Probate Attorneys in Dallas, Frisco & Houston

Probate is both a legal process and a personal transition. When a loved one dies, questions about debts, taxes, and inheritance often arise at the same time families are grieving. McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans probate attorneys guide executors, administrators, and beneficiaries through each step of the probate process so they can focus on their families while the legal work is handled with care and precision.

Probate in Texas can be relatively straightforward when there is a clear will and a modest estate. It can also become complex when business interests, multi‑state assets, blended families, or disputes among heirs are involved. Our probate lawyers in Dallas, Frisco, and Houston combine a detailed understanding of Texas probate law with practical problem-solving to keep matters moving efficiently while protecting our clients’ interests.

McCathern’s probate practice is led from the firm’s Dallas offices by Partner Matthew Gilpin’s, whose work focuses on probate matters, estate administrations, and inheritance issues for clients throughout North Texas. Our probate law firm also draws on the experience of attorneys such as Partner Steve Green, who handles probate, trusts, and estate planning alongside corporate and transactional work.

Finding the Right Probate Law Firm for You

When you are named as executor, personal representative, or administrator of an estate, the responsibility can feel significant. Courts expect deadlines to be met, notices to be given, and assets to be handled according to law and the decedent’s wishes. You deserve a probate team that understands both the legal requirements and the family dynamics involved.

At McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans, our probate attorneys:

Take time to understand your role, your goals, and any concerns you have about the estate or family relationships

Explain the probate process in plain language, including likely timelines, required filings, and alternatives that may simplify the proceeding

Provide realistic guidance on risk, cost, and what you can expect at each stage

Coordinate with your existing advisors, such as CPAs and financial professionals, when appropriate

Look for opportunities to resolve disputes early while remaining prepared to litigate if necessary

Some estates call for the most efficient path possible, such as a streamlined probate proceeding that avoids unnecessary hearings. Others require firm advocacy in court to address a contested will, disputed accounting, or suspected misconduct by a prior fiduciary. Our probate lawyers will recommend a strategy that fits your situation instead of forcing your case into a standard model.

Comprehensive Probate Services

McCathern’s probate attorneys handle the full range of probate and related matters for individuals, families, and business owners, including:

Estate administration and probate procedures

Independent and dependent administration of estates in Texas

Probating wills and handling estates without a will (intestacy)

Identifying and inventorying estate assets, including business interests and real property

Addressing creditor claims, tax issues, and final expenses

Working with out‑of‑state executors who need Texas probate counsel

Resolving title issues involving homes, investment properties, and rural land

Contested probate and inheritance disputes

Will contests involving capacity, undue influence, or execution issues

Disputes among beneficiaries regarding distributions or non‑probate transfers

Claims for breach of fiduciary duty or removal of an executor or administrator

Accounting disputes and objections to fees

Mediation and negotiated settlements in complex family situations

Trust, guardianship, and related court proceedings

Court‑created or testamentary trusts arising out of an estate plan

Guardianship of the person or estate when a loved one can no longer manage their affairs

Coordination of probate with special needs planning and long‑term care decisions

Related estate planning and asset protection

Reviewing existing wills and estate plans in light of probate issues that have surfaced

Preparing updated wills, trusts, directives, and powers of attorney as needed in coordination with our estate planning attorneys

Because probate matters often intersect with business ownership, real estate, and family law, our probate law firm also draws on the broader capabilities of McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans. Clients benefit from attorneys with deep experience in corporate transactions, real property, and family-related matters when those issues overlap with an estate.

Experienced Probate Attorneys in Dallas, Frisco & Houston

The firm’s probate practice is led collaboratively by Matthew Gilpin and Steve Green, who are both based in Dallas and bring complementary experience across probate, estate administration, and complex asset matters.

Gilpin focuses his practice on probate, estate administrations, and inheritance issues, overseeing both the legal and administrative aspects of cases and guiding clients toward efficient, cost-effective resolutions.

Green handles probate matters alongside his corporate and transactional practice, allowing him to advise business owners and families whose estates involve closely held companies, franchises, and other sophisticated assets. In addition, attorneys across the firm regularly address family-related estate planning, probate, and guardianship matters, particularly where divorce, custody, and generational wealth planning intersect.

Together, these attorneys offer decades of combined experience in probate, estate planning, and related litigation, providing clients with a deep bench of talent for both routine proceedings and highly contested estate matters.

How Our Probate Attorneys Approach Cases

Every estate and every family is different.

Our probate attorneys:

Start by clarifying your authority and responsibilities as executor, administrator, or beneficiary

Gather essential information about the estate, including assets, debts, and existing estate planning documents

Assess whether a full probate proceeding is required or whether alternatives may be available under Texas law

Set out a practical roadmap so you have a timeline of what will and needs to happen, identify potential friction points early, such as unequal bequests, business interests, or long‑simmering family disputes

Explore options for negotiated resolutions or mediation when doing so can preserve value and relationships

Prepare thoroughly for hearings and trial if litigation cannot be avoided

We understand that probate is often a one‑time experience for families. Our role is to provide clear guidance, anticipate issues before they become problems, and handle court requirements with the level of care we would expect for our own families.

Serving Clients Across North Texas

McCathern’s probate lawyers regularly represent clients throughout North Texas, including the Dallas–Fort Worth metro and surrounding counties such as Collin, Denton, Rockwall, Tarrant, and Ellis.

