HOW I GOT STARTED IN THIS AREA OF LAW
I am an attorney with James, House, Swann & Downing, P.A. in Little Rock, Arkansas. I have been with this firm since 1998 when I was in law school, first as a law clerk and then as a lawyer after I graduated in 1999. Estate, Trust, Probate and Inheritance Litigation is a principal area of my law practice, and I know of few other Arkansas attorneys whose primary focus is in this rather narrow niche. Lots of attorneys don't like these cases, or don't want or really know how to handle them, and I appreciate their referrals.
My first deposition was in a litigated estate and trust matter, as was my first trial. Ever since those early experiences I have found this specific area of law to be interesting and challenging. The family and institutional battles over money and property, which can erupt both before and after a loved one's passing, have proven to be numerous and endlessly fascinating. I frequently calls these cases "divorces on steroids."
THE NATURE OF THIS AREA OF LAW
The Baby Boomers are retiring at the rate of many thousands of people every day. As they (and their parents) pass away over the next many years our country will experience the largest transfer of wealth in human history. Younger generations' inheritance of massive sums of money and property will take place through wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations. For those deceased persons who do not have wills, trusts or beneficiary designations (or whose wills, trusts or beneficiary designations are subsequently invalidated by a court for some reason), each state's default system of "intestate succession" will dictate how that person's property is to be distributed.
THE FUTURE OF THIS AREA OF LAW
As the Baby Boomers grow older and smaller in number, I strongly believe that there will be increasingly more inheritance-related conflicts and disputes which stem from this demographic phenomenon. It will simply be inevitable based upon the sheer numbers of people passing away and the immense wealth that those persons accumulated during their lifetimes. Because of this trend, and the simple fact that I enjoy the work and have experienced success in the field, I intend to spend the remainder of my legal career focusing in large part upon this particular area of law.
OTHER AREAS OF LAW IN WHICH I PRACTICE
In addition to representing estate and trust fiduciaries (trustees, executors, power of attorney agents, etc.) and beneficiaries in litigated matters, my other primary practice areas are Business and Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury, Accidents & Wrongful Death; Family Law; Employment Litigation; Construction Disputes; Health Care and Hospital Litigation; and Federal and State Appeals. I am honored to have previously been named to the annual Mid-South Super Lawyers lists (2013-2022), to multiple Little Rock Soiree "Top 100" Lawyers lists, and to the Arkansas Business "40 Under 40" list (back when I was still young and had more hair).
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR LAW FIRM
James, House, Swann & Downing, P.A. is a long-established law firm which has successfully handled a wide variety of civil and criminal legal matters for individuals and businesses, ranging from small entities to Fortune 500 companies. Our firm represents both plaintiffs and defendants, is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell, and has been listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, and White Collar Criminal Defense. James, House, Swann & Downing, P.A. handles cases throughout the State of Arkansas and beyond.
CONTACTING ME REGARDING POSSIBLE REPRESENTATION
I can be reached by telephone at 501-372-6555, by electronic mail at mhouse@jamesandhouse.com, by facsimile at 501-372-6333, or by regular mail at Post Office Box 3585, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203. We are conveniently located at 801 West Third Street (the corner of 3rd and State) in downtown Little Rock, centrally situated between the federal, state, and county courthouses.
DISCLAIMER/LEGALESE
This Blog is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for legal advice. Some of the posts are many years old, and laws occasionally change. Absent a written and signed representation agreement, neither I nor my firm are your attorneys and neither this Blog, nor any telephone call, letter, fax, or e-mail inquiry, creates an attorney-client relationship. Thank you for reading.