Molly Dear Abshire Attorney

First Admitted: 1993, Texas

Professional Webpage: https://www.wrightabshire.com/attorney/molly-d-abshire/

Bar / Professional Activity:

Council Member, Houston Bar Association, Probate, Trusts & Estates Section, 2009 - Present
U.S. Supreme Court
Texas Chapter of NAELA, Board Member, 2005-2011
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Member
State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate & Trust Section, Council Member
Texas, 1993
The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Fellow

Videos:

The issues that the practice of elder law addresses affect virtually every family at some time in their lives. Elder law consists of a variety of laws from many legal areas that concern seniors, ranging from estate planning and nursing home litigation, to health and personal care advice, to Medicare and Medicaid planning in Texas, and probate., Elder Law
Probate is a process whereby matters pertaining to a decedent's estate are "proven" in court and title to assets in the estate passes to the rightful beneficiaries under a decedent's Will or by the laws of intestacy when a person dies without a Will., Probate
There are times when an individual is no longer capable of making many important decisions for themselves. As your elder law attorney, Wright Abshire can assist you in becoming appointed Guardian of your loved one, ensuring that they will be secure and cared for and that you will be in control of decisions pertaining to his or her person and property., Guardianship

Representative Clients:

Medicaid planning, estate planning with an emphasis on planning for the special needs of the disabled and probate.

Special Licenses / Certifications:

Accredited Claims Attorney, Department of Veterans Affairs
Certified Elder Law Attorney, National Elder Law Foundation
Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Honors:

Elder Law, Trusts and Estates, 2008-2025, Best Lawyers
Molly Dear Abshire | Best Lawyers 2025
Top 50: Women Texas Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2025
Top 100: Texas Super Lawyers: 2025
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2008, 2012-2025, The Best Lawyers in America
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers, 2016
Listed in the Top 100: Houston Super Lawyers Top List, Super Lawyers, 2014
AV® Peer Review Rated*, Martindale Hubbell
Houston's Top Lawyers for the People 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, H Texas Magazine
Fellow, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel “ACTEC”
Listed in Texas Super Lawyers, Estate Planning and Probate, 2007-2016, Texas Monthly
Listed as Lawyer of the Year in Elder Law, 2012 and 2016, Texas' Best Lawyers
Lawyers on the Fast Track, H Texas Magazine, 2004

Educational Background:

Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, B.A. - English, 1989

Scholarly Lectures / Writings:

