Expertise.com
2024

Last updated:

Best Probate Lawyers in Odessa

Our Recommended Top 3

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls

Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Odessa Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

28

Reviewed

18

Curated

3

Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

Website
5030 East University Boulevard, Odessa, TX 79762
  • Trusts
  • Wills

Why choose this provider?

Based in Odessa, the Ashley Law Firm provides assistance and representation for clients in estate and probate law matters. The firm drafts wills and trusts for clients who want to plan ahead and manages the probate process while guiding clients along the way. It also handles power of attorney matters, medical directives, and elder law. Ashley Law Firm helps clients with having the court appoint a family member, other relation, or lawyer as a guardian ad litem for elder law issues.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Steve Ashley - Principal9 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.1
Google
4.0 / 5 (17)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
4840 E. University, Suite 200, Odessa, TX 79762
  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Taxes
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Kelly, Morgan, Dennis, Corzine & Hansen, P.C. is a full-service law firm that features established estate planning and probate attorneys in Odessa. They offer comprehensive legal services and practice in areas of probate, estate and guardianship, bankruptcy, civil litigation, real estate, and banking. The firm also handles complex administrative, business and corporate law cases, representing diverse clients ranging from banks and credit unions to oil and gas and healthcare industries.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Michael Kelly - Shareholder and Director42 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Google
4.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
600 North Alleghaney Avenue, Odessa, TX 79761
  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Dobbs Law Firm Inc. is a solo practice founded by Spencer Dobbs, a probate attorney in Odessa who has been practicing law in the surrounding areas since 1995. The attorney can assist with all stages of probating a will. These include advising executors on matters of law, collecting the estate, paying its creditors from funds, and honoring the decedent's will. Dobbs Law Firm Inc. also practices estate planning, trust administration, criminal defense, and personal injury law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Spencer Dobbs - Principal29 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Google
4.6 / 5 (53)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Odessa, Texas?

    432-333-3641 is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Odessa.

  • What happens if someone dies without a will in Odessa?

    When someone dies without a will in Odessa (referred to as dying intestate), an interview process is conducted with impartial witnesses to confirm the absence of a will. The natural heirs of the estate are identified, and the property is assessed based on community property laws. An appointed ad litem verifies the statements made during the interviews. This process typically takes about 30 days and must be completed within four years of the date of death.

  • What types of claims can be raised in probate litigation in Odessa?

    In probate litigation, various claims can be raised, often stemming from disputes among family members and beneficiaries. These may include challenges to the distribution of bequests in the will, allegations of errors in the will's preparation, claims of undue influence on the testator, questions regarding the testator's capacity or mental competence, and the existence of additional documents that modify the will. These issues commonly lead to conflicts that require legal resolution in probate court in Odessa.

  • In Odessa, can property held in joint tenancy with rights of survivorship be transferred without probate?

    Yes, property held in joint tenancy with rights of survivorship allows for the automatic transfer of ownership to the surviving joint tenants upon the death of one joint tenant. This means probate is not necessary to transfer the property in Odessa. The surviving joint tenants simply need to provide proof of the deceased joint tenant's death, such as a death certificate, to update the property ownership records.

  • Are probate records public in Odessa?

    Yes. Probate records in Odessa are generally public and filed with the county clerk. They include the application for probate, which reveals beneficiaries or family relationships. The records may also contain the death certificate and an inventory of assets and claims. An annual accounting may be required for probates lasting over a year. Social security numbers and sensitive information are redacted. In rare cases, the probate court can order records to be sealed for privacy reasons.

  • Are there expedited options in Odessa for small estates?

    Yes, in Odessa, there are expedited options available for small estates through a process called "muniment of title." This streamlined probate procedure is applicable when there are minimal assets and no outstanding debts. To qualify for this expedited process, you must be able to demonstrate that the estate's total assets are not substantial. The muniment of title allows for a simplified and efficient administration of small estates in Odessa.

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