legal process used to identify the heirs of an estate when a person dies without a valid will or when there are disputes about the will’s validity. The probate court will review evidence to establish who the legal heirs are according to Texas intestacy laws.

Inheritance law governs how an individual’s estate is distributed after their death. In Dallas, as in the rest of Texas, inheritance laws are designed to ensure that assets are distributed fairly and according to the decedent’s wishes, or, if there is no will, according to statutory guidelines.

Estate planning may sound like something only the wealthy or elderly need to do, but it’s actually critical for anyone who has possessions they care about—like finances, land or buildings and even pets—and who wants to make sure those assets go to the right people, should something happen to them.

Imagine you have a good amount of money saved up, a pricey car, and other valuable assets, but you didn’t leave any instructions about what should happen to them if you pass away. Lacking an official estate plan, the government may step in and unilaterally decide what happens to your belongings…and they might not go to the people you want. This is why planning ahead is so crucial—it keeps you in complete control.
If you die in Texas without good estate planning, dealing with your estate can be expensive and stressful for your loved ones, and take a long period of time in Dallas County.  This is why having an estate plan in place, even a simple will, is as important, or maybe even more important, to families of modest means as it is for more wealthy families.
Family law encompasses legal matters that involve familial relationships, such as marriage, divorce, child custody, termination of parental rights, adoptions and more. It also includes cases like prenuptial agreements, domestic violence, and child support. Dallas family law is designed to handle these delicate and often emotional issues with fairness and justice.
In Dallas, family law is governed by both state and local rules. The Texas Family Code provides the framework for resolving family disputes, but local courts in Dallas may have specific rules and procedures that must be followed. This is where a seasoned Dallas family law attorney can provide crucial guidance.  Dallas family cases also must adhere to requirements of the Texas Property Code, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and other bodies of law.

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