Windsor Club, “Special Needs Trusts 101: The Basics,” Speaker, Houston, April 2025
The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, “In the Pitch: Fairway or Rough? Managing Client Needs (and Mitigating Client Issues) Post-Planning”, Speaker, California, March 2025
State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate Course, Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, Houston, January 2007
Hidalgo County Bar Association, "Elder Law Planning and Special Needs Trusts," Speaker, McAllen, May 2013
State Bar of Texas, "Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning & Probate Course, Elder Law Drafting Considerations," Speaker, Austin, October 2005
Dallas Society of CPAs, "Financing Long-Term Care," Speaker, Dallas, May 2013
University of Texas School of Law, Elder Law Conference, "Nursing Home Misrepresentations," Speaker, Galveston, August 2005
State Bar of Texas Building Blocks of Wills, Estate and Probate Course, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2013
State Bar of Texas, "Elder Law Primer," Speaker, Dallas, June 2005
Corpus Christi Estate Planning Council, "The Top Ten Things an Estate Planner Should Know About Elder Law," Speaker, Corpus Christi, October 2012
Attorneys in Tax & Probate, "Medicaid Update," Speaker, Houston, May 2005
American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits," New York, July 2012
Disability & Elder Law Attorneys Association, "How to Determine if Your Client Qualifies for Low-Cost Housing," Speaker, Houston, February 2005
State Bar of Texas, Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, The Top Ten Things an Estate Planner Should Know About Elder Law, San Antonio, June 2012
State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate Course, Live Studio Broadcast, "Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, January 2006
University of Texas School of Law, Special Needs Trusts: A Guide for Attorneys, "Financial Advisors & Trust Officers, HUD Housing," Speaker, Austin, February 2005
South Texas College of Law, "Elder Law Symposium, Guardianship Alternatives, Including Powers of Attorney," Co-Speaker, Houston, April 2012
Save My Home! Saving Your Home, Farm or Ranch from Medicaid Estate Recovery in Texas, Co-Author
State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate Course, A Live Studio Broadcast, Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, January 2005
Rio Grande Valley Estate Planning Council, "Elder Law Overview," Speaker, McAllen, April 2012
Thomson West's, Texas Elder Law, Vol. 51, Texas Practice Series, Co-Author
State Bar of Texas, Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning & Probate Course, "Drafting for the Elderly: Medicaid & Other Mountains, Speaker, League City, October 2004
Hidalgo County Bar Association, "Special Needs Trust," Speaker, McAllen, April 2012
Houston Chronicle Columnist, "Elder Law Notes," Monthly, 50+ Section
University of Texas School of Law, Intermediate Estate Planning, Guardianship & Elder Law Conference, "Affordable Housing," Speaker, Galveston, August 2004
State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate, "Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2012
"Planning Effectively to Cope with Medicaid Estate Recovery," Estate Planning, Vol. 32 No. 8, Co-Author, August 2005
Halfmoon LLC, Practical Medicare & Medicaid Skills in Texas, Medicaid Benefits & Eligibility, Speaker, Houston, August 2004
State Bar of Texas, Medicaid 101, "Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, November 2011
South Texas College of Law, Representing the Elderly Client: Estate Planning, Special Needs Trusts & Guardianships, "Fifteen Misrepresentations Made by Nursing Homes," Co-Author, Houston, May 2002
University of Houston, Wills & Probate Institute, Medicaid, Medicare & Estate Recovery: Can You Get the Benefits without Losing Everything, Speaker, Houston, May 2004
South Texas College of Law, "26th Annual Wills & Probate Institute, Medicaid & VA Updates," Speaker, September 2011
American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits," Speaker, New York, July 2011
State Bar of Texas, Elder Law Course, "Basic Medicaid & Long-Term Care Planning," Co-Author, Austin, March 2002
National Business Institute, Estate, Financial & Health Care Planning Seminar, Speaker Houston, April 2004
State Bar of Texas, "35th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Law Course, Medicaid & VA Update," Speaker, Fort Worth, June 2011
Houston Bar Association, Wills & Probate Institute, "Practical Considerations in Medicaid Planning: Twelve Things to Avoid," Co-Author, Houston, February 2002
State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate Course, A Live Studio Broadcast, "Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, January 2004
Hidalgo County Bar Association, "Building a Successful Estate Planning & Probate Law Practice, Court Created Trusts in Texas, Including Ethical Considerations," Speaker, McAllen, March 2011
State Bar of Texas, Advanced Estate Planning & Probate Institute, "Report on Medicare After the HMO Retreat, What's New in Advanced Medicaid Planning Techniques & Prospective Dilemmas in Medicaid Planning," Co-Author, Houston, June 2001
Disability & Elder Law Attorneys Association, Basic Self-Settled SNTs/Pooled Trusts, Speaker, Houston, May 2003
State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates, & Probate, Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2011
