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Welcome…

Donald K. Nix, Attorney & Counselor At Law
In Arlington, Serving Tarrant County since 1971

Focus of my Law Practice

For many years, I referred to myself as a Primary Care Attorney, a term I borrowed from the health care field to describe the wide scope of my practice and the relationship I usually had with my clients. I have experience in many areas, including Family Law, Bankruptcy, Debtor/Creditor, Personal Injury, Worker’s Compensation, Small Business, even Criminal Law. I now limit my practice to Probate, Wills, and Estate Planning, but I can refer cases outside my area of practice to local attorneys that I know personally or by reputation.

Probate

Most of my clients have experienced a death of a family member (the Decedent), and need professional advice regarding probating the Decedent’s Will, or want to know what to do if the Decedent died without a Will (intestate).  Many contact me because I was the lawyer who prepared the Will, but that’s not a requirement. Any licensed Texas attorney may probate a will drafted by another attorney, sometimes even if it was drafted by a non-attorney.  If a person dies without a will, probate is often required, but then it’s more involved, more difficult, takes longer, and costs  more.

Last Will & Testament (Will)

Almost everyone should have a Will, and for most, the Will should be prepared and executed in a formal manner with witnesses, and acknowledged in the presence of a notary public.  Also, it’s important to regularly review your Will and keep it up to date.  State laws vary regarding Wills, and the Decedent’s legal domicile or residency usually determines where the probate case should  be filed.  When lawyers are consulted regarding Wills, they usually address related documents that are often executed a the same time as a Will.  The most common are Powers of Attorney (POAs), Health Care Powers of Attorney (HCPOAa), and Designations of Guardian, which are discussed in more detail in this website.

Legal Relationships

My job requires me to ask a lot of personal and financial questions. I try hard to learn as much as necessary to meet the legal needs of my clients, and this usually requires taking the time to educate them on their legal options.  Over the years, I have developed many long term relationships with individuals and whole families who trust me to answer their questions and give them good legal advice balanced with common sense.  My many years of experience has been more beneficial than my formal legal education, and I’ve seen more than my share of unfortunate mistakes made by people who failed to seek legal advice.

Call us…  817-460-5411

Or come see us… 915 West Mitchell Street, Arlington, Texas 76013