Robert Smith Morris

With more than 45 years of experience, Robert S. Morris practices Estate Planning, Probate, and Elder Law. 

As a probate lawyer, Mr. Morris regularly handles probate  matters in Denton, Collin, Dallas and Tarrant counties.

Mr. Morris began his practice in Austin, Texas after graduating from the University of Texas School of Law.

In 1981 he left Austin to become County Attorney in Martin County, Texas, a position he held until 1985. 

In 1983, Mr. Morris was elected by his fellow prosecutors as a member of the board of directors of the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, a position he held from 1983-1985. 

In 1986, Mr. Morris accepted an appointment as First Assistant District Attorney for the 118th Judicial District. As First Assistant DA, Mr. Morris prosecuted governmental corruption, obtaining a conviction against a county employee on over 20 counts of misapplication of fiduciary property. He also handled appeals for the DA’s office, with no conviction ever being reversed. 

In 1987, Mr. Morris joined the Criminal District Attorney’s Office in Denton, where his job was to represent Denton County in civil matters. He represented the County in employment and contract matters, and defended the County from prisoner lawsuits in both state and federal court. 

In 1992, Mr. Morris left the DA’s office and went back to private practice and in 1994 joined Hammerle Finley where he has beeing practicing ever since.

Areas of Practice:

• Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning
• Probate and Estate Administration
• Elder Law

Memberships

Representative Cases:

• Reitmeyer v. Charm Craft Publisher, 619 S.W.2d. 441 (Tex. Civ. 1981)
• Downey v. Denton County, Texas, 119 F.3rd 381 (U.S. Court of Appeals-Fifth Circuit 1997)
• Gaskill v. Sneaky Enterprises, Inc, 997 S.W.2d 296 (Tex. . Worth 1999)
• Foley v. Perlier, 68 S.W. 3rd 870 (Tex. App- FT. Worth 2002)
• Meyer v. WMCO-GP, LLC, 211 S.W.3rd 302 (Tex. 2006)
• McCrary v. Office of Personnel Management, 459 F.3rd 1344 (US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, 2006)

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 1977
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Education:

J.D. from University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas

B.A. degree from Johns Hopkins University