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North Texas
Probate Bench Bar

April 29-May 1, 2026

North Texas Probate Bench Bar April 29-May 1, 2026North Texas Probate Bench Bar April 29-May 1, 2026North Texas Probate Bench Bar April 29-May 1, 2026
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North Texas
Probate Bench Bar

April 29-May 1, 2026

North Texas Probate Bench Bar April 29-May 1, 2026North Texas Probate Bench Bar April 29-May 1, 2026North Texas Probate Bench Bar April 29-May 1, 2026
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Schedule

wednesDAY, april 29, 2026 - PRE-GAME

4:00 p.m. - Check in for those staying on Wednesday night

6:30 p.m. - Gather in hotel lobby for tour of The Star in Frisco

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Tour of The Star in Frisco

MEET IN THE LOBBY AT 6:30 P.M.

The Star in Frisco is the 91-acre campus serving as the Dallas Cowboys World Corporate Headquarters and practice facility, featuring the 12,000-seat Ford Center indoor stadium, a 13-acre entertainment district, shopping, dining, and a luxury hotel. It acts as a premier destination for team training, high school football games, and public events. 

Tour FAQs

8:00 - 11:00 p.m. - Meet at Pete's Dueling Piano bar

6765 Winning Drive #810

Frisco, TX 75034 

THURSDAY, april 30, 2024 - GENERAL Session

8:00 - 9:00 - Breakfast

8:45 - 9:00 - Welcoming Remarks – Heather Bell (DBA Probate, Trusts & Estates Section Chair) & Chri

9:00 - 10:00 - Mediation Panel – Jim Hartnett, Chris Nolland, & Scott Weber

Don’t Phone It In - How to Actually Get the Best Results at Mediation

10:00 - 11:00 - Dependent Administrations – Nathan Griffin & Nikki Wolff

Mother May I? Statutory Requirements and Practical Realities of Dependent Administrations

11:00 - 11:15 - BREAK

11:15 - 12:00 - Erin Peirce (Moderator); Hon. Sarah Duff; Hon. Patricia Burns; Hon. Ingrid Warren

At the Courthouse Door: When and How to Seek, Defend, and Manage Temporary Guardianships

11:45 - 12:00p - Make lunch selections - buffet

12:00 - 12:45p - Lunch Presentation - Hon. David Jahn & Hon. Christopher Everett

AI from the Bench

12:45 - 1:00 - BREAK - TRANSITION TO BREAKOUT SESSIONS

4:15 - 4:45 - TRUST COMPANY PANEL

april 30, 2024 - Breakout sessions - Litigation

1:00 - 1:45 - Mark Caldwell

Better Requests, Better Responses: Drafting Targeted Requests for Production and Defensible 

Objections

1:45 - 2:30 - Hon. Lincoln Monroe

Problems in Determination of Heirships

2:30 - 2:40 - BREAK - STRETCH YOUR LEGS & GRAB A SNACK

2:40 - 3:25 - Brooke Allen (former Judge)

Lessons from the Bench

2:40 - 3:25 - Hon. Jones-Johnson & Charletta Breed, O.C.R.

How to Create a Stellar Record

april 30, 2024 - Breakout sessions - Tax and Planning

1:00 - 2:00 - John Hunter

Squeeze and Freeze Planning with 678 Trusts

2:00 - 3:00 - Bart Nebergall

Mergers & Acquisitions: An Overview and Practice Pointers for Trusts & Estates Attorneys

3:00 - 4:00 - Brandon Bloom & Bryce Klein

QSBS 101: Understanding the Section 1202 Gain Exclusion

4:00 - 4:15 - RETURN TO MAIN BALLROOM

april 30, 2024 - EVENING ENTERTAINMENT

5:00 - 6:30p - Cocktail Hour & a Half



7:00 - 8:30p - Dinner

8:30 - 11:00 - Karaoke and Dancing

The Fifth Annual Competition for the Chad McClain Broken Mic Trophy for the Best Solo Karaoke Performance by a Probate or Estate Planning Lawyer will be presented to the winner of this year's competition.  Other categories include best performance by a group and best duet with a sitting or retired judge.  Real-time voting will take place via the Whova App, the App for this year's Bench Bar.

11:00 - 1:30 - After-hours meetups

friday, may 1, 2024 - General Session

8:00 - 9:30 - Breakfast

8:30 - 8:45 - Welcome & Announcements - Heather Bell

8:45 - 9:30 - Hon. Edward Nolter & Hon. Ryan Trobee

Notice & Citation in Probate Court

9:30 - 10:15 - Chad Ruback

There are Traps in the TRAPs: Some Highlights of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure

10:15 - 10:30 - BREAK

10:30 - 11:15 - Hon. Chapman

Is your case in jeopardy? Probate Pitfalls: A view from the Bench

11:15 - 12:00 - Lynn Kelly (former Judge)

Effective Client Communication in Estate Planning & Probate

12:00 - Closing Remarks

12:15 - 6:00 - Golf Tournament

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