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A dedicated attorney and law professor who writes books about elder law and the First Amendment religion clauses, conducts a Wills Clinic in conjunction with his Wills and Trusts class, is a Registered Tax Return Preparer, and takes probate, guardianship, tax and related cases on a pro bono basis or at substantially reduced rates.
6
Practice Areas
27 years | 253 cases
26 years | 218 cases
28 years | 1,584 cases
16 years | 11 cases
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$0 first 30 minutes
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Chat withState: Texas
Acquired: 2005
No misconduct found
State: New York
Acquired: 1999
No misconduct found
3311 18th St., Suite 206, Lubbock, TX, 79409-0004
PO Box 94614, Lubbock, TX, 79493
2 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews | General Knowledge
Posted by Michelle | December 22, 2019 | Probate
Knowledgeable, Compassionate and Helpful Lawyer
After my father died recently I had no clue what to do. Dad's will appointed me Executor of his estate. Someone told me that my dad's estate needed to be probated. I did not know where to start. I did some research on probate lawyers, then called Professor James. He was so knowledgeable and helpfu...
Michelle: Thanks for your kind words. I do hope that things work out well with the probate of your dad's estate. It must be difficult for you, I know -- living on the mainland and being the executor of an estate in the Virgin Islands. But do not despair; this, too, shall pass. One last thing: I am not at all special because I referred you to these attorneys in the Virgin Islands. Contrary to what you see on TV, lawyers get along quite well with each other. I'll tell you truly that a lot of my work comes from referrals made by other lawyers. Thanks for everything. My regards to your husband, your children, your widowed mother, and your siblings. I pray for God's blessings upon you all. Vaughn
Posted by Margaret | October 22, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Attentive Researcher
Attorney James is good at what he does. He is very attentive and easy to talk to. Before going forward with the case he researched and came up with the best possible approach. I was very pleased with the outcome.
Thank you for your kind words. I was pleased with the outcome also. Thanks for putting your trust and confidence in me. All the best to you, your mother, and your siblings.
"I was privileged to take Mr. James' Elder Law class while in Law School and was blown away by the knowledge, sincerity, and overall genuineness of Mr. James. He has a passion beyond words for what he does and for those that he helps."
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2025
2024-2025 Advanced Professor of the Year, Texas Tech University School of Law
2024
Member, Pro Bono College, State Bar of Texas
2023
Member, Pro Bono College, State Bar of Texas
2022
Member, Pro Bono College, State Bar of Texas
2022
2022 Family/Elder Law Trailblazer, The National Law Journal
2021
Member, Pro Bono College, State Bar of Texas
2020
Member, Pro Bono College, State Bar of Texas
2019
Member, Pro Bono College, State Bar of Texas
2018
Member, Pro Bono College, State Bar of Texas
2017
Member, Pro Bono College, Texas State Bar
2016
Member, Pro Bono College, Texas State Bar
2016
Access to Justice Pro Bono Champion, Texas State Bar
2015
Member, Pro Bono College, Texas State Bar
2014
Member, Pro Bono College, Texas State Bar
2013
Member, Pro Bono Colege, Texas State Bar
2013
President's Excellence in Teaching Award, Texas Tech University
2012
Calypso Music Hall of Fame Inductee, Dominica Calypso Music Hall of Fame
2011
Engaged and Integrated Scholar Award, Texas Tech University
2009
President's Academic Achievement Award, Texas Tech University
2009
Extraordinary Minority Lawyer, Texas Lawyer Magazine
2008
Lifetime Achievement Award, FAME Dominica
2008
Member, Pro Bono College, Texas State Bar
2007
Heritage Legend Award, University of the West Indies
2006
Pro Bono Award, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
2001
Order of the Coif, Order of the Coif
1998
Order of Barristers, Order of Barristers
2019 - Present
Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Director, New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
2001 - Present
Judge Robert H. Bean Professor of Law, Texas Tech University School of Law
2000 - Present
Attorney and Counselor at Law, Vaughn E. James, Esq.
