Elliott E. Burdette

Elliott has practiced for decades in the area of wills, trusts, estates, guardianships and probate. He routinely prepares living trusts, wills and handles probate administrations for his clientele. Elliott provides strategic advice and planning regarding trust and estate related disputes. He is skilled in helping clients resolve family related disputes arising after the death of a family member and has guided many clients through the litigation process. He is a versatile team member of an accomplished group of fiduciary, trust and probate litigation focused attorneys.

Education

• American University of Paris, France

• Bachelor of Arts (Government) from the University of Texas at Austin

• Juris Doctor, Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas

Recognition

• Rated AV Preeminent (highest possible) rating for both legal ability and ethical standards by Martindale-Hubbell since 1994

• Elected as a Life Fellow of The Texas Bar Foundation, 2006

• Winner of an American Jurisprudence Award as a law student

Papers & Speeches

• Presentation to the Collin County Enrolled Agents Association regarding Business and Estate Planning opportunities, June 1998

• Paper and Speech titled “Will or trust? Which is better for the client?” to the Solo and Small Firm Section of the Dallas Bar Association, September 2000

• Paper and Speech titled “Will or trust? Which is better for the client?” to the Solo and Small Firm Section of the Dallas Bar Association, January 2007

• Presented a paper and speech to attorneys at a National Business Institute seminar titled, “The Probate Process from Start to Finish”, December 2008

• Co-presented article, “Proof of Facts and Common Evidentiary Problems Encountered in Contested Probate Proceedings”, 7th Probate Litigation Seminar, sponsored by the Tarrant County Probate Bar Association (September 2010)

• Co-presenter of live State Bar of Texas video broadcast on the topic of “Remedies Available in Litigation Arising out of the uses of Powers of Attorney”, Austin, Texas January 2011

• Presentation to the National Conference of In Home Care Providers on the topic of “Agency Liability for Caregiver Misconduct”, Las Vegas, Nevada, November 2011

• Co-presenter: A Remedies Centered Approach to Litigation Involving Durable Powers of Attorney, Collin County Probate Bar Association, November 2012

• Author and Co-presenter of article titled, “Planning to Avoid Power of Attorney Litigation” at the University of Texas School of Law Continuing Legal Education Program, Galveston September 2013

• Presentation by national broadcast to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation employees on the topic of “Traps for the Unwary in Managing Family Estate Planning Issues,” March 2020

Bar Related Service

• Served for seven years as a member of the Dallas sub-committee of the State Bar of Texas Committee against the Unauthorized Practice of Law

• One-year terms as both Vice-Chair and Chair of the Minority Participation Committee of the Dallas Bar Association

• One-year terms as both Vice-Chair and Chair of the Dallas Bar Association’s Membership and Admissions Committee

• One-year terms as both Vice-Chair and Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Section of the Dallas Bar Association

Board Service

• Member of Board of Trustees of the Dallas Children’s Theater, 1998 – 2000

• Member of Board of Trustees of the North Texas Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America, 2003 – 2007

• Member of the Board of Trustees, since 2015, of the American University in Paris, aup.edu, a fully accredited English speaking university offering an American style education in the heart of Paris