Johanna Ellen Bennett

Ellen’s practice focuses in the areas of probate, trusts, and guardianship disputes. She also handles routine estate and guardianship administrations. Ellen enjoys reviewing documents and gathering important facts to isolate and obtain key evidence, which she uses to persuasively present her clients’ cases.  Ellen believes with diligent preparation, even the most difficult probate disputes can be resolved in a cost efficient and fair manner.  She enjoys the opportunity that probate law provides to work closely with her clients and to seek creative solutions to important problems.  Ellen is active with the Dallas Volunteer Attorney program and believes it is important to give back to the community through pro bonowork.

Representative Experience

• Routinely serves as attorney ad litem, guardian ad litem, and administrator as appointed by Dallas County Probate Court Judges
• Represents executors, administrators, and guardians in all phases of estate administration
• Represented common law spouse in contested heirship proceeding
• Defended fiduciary and assisted her in meeting her duty to account in response to allegations of breach of fiduciary duty
• Successfully defended proposed ward in a permanent guardianship proceeding

Public Speaking & Publications

• Co-authored Attorney’s Fees in Dallas County Probate Courts, Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, April 2012 issue
• Who Watches the Watchdog:  Constitutional Interpretations Since September 11, 2001, presented to Daughters of the American Revolution, September 2011
• Co-authored When There’s No Will, Is There a Way?, Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, January 2011 issue
• Co-authored Responsibilities of a Guardian, State Bar of Texas Guardianship Certification Course, DVAP, Dallas, Texas, May 2010
• Mentoring and Pro Bono Experiences, Summer Associates Luncheon, Dallas Bar Association, June 2010
• Co-authored Select Ad Litem Issues in Probate Litigation, Tarrant County Probate Litigation Seminar, Fort Worth, Texas, September 2010

Community and Bar Association Involvement

• Dallas Bar Association, Probate and Trust section member, Trial Skills section member, Pro Bono Activities Committee section member
• Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, co-chaired Pro Bono Week 2011
• Member, College of the State Bar of Texas
• American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section

Education

• Juris Doctor, University of Missouri, School of Law, Columbia, Missouri
• Bachelor of Arts, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas