Stephanie D. Lee

Stephanie is a shareholder practicing in the Firm's Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Section. Licensed in Texas, she is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Western and Northern Districts of Texas and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is an active member in the Midland community, volunteering for church and other charitable activities, serving on non-profit boards, and speaking at a variety of continuing legal education events. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Midland College. She is also a member of the Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law, and Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Sections of the State Bar of Texas.

PRACTICE AREAS

Estate Planning

Stephanie devotes a significant portion of her practice to creating, implementing, and modifying estate plans that accomplish clients' key objectives and goals regarding the disposition of estates and assets or to address changes in family or financial situations. She implements plans designed to reduce or avoid estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. She also advises clients concerning capacity planning, including Directives to Physicians (Living Wills), Medical Powers of Attorney, Statutory Durable Powers of Attorney, and Living Trusts.

Probate, Estate, and Trust Administration

Stephanie also devotes a significant portion of her practice to advising both fiduciaries and estate beneficiaries with regard to the probate of estates. She has advised surviving spouses and other beneficiaries regarding their statutory rights and fiduciaries regarding the disposition of estates in both contested and uncontested matters.

Litigation- Fiduciary

Stephanie began her career with the Firm in the Litigation Section and retains a specialized docket of cases relating to fiduciary litigation. Stephanie relies heavily upon her past experience as an oil and gas litigator to represent both fiduciaries and beneficiaries in various estate, probate, and trust disputes.

Federal and State Appeals

Stephanie has briefed both state and federal appeals regarding claims of breaches of fiduciary duty, fraud, and self-dealing in the context of Estates and Trusts litigation. She has also successfully argued before the Eleventh Court of Appeals of Texas.