2004 - 2019
Associate Professor of Law, University Of Tennessee College Of Law
2000 - 2001
Visiting Assistant Professor, Syracuse Univsersity College of Law
1998 - 2000
Judicial Clerk, New York State Court of Appeals
1998 - 2001
Religious Liberty Director, New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
2006 - Present
Southeastern Association of Law SchoolsMember
2006 - Present
International Religious Liberty AssociationMember, Board of Experts
2005 - Present
State Bar of TexasMember
2001 - Present
Lubbock County Bar AssociationMember
2000 - Present
American Association of Law SchoolsMember
1998 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
1998 - Present
New York State Bar AssociationMember
Death certificate obtained and estate proceeded to probate in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Proceeds of decedent's estate duly distributed to his three children who survived him.
Estate admitted to probate on 10/11/2024; estate assets duly distributed to decedent's beneficiaries.
Settlement Agreement entered into.
Estate admitted to probate, inventory approved by court April 3, 2024
Estate admitted to probate on 11/20/2022 and assets distributed to will beneficiaries.
Estate admitted to probate. MERP claim yet resolved.
Estate entered into probate and Independent Administrator appointed and qualified.
Controversy settled as tax deferral upon the grounds that the taxpayer is over the age of 65.
Temporary Guardianship granted.
Estate entered into probate on March 4, 2019.
Inventory, Appraisement and List of Claims approved and entered of record February 19, 2019.
Order Approving Small Estate Affidavit signed by Lubbock County Court (Head, J.) on 10-26-2018.
Affidavit of Confirmation of Estate Proceedings by Fiduciary and Affirmation of Completion of Estate Proceedings by Attorney filed and entered
Federal income tax liability settled and estate distributed pursuant to the provisions of the Texas Estates Code. Order Approving Inventory, Appraisement & List of Claims signed and entered May 9, 2018.
Parmer County Court approved the Small Estate Affidavit filed therein that the distributees could close out the decedent's affairs and distribute his estate.
Estate probated, Letters Testamentary issued, and Order entered Approving Inventory, Appraisement, and List of Claims.
Petition granted and petitioner brother granted letters of guardianship.
Case decided against the petitioner on other grounds.
Estate probated, Independent Executor appointed, and Court issued order approving Inventory, Appraisement and List of Claims
There was no deficiency in income tax from, nor penalty due from the taxpayer for the tax year in question.
Caregiver had assumed the risk inherent in caring for an Alzheimer's patient. Judgment for the patient.
Petition granted; petitioner uncle granted letters of guardianship.
Estate entered into probate, Independent Administrator appointed and granted Letters of Administration, and Order Approving Inventory, Appraisement and List of Claims signed, entered and filed by the Court.
Estate admitted into probate, Independent executor appointed, Letters testamentary granted, and Order Approving Inventory, Appraisement and List of Claims signed, approved and entered of record by the Court.
Child custory transferred from Alzheimer's disease-stricken mother to healthy father, and mother granted visitation rights.
2013
PhD - Doctorate
1998
JD - Juris Doctor
1993
MBA
1991
Master of Divinity
1986
BA - Bachelor of Arts
2025
2022
2019
2019
2019
2017
2017
2017
2009
2008
The Intersection of Law and Religion
2008
Law and Religion in a Time of Social and Political Turmoil
2008
Alzheimer's Disease: Caring for the Caregivers
2008
It's Alzheimer's: Time to Plan
2008
International Taxation in the Caribbean Context
2008
Hate Speach Versus Religious Freedom: Finding the Balance
2008
Somebody Should Take a Stand!
2007
From Intolerance to Freedom
2007
Estate Planning with an Alzheimer's Orientation
2024
2022
2021
2020
2019
2017
2017
2016
2015
2012
2009
2008
2007
2004
2002
2002
French
English