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Frances H. Bennett

Estate planning Attorney at Austin, TX

5.0   7 reviews
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Best Attorney of all time
Stephanie
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Surpassed My Expectations
Trudy
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About Frances

Learn Frances’s areas of practice.

3
Practice areas

My practice includes all aspects of trust, estate and related tax law including federal estate, gift, generation-skipping transfer and fiduciary income tax law.  I have extensive experience representing beneficiaries of estates and trusts, as well as individuals in their capacities as executors and trustees. 

I am passionate about the arts, theater, and philanthropy.  

Prior to attending law school, I was a successful business owner who founded a wholesale import business concentrating in specialty foods.

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Licensed for 30 years
State TX
Status Eligible to Practice in Texas
Acquired 1992
Updated 01/17/2023

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

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Brink Bennett Flaherty Golden pllc
7800 North Mopac, Ste 200
Austin, TX, 78759
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Reviews

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5.0 / 5.0
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Posted by Stephanie | January 19, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best Attorney of all time
Frances Bennett saved my family's estate from a corrupt financial advisor that was taking advantage of my grieving mother after my father passed. Her intuition and expertise coupled with compassion and care caught the disservice he was doing and set us on the right path with a new trust advisor that has since doubled her investment accounts. Frances also expertly handled my estate planning and prenup that protected me personally. Not only does Frances have decades of expertise in complex Estate Planning, she also has an unique ability, or 'sixth sense' as I would call it, to form valuable relationships with her clients and help them in ways normal attorneys do not. She educated my mother and I on estate planning and probate and assisted us every step of the way during a very difficult time. She is compassionate and truly cares about each of her clients.
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Posted by Trudy | August 7, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Surpassed My Expectations
I highly recommend Frances Bennett. She surpassed my expectations with her strong knowledge and effectiveness. Friendly and easy to communicate with I appreciate her promptness with my estate plan. A true professional in her field.
Posted by anonymous | September 10, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Frances is an exceptional, kind, thoughtful and strategic estate attorney.
In just over 18 years, Frances skillfully documented multiple estate plans recognizing changes in laws and life situations. As a same gender couple, before and after the legalization of same-gender marriage, Frances compassionately worked with us to protect our child and family. Frances is highly competent, thoughtful, friendly, open-minded, supportive and smart. We are grateful to Frances and her firm of professionals and highly recommend her services.
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Posted by Anne | September 25, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent experience
Frances has helped our family with very complicated estate planning. Our meetings have run smoothly and been productive because of her expertise. She patiently explains the contents of every document and answers all our questions. We have worked with Frances for 10 years and have great confidence in her.
Posted by anonymous | September 30, 2015
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Great Job
She helped us update our will and set up Power of Attorney explaining each document throughout the process. We are very pleased and will recommend her to friends and family.
Posted by Ken | May 24, 2014
Professional all the way
We were clients with unusual needs and Ms. Bennett made sure everything that needed to happen, did. The experience was excellent from beginning to end. No complaints. Have worked with her since and referred others as well.
Posted by Aileen | November 6, 2012
Frances Bennett is competent, professional, extremely knowledgeable, and compassionate.
Frances Bennett has been advising my family and me for more than a dozen years. She has competently and adeptly helped my husband and me plan and navigate the often choppy “estate waters” surrounding the sale of our business. Frances has also compassionately and professionally guided me through the necessary decisions I needed to make after the death of my husband; and has counseled me as to what I would need to do to protect my assets should I remarry. She is always in my court. I sleep well at night because I am secure in the knowledge that not only is she highly skilled at her craft, but in addition has my family’s and my best interests at heart.
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Resume

AVVO RATING 9.2 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Attorney
  • Bennett Flaherty PLLC
  • 2008 - Present
  • Bennett Smith, PC
  • 1997 - 2008
  • Law Clerk, Hon. Ricardo Hinojosa, Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Mcallen Division
  • 1996 - 1996
  • Smith Moore & Associates
  • 1996 - 1997
  • Law Clerk, Hon. Homer Thornberry
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • 1992 - 1996
  • Intern - Justice Jack Hightower
  • Texas Supreme Court
  • 1991 - 1991
View all work experience

Education

  • St. Mary's School of Law
  • Juris Doctor
  • 1992
  • University of Texas at Austin
  • B.A. - English and History
  • 1983

Associations

  • Austin Tax Study Group
  • Member
  • 2008 - Present
  • Austin Theatre Alliance - Paramount and State Theatres
  • President - Board of Directors
  • 2008 - Present
  • Estate Planning and Probate Section, Austin Bar Association
  • Member
  • 1997 - Present
  • Real Estate Probate & Trust Law Section, State Bar of Texas
  • Member
  • 1996 - Present
  • Austin Bar Association
  • Member
  • 1992 - Present
  • State Bar of Texas, Taxation Section, Estate and Inheritance Tax Committee
  • Chair
  • 2004 - 2006
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Honors and Awards

  • Best Lawyer, Trusts and Estates 2012
  • Texas' Best Lawyers
  • 2012
  • Board Certified - Estate Planning and Probate Law
  • Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • 2009

Publications

Speaking Engagements

  • Intermediate Estate Planning, June 2012
  • Key Provisions in Wills and Trusts that Can Make or Break You
  • 2012
  • Advanced Family Law
  • Real Estate, Oil and Gas and Estate Planning
  • 2011
  • Advanced Estate Planning and Probate
  • How to Prepare for the Estate Planning Specialization Exam
  • 2011
  • Blending Families, Lifestyles, and Assets
  • Estate Planning for Blended Families
  • 2010
  • Smart Planning for Smart Women
  • Special Assets and Special Gifts
  • 2009
  • Smart Planning for Smart Women
  • Basic Estate Planning
  • 2008
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (2)
Given (0)
Endorse Frances
Richard Timothy Jones headshot
Richard Jones
Estate planning Attorney | Jan 11
Relationship: Friend
"I endorse this lawyer."
Lance David Sharp headshot
Lance Sharp
Estate planning Attorney | Jan 06
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Frances Bennett is one of the most outstanding lawyers in her field both in Austin and in Texas. I have observed her in joint cases and with referrals. I have also seen her diligence in representation of and planning for her clients. In over 20 years of practice, I have rarely seen such a competent attorney who also clearly cares for her clients, their problems and in finding the proper solutions for them. She does not use forms, but tailors client's documents based upon each client's circumstances and family dynamics. All of the clients that I have referred to her are highly complimentary about their experience with Frances and her work for them. I would not trust anyone else for estate planning for myself or my clients."
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Austin Estate planning Lawyer Frances H. Bennett
Frances H. Bennett
Estate planning Attorney
Austin, TX
Licensed for 30 years
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