Kristi Hyatt Brumfield

Kristi is a shareholder in the Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section. She is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She is licensed to practice in all Texas State Courts and the United States

Kristi devotes much of her practice to the preparation of wills and the creation and modification of trusts. Kristi prepares specialized estate planning documents to assist her clients reduce or avoid estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes.

Kristi helps families plan for the orderly transfer of family assets. She assists business owners with developing and implementing succession plans to help family businesses thrive after the founding generation retires or passes away. She counsels clients on the equitable division of estates. Kristi commonly advises owners of oil and gas interests regarding transfer techniques designed to avoid further fractionalization of interests over time.

Part of Kristi's practice involves advising clients concerning lawful asset protection techniques, including the establishment of family limited partnerships, separate property trusts and the preparation of marital property agreements.

Kristi spends a significant amount of time advising clients in preparation for any period of incapacity. She advises clients about Directives to Physicians (Living Wills or Advanced Directives), Medical Powers of Attorney, Statutory Durable Powers of Attorney (both immediate and springing) and Living Revocable Trusts. She has also advised clients about the option of pre-need guardian designations.

Advising fiduciaries and estate beneficiaries in matters relating to the probate of estates of decedents is a significant part of Kristi's practice. She has advised surviving spouses of decedents regarding their statutory rights and has advised fiduciaries, such as executors, administrators, and trustees, regarding the disposition of decedents' estates in both contested and uncontested matters. Kristi also handles Texas ancillary probates of non-resident decedents who owned property in Texas.