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David Michael Butterbaugh
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About David
Biography
David is licensed to practice in Texas and Florida. His practice areas include:
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Estate Planning Law
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Probate Law
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Guardianship Law
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Business Law
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Real Estate Law
David belongs to several organizations, currently or in the past, including the San Antonio Estate Planners Council, the Planned Giving Council of San Antonio, and the San Antonio Christian Business Chamber of Commerce. He has been Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2010. Only ten percent of all attorneys in Texas are Board Certified in any practice area, and fewer than one percent are Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law. Board Certification is a mark of excellence and a distinguishing accomplishment. Board Certified lawyers are the only attorneys allowed by the State Bar of Texas to publicly represent themselves as a specialist in a select area of the law. For more information on the value of working with a Board Certified attorney, visit the Texas Board of Legal Specialization website at .
Mr. Butterbaugh serves on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army San Antonio Area Command and has chaired its Programs Committee. He also has served as an Elder at Grace Community Church of San Antonio (). He is married to Adela and has been blessed by God with three wonderful children.
Board Certified in Estate Planning & Probate Law by TBLS - Contact us today for a free consultation
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
Probate
40%
31 years
Estate Planning
25%
31 years
Wills and Living Wills
25%
31 years
Elder Law
5%
27 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Awards
2025 2020 2019
...
+
3
2016
Licenses
Licensed in Texas for 19 years
State: Texas
Acquired: 2006
No misconduct found
Licensed in Florida for 24 years
State: Florida
Acquired: 2002
No misconduct found
Location
Law Office of David M. Butterbaugh, P.C.
(210) 943-9550
Mobile
Brackenridge Plaza, 3308 Broadway, Suite 303, San Antonio, TX, 78209
sanantonioprobatelaw.com/David Michael Butterbaugh's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
78 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Showing 76 - 78 of 78 reviews
Posted by Mark | January 26, 2016 | Hired Attorney
The finest and kindest professional around!
If you want a professional who has superior ethics, who is kind and compassionate, offers affordable prices, and who knows his business -- David Butterbaugh is the one! He is my attorney, and I highly commend him to you as well!
Posted by Ron | June 13, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Probate
Will probate
David is very personable and forthcoming. We discussed and reviewed some options, resolved a couple of issues and went to probate. This was all done in a very expeditious fashion. I’m glad to recommend David to anyone in regard to wills and probate.
Posted by Amanda | October 01, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Wills & Living Wills
Do not hire this attorney-very unprofessional
My husband and I were very disappointed with the service from this lawyer. David not only did not communicate through our updated will process but he was also very distracted, unorganized and unprofessional. He was also very forward and pushy with his religious beliefs and made us very uncomfortable....
David Butterbaugh
Replied last October 08, 2025Amanda, I am sorry to read your comments. This is the first I have heard of any concerns, which I find unusual given that I originally met with you and your husband and prepared your estate planning documents in May and June 2023, almost two and a half years ago. Additionally, you contacted me again in October 2024 requesting further changes to your estate plan. We had meetings scheduled in November and December 2024 to discuss these changes, both of which you canceled. In January 2025, I informed you that my mother-in-law had just passed away, and that I was extremely busy. The last communication I received from you was in February 2025, eight months ago. In my 25 years of legal practice, I have represented hundreds of clients, and no one has ever accused me of being pushy with my beliefs, religious, political, or otherwise. You hired another attorney to make additional changes to your estate planning documents, NOT to redo everything I had already prepared. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly.
David Michael Butterbaugh's Lawyer Endorsements
"David is an esteemed colleague, who is respected in the profession for his precise work product, wisdom, experience and ethical standards. I refer David estate planning and probate matters, based on referral satisfaction. Every referred client to David, shares with me positive, enthusiastic and consistent feedback. Namely, David treats his clients as if they were his friends and/or family members, who require learned, zealous and expert management of their estate planning and probate needs. Also, David's clients appreciate his personal attention to and regard for their complex issues and family dynamics, which often demand additional time, patience and consideration. He is skilled at aggressively pursuing relief for clients, as well as at communicating in a clear and concise manner. Thus, David's clients are not only aware of their rights and duties, but are confident they are managed by a profoundly talented, resourceful and thorough estate planning and probate lawyer."
"I have worked with David an many matters over the last several years and I have always found him to be a capable, knowledgeable and caring attorney who holds himself to the highest degree of professionalism in the field of estate planning. For these reasons I endorse David as an estate planning attorney."
"I have known David for a number of years. He is on a short list of lawyers that I would trust to send my family too. He is smart, professional, and truly values people. I am happy to endorse him."
"David is a well respected member of the San Antonio legal community. He is Board Certified and licensed in Texas and Florida. David is an attorney of high moral character. I recommend this attorney."
"I endorse David Butterbaugh. He is very bright, impeccably honest and generous with his time and spirit."
"David Butterbaugh brings his intellect and problem-solving abilities to his clients' situations on the estate planning side and also during the probate process. He is board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His dual licensure in Texas and Florida also assist people with property in both jurisdictions."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"David is an excellent attorney and I am happy to endorse this lawyer."
"David is one of the most dedicated, skilled, knowledgeable, and caring lawyers I have ever had the honor of knowing. I am proud to endorse this David. He is the go-to guy on probate matters."
Betsy Riley
Family lawyer
Carol Bertsch
Elder law lawyer
Experience
Honors
2020
Board Certified - Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
2016
Best S.A. Lawyers 2016 - Estate Planning & Trusts, San Antonio Scene Magazine
2016
Best S.A. Lawyers 2016 - Probate, San Antonio Scene Magazine
2015
Board Certified - Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
2010
Board Certified - Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Work Experience
2014 - 2015
Shareholder, Plunkett & Griesenbeck, Inc.
2010 - 2013
Associate, Gardner Law Firm, PLLC
2006 - 2010
Owner, Law Office of David M. Butterbaugh
2004 - 2005
Trust & Estates Attorney, Ruden McClosky
Associations
2010 - Present
Planned Giving Council of San AntonioMember
2009 - Present
The Salvation Army San Antonio Area CommandMember, Advisory Board
2006 - Present
San Antonio Estate Planners CouncilMember
2006 - Present
San Antonio Bar AssociationMember
Education
2001
Nova Southeastern University
JD - Juris Doctor
1985
Cornell University
BS - Bachelor of Science
Speaking Engagements
2015
The Probate Process from Start to Finish
Administration of the Estate
2015
The Probate Process from Start to Finish
Homestead Allowance, Family Allowance, and Exempt Property in Texas
Activity
Legal Answers
Top Contributor
David earned significant contribution points in 2016.
Legal Answers
Q&A
Who owns property?
22 Apr 2021
Q&A
What does this mean? its the second one, ORDER EXTENDING TIME FOR DISCHARGE Case No. 17-005085-ES pinellas county
15 Jun 2019
Q&A
Father passed away and he has about $.5000.00 in account but no beneficiary. How can the wife of the decease claim the money?
11 Mar 2018