W. Albert Weatherly
Kristen Beall Burns
Patricia Theis Smith
Dorothy L. Scheehle
Julie Jensen
Julianna Dutton
Becky White
An East Texas native born in Hemphill, Texas, Kristen attended Baylor University (B.B.A., summa cum laude, 2004) and Baylor Law School (J.D., 2007; Order of the Barristers; Senior Executive Editor Baylor Law Review). She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2007. Kristen uses her experience to guide clients through the probate process during the difficult days and months after a loved one has passed and often is asked to assist our local courts as attorney ad litem or guardian ad litem in probate and guardianship matters. She also works with clients to develop their estate plans, which often include complex tax planning, special needs considerations, and family business creation and succession planning. Kristen is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas.
Born in Nacogdoches, Texas, and raised on a dairy farm (now a tree farm), Albert attended Stephen F. Austin State University (B.S., with high honors, 1976) and Baylor Law School (J.D., 1979). He has practiced law in Nacogdoches since being admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1979 and has extensive experience in all of the firm’s practice areas. Albert is a current member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Albert is also recognized as a Fellow of the College of the State Bar of Texas and is Board Certified® in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
He is a member of the Fredonia Rotary Club, where he served as President in 1994-95 and currently serves as Secretary. Albert served as President of the Nacogdoches County Bar Association and currently serves as Continuing Legal Education Chairman. At Baylor Law School, Albert was a member of the Order of Barristers and was a member of a winning moot court team.
As a current landowner with extensive family ties to Nacogdoches County since the 1840s, Albert is a strong proponent of forestry management and a member of the Texas Forestry Association and Angelina and Nacogdoches Counties Forestry Landowners Association. Albert has assisted numerous clients with comprehensive estate, succession, and long-term care plans involving the preservation of family land and other assets.
Born in Seoul, Korea and admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1991, Trish attended Seoul Foreign School, Seoul, Korea (1985), Baylor University (B.A., Business Administration, 1988) and the University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1991). After three years of civil litigation experience with Lorance & Thompson, P.C. in Houston, Texas, Trish was additionally licensed from 1994-2000 by the State of Texas as an Insurance Adjuster for casualty, general liability, fire, allied lines, and inland marine insurance and worked as in-house counsel for the Special Investigative Unit of State Farm Insurance Company. Trish has taught as an adjunct professor at Stephen F. Austin State University teaching General Insurance and Business Law. Trish began working at the firm in 2009 in the areas of probate, estate planning, elder law, and guardianship.
Born in Nacogdoches, Texas, Dorothy graduated with a B.A. from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1972 and graduated with a J. D. from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1982. Dorothy was licensed to practice law in Arizona for 20 years but declined to take the Texas bar exam after moving back to Texas in 2005. She has worked as a legal assistant for the Weatherly Law Firm since 2006 and uses her legal background to do initial intake interviews for estate planning and elder law clients. She also assists Albert and Kristen to draft basic estate planning documents and works with clients to gather information for Medicaid applications needed for long-term nursing home care. Dorothy often goes to nursing homes and to homebound clients for document signings when necessary. Dorothy provides support to the firm’s attorneys in a variety of practice areas.
Born in Lubbock, Texas, Julie graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1996 with her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting. Julie has over 25 years of bookkeeping and office management experience. She worked in Tyler for 13 years keeping books for a construction and residential management company and also for a local vineyard, winery and bed and breakfast. In 2011 Julie moved back to Nacogdoches where she has since worked for the firm as its Office Manager and Accountant. Julie handles all of the accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, year end taxes, various other accounting duties and office management. She also provides office support to the firm’s attorneys and legal staff, as well as overseeing file administration and task management for all client matters.
Born in Kissimmee, Florida, Julianna graduated from Southwestern Seminary in 2020 with her bachelor’s degree in Humanities. Julianna moved to Nacogdoches with her husband Nathan in 2020, and has worked for the firm since June of 2022. In 2023, Julianna completed a Certified Paralegal Course through Baylor University to deepen her understanding of the legal field and further equip her to assist with legal matters in our office. Julianna works closely with Kristen on her cases by conducting initial intake interviews for probate appointments, drafting probate and basic estate planning documents, filing documents with county clerk offices, and providing support to the attorneys with various administrative tasks around the office.
Born in Jasper, Texas, Becky has attended the Angelina College legal assistant program and the Post University online Criminal Justice BS program. Becky moved to Nacogdoches in 2006 and has been a permanent resident since. During her last fourteen years in Nacogdoches, Becky has worked in both private practice law office settings and public office settings and has held a variety of positions ranging from receptionist to legal assistant. Becky has been with the firm since May 2023 and makes it her goal to know each client as they call or come in. Becky handles receiving incoming calls, as well as working with both attorneys and other staff on a variety of administrative tasks relating to both estate planning and probate.
W. Albert Weatherly
Attorney
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Kristen Beall Burns
Attorney
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Patrica Theis Smith
Of Counsel
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Give us a call at (936) 564-5142 or visit us at our office at 412 North Street, Suite H., Nacogdoches, TX 75961, during normal business hours.