Christine Butts
Top rated Estate Planning & Probate attorney in The Woodlands, Texas
Practice Areas:
Estate planning & probate,
Trusts,
Wills
Education Qualification:
University of Houston Law Center
Practice Areas:
Estate planning & probate,
Trusts,
Wills
8777 West Rayford RoadThe Woodlands, Texas, 77389
First Admitted: 1997, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://riddlebutts.com/attorneys/christine-butts/
Bar / Professional Activity:
- Drafted the Chapter on 1301 Court Created Trusts for the Guardianship Manual on behalf of the State Bar of Texas, 2022
- Master of the Bench, Texas Probate Law American Inn of Court, 2021
- Immediate Past President of the National College of Probate Judges, Williamsburg, Virginia
- Drafted the Mental Health Chapter of the Guardianship Manual for the State Bar of Texas, 2020
- Course Director for Advanced Guardianship and Elder Law Course; September 2-3, 2020, 2020
- President-Elect, National College of Probate Judges, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2019
- Planning Committee for State Bar of Texas 20th Annual Guardianship Law and Elder Law Course, April 5th, 2019, Houston, Texas., 2019
- Secretary/Treasurer National College of Probate Judges, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2018
- Planning Committee for the State Bar of Texas 12th Annual Fiduciary Litigation Course, November 30, 2017, San Antonio, Texas., 2017
- Houston Bar Association's Speakers Bureau, 2009
Special Licenses / Certifications:
- Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2003), 2003
- Guardianship Certificate, 2019
Pro bono / Community Service:
- MS 150 Rider, 2014
- MS 150 Rider, 2012
- Advisory Board Member of Houston Achievement Place, 2010
- Board Member of Planned Giving Council of Houston, 2009
- Active Member of the Junior League of Houston as a seamstress for the VIEW, 2006
Honors:
- 4 1/2 Star Rating and Endorsement from the Houston Chronicle
- 2017 Houston Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Qualification Poll
- 2015 Houston Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire Results
- 2013 Houston Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire Results
- Endorsed as Judge of Harris County Probate Court 4, Houston Chronicle, 2018
- Endorsed for Judge of Harris County Probate Court 4, Houston Chronicle, 2014
- Rising Star, Texas Monthly Magazine, Super Lawyer Edition, 2011
- AV Rated 5.0 Preeminent Martindale Hubble, Martindale Hubble, 2010
- Rising Star, Texas Monthly Magazine, Super Lawyer Edition, 2010
- Rising Star, Texas Monthly Magazine, Super Lawyer Edition, 2009
- Houston's Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2009
- Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2009
- Rising Star, Texas Monthly Magazine, Super Lawyer Edition, 2008
- Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2008
- Houston's Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2008
- Top Lawyer, H Texas Magazine, 2007
- Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2007
- Top Lawyer for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2006
Educational Background:
- University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Business Administration, 1993
- Served as the Elected Judge of Harris County Probate Court 4 from 2011-2018, 2011
Scholarly Lectures / Writings:
- Choosing a Business Entity in Texas with an Eye Toward Succession Planning, Presented to the Attorneys in Tax and Probate, May 4, 2004
- Moderated panel of three attorneys who specialize in elder law and discussed what they wish estate planners knew with regard to elder law., Moderator, Ask the Experts: Elder Law Panel, State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning & Probate Course, Legal, 2022
- Discussed the 1301 Court Created Trust and how the terms of such trust may be adapted in many ways to address unique needs of beneficiary., Presenter, Customizing 1301 Trusts—The Next Big Thing, State Bar of Texas 20th Annual Guardianship Law and Elder Law Course, Legal, 2019
- Discussed the rights of children with respect to heirship, guardianship, planned gifts, and testamentary bequests, as such rights vary from state to state in the United States., Presenter, The Kids are Alright—Navigating Between the Hard-Knock Life and Easy Street When Passing Assets to Children, Summer Conference of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Chicago, Illinois, Legal, 2018
- Discussed various thoughts and opinions about the proper practice of probate in Texas., Presenter, Probate Matters: A View from Both Sides of the Bench, State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, Legal, 2018
- Discussed various tips and traps with regard to practicing in probate in Texas., Presenter, Tips from Judges to Elder and Guardianship Attorneys Errors Seen in the Courtroom and Beyond, State Bar of Texas 19th Annual Guardianship Law and Elder Law Course, Legal, 2018
- Discussed when to file a declaratory judgment action., Presenter, When is a Declaratory Judgment Proper, State Bar of Texas 12th Annual Fiduciary Litigation Course, Legal, 2017
- Discussed the drafting of various probate and guardianship pleadings., Presenter, Drafting Common and Uncommon Pleadings, State Bar of Texas 28th Annual Estate Planning and Probate Drafting Course, Legal, 2017
- Discussed the role of the attorney ad litem in probate and guardianship matters., Presenter, The Runaway ad Litem, State Bar of Texas Advanced Guardianship and Elder Law Course, Legal, 2017
- Discussed attorney fee standards and applications for attorney fees., Presenter, Attorney and Appointee Fees, Houston Bar Association’s 2012 Wills and Probate Institute, Legal, 2012
- Discussed important considerations when representing clients facing civil mental health commitment. , Presenter, Representing Clients Facing Mental Health Commitment, Disability and Elder Law Attorney’s Association, Legal, 2012
- Discussed the importance of dovetailing beneficiary designations with estate planning documents and various options regarding beneficiary designations., Presenter, Beneficiary Designations: Has Your World Changed in the Past Five Years?, 24th Annual Wills and Probate Institute, South Texas College of Law, Legal, 2009
- Discussed administering intestate estates in Texas., Presenter, Intestacy and Closing the Estate, National Business Institute, Legal, 2008
- Discussed the benefits of revocable trusts in the context of estate planning., Presenter, Using Revocable Trusts as Estate Planning Tools, Lorman Education Services, Legal, 2008
- Discussed formation of tax exempt organizations, obtaining tax-exempt status, and maintaining compliant., Presenter, Tax Exempt Organizations in Texas, Lorman Education Services, Legal, 2007
- Discussed use of Family Limited Partnerships in business succession planning and with asset protection strategies., Presenter, The Future of Family Limited Partnerships in Estate Planning, American Women's Society of CPAs, Accounting, 2006
- Discussed each business entity type in Texas and contrasted each type with respect to asset protection qualities, functionality, and tax attributes., Author, Choice of Business Entity in Texas, Houston Business and Tax Law Journal, Volume 4, 2004, Legal, 2004
- Discussed each business entity type in Texas and contrasted each type with respect to asset protection qualities, functionality, and tax attributes., Presenter, Choice of Business Entity in Texas, 2003 Accounting Expo Sponsored by the TSCPA Foundation, April 22, 2003, Accounting Industry, 2003
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Served as observer on behalf of the National College of Probate Judges with respect to the Uniform Law Commission's drafting of The Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act , 2018
- Served as the Elected Judge of Harris County Probate Court No. 4 from 2011 through 2018 (two terms), 2011
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