"Miller Trust May Help You, Loved One, Qualify for Medicaid Benefits," Houston Chronicle, 50+ Section, Co-Author, March 2001
South Texas College of Law, Elder Law Conference: Estate Planning, Special Needs Trusts & Guardianships, Ten Common Errors in Medicaid Planning, Speaker, Houston, May 2003
State Bar of Texas, "Estate Planning & Probate Drafting Course, Drafting to Retain Governmental Benefits for Devisees," Speaker, Houston, October 2010
The University of Texas School of Law, Intermediate Estate Planning, Guardianship & Elder Law Conference, "Recognizing & Responding to Inappropriate or Illegal Estate Planning," Co-Author, Galveston, August 2000
Halfmoon LLC Seminars: Practical Medicare & Medicaid Skills in Texas, "Planning for Medicaid Eligibility & Avoiding the Unauthorized Practice of Law, Speaker, Houston, March 2003
South Texas College of Law, "25th Annual Wills & Probate Institute, Medicaid Update," Speaker, Houston, September 2010
"Special Trust Protects from Medicaid Rules," Houston Chronicle, 50+ Section, Co-Author, February 2000
South Texas College of Law, Representing the Elder Client: Estate Planning, Special Needs Trusts & Guardianships, Speaker, Houston, September 2002
State Bar of Texas, "Advanced Elder Law 2010, 2009 Legislative Changes," Speaker, Dallas, April 2010
"Assessing a Person for Nursing Home Medicaid Eligibility," The Pocket Guide, Co-Author, 1999
South Texas College of Law, Wills & Probate Institute, Medicaid Planning, Speaker, Houston, September 2001
State Bar of Texas, Elder Law Course, Abuse, Neglect & Financial Exploitation of the Elderly, Co-Author, Houston & Dallas, December 2000 & February 2001
State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate, Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2010
Dallas Society of CPAs, "Capacity Issues," Speaker, Dallas, January 2016
NASA/Johnson Space Center, Total Health & Safety Day, Elder Law Issues, Speaker, October 2000
Houston Bar Association, "Guardianship Ad Litem in Probate Court & Elder Law Institute, Continuing Legal Education, Introduction To Veterans Benefits," Speaker, Houston, January 2010
State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate 2016, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2016
State Bar of Texas, Agricultural Law Seminar, Trespass Concerns, Austin, June 1994
State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate Course," Speaker, January 2009
State Bar of Texas, Handling Your First (Or Next) Medicaid Case, "Creating a Plan to Achieve Medicaid Eligibility," Speaker, Austin, December 2015
State Bar of Texas, "Advanced Elder Law & Guardianship Course, "Medicaid Estate Recovery Program," Speaker, Houston, March 2009
American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits, Including SNTs," New York, July 2015
State Bar of Texas, "Medicaid Planning, What You Can Do and You Must Know," Speaker, Austin, November 2008
State Bar of Texas, Advanced Elder Law and Guardianship Course, "Initial Client Meeting for Medicaid Planning," Speaker, Houston, April 2015
State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estate and Probate Course, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2015
Houston Bar Association, "Sole-Benefit Trusts," Speaker, Houston, July 2008
State Bar of Texas, 16th Annual State Bar College Summer School Course, "Elder Law and Disability Issues," Speaker, Galveston, July 2014
"Victoria Area Regional Estate Planning Council, Wills & Supplemental Needs Trusts Overview," Speaker, Victoria, May 2008
American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits, Including Special Needs Trusts," Speaker, New York City, July 2014
State Bar of Texas, "Advanced Guardianship & Elder Law Course, When Family Law & Elder Law Intersect," Speaker, Dallas, March 2008
University of Houston, 12th Annual Gulf Coast Regional Gift Planning Conference, The Top Ten Things a Planner Should Know about Elder Law, UH Hilton, Houston, April 2014
Disability & Elder Law Attorneys Association, "Non-Institutional Medicaid Programs for the Elderly & Disabled," Speaker, Houston, January 2008
State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estate and Probate Course, "Elder Law Overview," Speaker, Austin, January 2014
State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate Course," Speaker, January 2008
State Bar of Texas, 15th Annual Summer School Course, "Top Ten Things an Estate Planner Should Know," Speaker, Galveston, July 2013
Attorney in Tax & Probate, "Supplemental Needs Trusts Overview," Speaker, Houston, April 2007
American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits, Including Special Needs Trusts, Speaker, New York City, July 2013
Houston Bar Association, "Probate, Trusts & Estates Section Meeting, Medicaid Changes & Strategies," Speaker, Houston, March 2007
University of Texas, "Special Needs Trust Conference, Special Needs Trust Overview," Speaker, February 2007
State Bar of Texas, "Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, Hot Topics in Elder Law," Speaker, Houston, June 2013

Other Outstanding Achievements:

Member, Houston Bar Association, Probate, Trusts & Estates Section
Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Member, State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate & Trust Section
Member, Texas Chapter of NAELA, Board Member, 2005 - Present
Member, College of the State Bar of Texas

Firm News (Newsletters):

Wright Abshire, Attorneys Newsletter

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