Our clients include:

Executors and administrators responsible for estates of varying sizes

Business owners and professionals with closely held companies, investment portfolios, or real estate holdings

Families navigating blended family dynamics or second marriages

Out‑of‑state heirs and fiduciaries who need Texas counsel to administer local assets

For each client, we focus on preparation, candor, and attention to detail. We aim to protect estate value, minimize avoidable conflict, and complete the process as efficiently as the situation allows.

Probate Resources and Next Steps

Probate questions often arise quickly after a death, and early legal guidance can make a meaningful difference.

Speaking with a probate attorney at the outset can help you avoid missed deadlines, incomplete notices, and other issues that may be difficult or expensive to fix later.

A consultation with our probate attorneys can help you:

Understand how Texas probate law may apply to your situation, including whether a full administration is required

Determine what documents, account statements, and other information will be helpful to gather

Evaluate whether disputes are likely and how best to address them

Consider how probate may interact with existing estate planning, business, or family law matters

Our team can also provide a practical document checklist to help you organize information about the estate, from asset lists to prior planning documents, so that meetings are focused and productive.

This page provides general information about probate law and does not constitute legal advice. Your situation is unique, and you should not make decisions about an estate without speaking to a qualified attorney.

To discuss your probate matter with one of our probate attorneys in Dallas, Frisco, or Houston, please contact us through the firm’s contact page or reach out to the office most convenient for you.

PROSPER ISD PARENTS QUESTION DISTRICT RESPONSE TO BUS DRIVER ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING STUDENTS

December 15, 2025

Author: Rebecca Lopez with WFAA Watch the interview here. PROSPER, Texas — Parents of two young girls who say they were repeatedly sexually assaulted by a Prosper ISD school bus driver are speaking out about what they describe as serious failures by the district — including delayed notification to families and promised safety changes they say were never fully implemented. The parents asked that they not be identified to protect their children, who were just elementary school age at the time of the abuse. In a lawsuit filed in 2023, the girls — identified only as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 — allege former bus driver Frank Paniagua assaulted them repeatedly during the 2021–2022 school year. According to the lawsuit, Paniagua would wait until other students exited the bus, then assault the girls, sometimes holding one child back so he could take her to the rear of the bus. Attorneys say the abuse occurred over several months and was captured on bus surveillance video. How the abuse was discovered The girls’ mother said the abuse came to light after their grandmother noticed troubling comments about gift cards offered by the bus driver. When the mother later questioned the girls again, they disclosed what had been happening. Prosper ISD police reviewed surveillance video from the bus in May 2022. Paniagua was arrested two days later and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and indecency with a child. Paniagua later died after jumping from the second floor of the Collin County Jail while awaiting trial. Concerns about delayed notifications Attorneys for the family say more than 100 days passed after Paniagua’s arrest before Prosper ISD publicly acknowledged the allegations — a delay parents say may have prevented other potential victims from being identified. At a packed school board meeting, Prosper ISD parent Morgan Grahovec, a child psychologist whose daughter attended the same school as the victims, told trustees that delays in notifying parents can have serious consequences. “Children who are victims of abuse need to be identified and interviewed as soon as possible because memory fades over time,” Grahovec said. “The longer you wait, it’s harder to get a child to report abuse accurately.” Parents at those meetings called for Superintendent Holly Ferguson’s resignation, arguing district leaders should have acted sooner and communicated more transparently. Ferguson did not step down, instead promising changes to safety protocols. District response and former statement In an earlier written statement to WFAA, Prosper ISD said it took appropriate action once allegations surfaced: “We are horrified that an employee violated the trust of our families and students, as Prosper ISD’s foremost priority is to protect our students’ safety and well-being at all times. We strongly condemn the actions of any adult who would cause mental or physical harm to a child, and we do not tolerate such behavior.” The district has declined additional comment, citing pending litigation. Disputed claims about safety changes Prosper ISD previously told parents it would implement additional safeguards, including increased supervision during bus drop-offs, a volunteer “bus buddy” program, and improved monitoring of bus surveillance video. But the parents and their attorneys say those changes were not consistently put in place. Attorney Levi McCathern says the district does not regularly review bus surveillance footage — even though video captured the alleged abuse in this case. “You would think the first thing you would do after this happens is change your monitoring program,” McCathern said. “They don’t monitor them at all.” McCathern and co-counsel Kristin Hecker say the lawsuit is aimed at forcing policy changes rather than seeking financial gain. Questions about oversight and leadership The case has also raised broader concerns about district leadership and oversight. Prosper ISD’s school board president later resigned in an unrelated child abuse case, further shaking confidence among some parents. Families have also questioned the independence of the district’s internal review, noting that the law firm hired to investigate the district’s response is also defending Prosper ISD in the lawsuit. “All we want is an independent investigation,” McCathern said. Parents push for accountability and change The parents say their children remain enrolled in Prosper ISD, but they continue to press for reforms they believe could prevent similar abuse. “We want justice for our kids,” the girls’ mother said. “But we also want changes to happen at the district so that this doesn’t happen to other children.”

Probate Attorneys in Dallas, Frisco & Houston

Probate Attorneys in Dallas, Frisco & Houston

Finding the Right Probate Law Firm for You

Comprehensive Probate Services

Experienced Probate Attorneys in Dallas, Frisco & Houston

How Our Probate Attorneys Approach Cases

Serving Clients Across North Texas

Probate Resources and Next Steps

Standing on Their Shoulders: Black Legal Pioneers and Our Responsibility Today

PROSPER ISD PARENTS QUESTION DISTRICT RESPONSE TO BUS DRIVER ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING STUDENTS

Join Our Newsletter