Christene “Chris” Krupa Downs
Top rated Estate Planning & Probate attorney in Plano, Texas
Practice Areas:
Estate Planning & Probate,
Trusts,
Wills
Education Qualification:
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
Practice Areas:
Estate planning & probate,
Trusts,
Wills
400 Chisholm Pl, Suite 216Plano, Texas, 75075
First Admitted: 2010, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskdowns
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Collin County Bar Association Board of Directors, 2021
- State Bar of Texas Computer & Technology Section, Section Council Member, 2018 - 2021
- Texas Guardianship Association
- Dallas Bar Association's Probate, Trusts & Estates Section Planning Committee Member, 2020
- Texas Bar Foundation, Member, 2020
- Dallas Bar Foundation, Member
- Estate Planning Council of North Texas
- Collin County Bar Association, Board of Estate Planning and Probate Section, 2012 – present
- National Association of Elder Law Attorneys
- State Bar of Texas’s Computer & Technology Section’s board, 2018
- Dallas Bar Association, Committee Chair, Lawyer Referral Committee, 2015
- American Bar Association
- Collin County Bar Association, Estate Planning and Probate Section Section President June 2020 - May 2021
- Dallas Bar Association, Committee Vice-Chair, Lawyer Referral Committee, 2013 & 2014
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association, Pro Bono Activities Committee, 2014 – present
- Collin County Bar Association, Law Practice Management Section, 2014 Making Your Practice Work! Seminar Chair
- The College of the State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association, Lawyer Referral Committee, 2012 – present
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Wellness Center for Older Adults, Board of Directors
- Collin County Historical Commission, 2017 - 2019
- Community Foundation of Texas’s Advisory Council, 2019 – Present
- My Possibilities, A Special Evening, Event Co-Chair, 2020
- The Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center – Legacy Chapter
- City of Plano Cultural Affairs Commission, Feb. 2018 - present; Vice-Chair
- City of Plano Complete Count Census Committee, 2019-2020, Vice Chair
- Junior League of Collin County, Public Affairs Representative, 2018-2020
- North Texas Pioneer Rotary Club, Treasurer, 2012 – 2014
- Board of City House, Treasurer
- Star Children’s Charity, Logistics Coordinator “An Evening with Dennis Miller”, November 2012
- Junior League of Collin County, Ways & Means Council, Grants & Awards Chair, 2013 – 2014
- North Texas Pioneer Rotary Club, Feb. 2011 – Present
- City House Board of Directors, Jan. 2001 – July 2007
- Star Children’s Charity, Executive Summit Committee, May 2012
- Junior League of Collin County, Treasurer-Elect & Director of Governance & Bylaws, 2014 – 2015
- Junior League of Collin County, Aug. 2011 – Present
- Junior League of Collin County, Executive Vice President 2017-2018
- Live From Collin County Board of Directors, Sept. 2006 – May 2012
- This Side Up Family Center Board of Directors, Jan. 2013 – April 2015
- Junior League of Collin County, Treasurer, 2015 – 2016
- Junior League of Collin County, Ways & Means Council Assistant II, Donor Management, 2012 – 2013
- Leadership Plano Class 22, Sept. 2004 – May 2005
Honors/Awards:
- Top 16% of class, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
- Super Lawyers, Texas Super Lawyers, 2020
- Super Lawyers’ Rising Star in Texas, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
- Texas Wesleyan Public Law Fellowship Board, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, President, 2009 – 2010
- Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
- Dean’s List, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, 2008 - 2010
- Texas Wesleyan Public Law Fellowship Board, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, Secretary/Treasurer, 2008 – 2009
Educational Background:
- University of Texas at Dallas, B.A., Government and Politics, Cum Laude
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Author & Presenter, “Probate Procedures and Forms of Administration, and Whey They Are Used,” National Business Institute, Estate Administration Bootcamp, May 2019
- Author & Presenter, “Practice and Client Management Software,” State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, Law Practice Management, June 2016.
- Presenter, “60 Apps in 60 Minutes,” State Bar of Texas Computer & Technology Section, Disaster Proofing Your Practice, December 2018.
- Presented CLE to immigration attorneys on the basics of estate planning., Presenter, Basics of Estate Planning, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Dallas Chapter, Immigration, 2020
- Author & Presenter, “Handling Distributions,” National Business Institute, Estate Administration Bootcamp, May 2019.
- Presenter, “Estate Planning 101” and “Guardianship & Alternatives,” Weeks Law Firm, various dates.
- Virtual presentation about guardianship & alternatives to parents of Wylie ISD, Presenter, Guardianship & Alternatives, Wylie ISD, 2020
- Presented on panel at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, Presenter, 60 Apps and Tech Tips in 60 Minutes, 2020
- Discussed probate procedures and forms of probate to other attorneys, CPAs and financial advisors at the National Business Institute's Estate Administration Bootcamp., Author & Presenter, Probate Procedures and Forms of Administration, NBI, Estate Administration Bootcamp, Legal, Financial, CPAs, 2019
- Presented a webinar to Texas paralegals about forms of probate administration., Presenter, Probate Procedures and Forms of Administration, State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division, 2019
- Presented to parents of students in the Transition program about guardianship., Presenter, Guardianship & Alternatives, Plano Independent School District, 2019
- Annual CLE program of the Computer & Technology Section., Co-Presenter, 60 Apps and Tech Tips in 60 Minutes, State Bar of Texas Computer & Technology Section, Your Duty of Technical Competence Seminar, December 2019., 2019
- Accessible Law, UNT Dallas College of Law, Fall 2019 Issue, https://accessiblelaw.untdallas.edu/probate-and-special-needs., Co-Presenter, Probate and Special Needs, 2019
- Co-Author & Presenter, “Case Management Software – Solo Conflicts, Checks, and Record-Retention,” State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, June 2014
- Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar
- Co-Presenter, "Law Practice Management in the 21st Century," Collin County Bar Association's "Making Your Practice Work!" Law Practice Management Seminar, January 2014
- Co-Presenter, “What’s Up in Office Technology: How to Avoid Malpractice While Using It,” Collin County Bar Association’s “Making Your Practice Work” Law Practice Management Seminar, January 2013
- Author & Presenter, “Practical Tips for Organizing the Tech-Savvy Law Office: A Practitioner’s Point of View,” Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar, October 5, 2012
- Author & Presenter, “Office Technology: Practical Tips for Organizing the Small, Tech-Savvy Law Office from a Solo Practitioner’s Point of View,” Collin County Bar Association’s “Making Your Practice Work” Law Practice Management Seminar, January 2012
- Co-Author & Presenter, "Practical Tips for Organizing the Small, Tech-Savvy Law Office: A Practitioner's Point of View," Dallas Bar Association, Solo & Small Firm Section, October 2011
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