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.
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.
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.
Designating beneficiaries is a measure most people take to provide security for loved ones after their passing. Imagine if instead of this occurring, their hard-earned savings ended up in the hands of
Losing a loved one is a difficult time emotionally. It also can be stressful as it often entails dispersing assets left behind and dealing with creditors. In most instances, this
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Cities: Dallas, Plano, Irving, Fort Worth, Richardson, Arlington, Denton, Grapevine, Carrollton, Frisco, McKinney Counties: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Somervall, Tarrant, Waxahachie, Wise Districts: Downtown, Bishop Arts, Bluffview, M-Streets/Lower Greenville, Henderson Ave, Deep Ellum, Oak Lawn, Fair Park, Uptown/Midtown, Exposition Park, Trinity Groves. Lakewood, Lakeland Hills, Mockingbird Station, Park Cities, Preston Hollow, Harry Hines, Design District, Skillman Center/Lakewood Landing