R. Dyann McCully

R. Dyann McCully, J.D., Partner, received her J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law, graduating with high honors, and her B.F.A. in Radio-TV-Film from Texas Christian University graduating summa cum laude. Ms. McCully is board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law and is a National Registered Guardian, a Texas Registered Guardian, and a Certified Mediator. Prior to joining The Blum Firm she was a shareholder with Bakutis, McCully & Sawyer, P.C. for over 21 years. Thomson Reuters has consistently recognized Ms. McCully as a Texas Super Lawyer and Fort Worth, Texas magazine has recognized her has one of Tarrant County’s Top Attorneys in Probate, Estates and Trusts. Ms. McCully specializes in guardianships, probate litigation, estate planning, and administration of decedent’s estates and guardianship estates, and serves as mediator for probate and guardianship matters.

Education & Accreditations

• Texas Christian University (1980)
  B.F.A. in Radio-TV-Film summa cum laude
• Southern Methodist University School of Law (1986)
  J.D. with High Honors: Order of the Coif; Order of Barristers;
  Law Journal: Journal of Air Law and Commerce, 1984-1986
• Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Honors & Awards

• Guardianship Services, Inc. – Ad Litem of the Year (2011)
• Judicial AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell (2001-present)
• Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers (2011-present)
• Recognized by Fort Worth, Texas magazine as one of Tarrant County’s Top Attorneys in Probate, Estates and Trusts (2003-present)
• Recognized by Thomson Reuters as a Texas Super Lawyer (2008-2009,2011,2013-present)
• Recognized by 360 West magazine as a Top Attorney (2018-present)

Professional Memberships & Designations

• Alliance for Children, Board Member
• Member, State Bar of Texas and State Bar of Texas Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section (REPTL)
• Member, REPTL Section Council (2019-present)
• Guardianship Chair, REPTL Guardianship Legislative Affairs Committee (2020-present)
• REPTL Guardianship Legislative Affairs Committee Member (2001-2004,2017-present)
• National Registered Guardian (NRG)
• Texas Registered Guardian
• Certified Mediator; Completed “Pioneer” Guardianship Mediation Training (2018)
• Tarrant County Probate Bar Association, Member
• Tarrant County Bar Association, Member
• Texas Attorney – Mediators Coalition, Member
• Association of Attorney – Mediators, Member
• National Guardianship Association
• Texas Guardianship Association
• Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, District 7 and 14B Subcommittee (2017-present)
• State Bar of Texas Fiduciary Litigation Course Planning Committee (2017)
• State Bar of Texas Advanced Elder Law & Guardianship Course, Course Director (2015), Planning Committee (2011,2013-2016)
• LivingStone University Partners, Chairman of the Board of Directors (2012-2015), Director (2011-2015)
• Fort Worth Christian School Board of Trustees, Trustee (2003-2008)
• Tarrant County Probate Bar Association Board of Directors, President (2005-2006), Director (2002-2007)
• Tarrant County Probate Bar Association’s Nuts and Bolts Seminar, Co-Chair (2007)
• Tarrant County Property Bar Association’s Probate Litigation Seminar, Co-Chair (2002-2003)

Author/Speaker

• State
• “Creating Guardianships: Presentation on Chapter 4 of the Texas Guardianship Manual,” Texas Guardianship Association Webinar (May 2023)
• Tarrant County Bar Association Fiduciary Litigation Course (2022)
• State Bar of Texas Advanced Guardianship Law Course (2021)
• “Court-Created Management Trusts,” Amarillo Area Bar Association Trusts & Estates CLE Seminar (2021)
• State Bar of Texas Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate Course (2021)
• North Texas Probate Bench Bar (2019-2020)
• Association of Attorney Mediators Fall Conference (2019)
• State Bar of Texas Advanced Guardianship Law Course (2005,2011,2013,2014,2016,2019)
• Fort Worth Chapter TXCPA Tax Institute (2019)
• State Bar of Texas Estate Planning and Probate Drafting Course (2018)
• State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course (2007,2010,2011,2018)
• Texas Tech University School of Law Estate Planning and Community Property Law Journal CLE & Expo (2018)
• Tarrant County Probate Bar Association Probate Litigation Seminar (2012,2014,2018)
• State Bar of Texas Fiduciary Litigation Course (2017)
• State Bar of Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Course (2015)
• Tarrant County Probate Bar Association Nuts and Bolts Course (2006,2007,2009,2011,2013)
• Moderator, State Bar of Texas Webcast, “How to Draft Living Wills and Incapacity Documents (2012)
• U.T. School of Law 12th Annual Estate Planning, Guardianship and Elder Law Conference (2010)
• National Guardianship Association National Conference (2007,2008)
• State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course Nuts and Bolts (2006)

Law Related Publications

• Texas Guardianship Manual, State Bar of Texas Manual Committee (2019).
• Extraordinary Remedies in Guardianships, 7 EST.PLAN & COMMUNITY PROP.J.159 (2015).
• Reviewing Editor in Practitioners Publishing Company’s Guide to Administering Estates, July 2004.
• Co-Author, Removal, Resignation, and Successor Representatives, and Final Settlement, Accounting and Discharge, Matthew Bender, Estate Planning and Probate Guide, 1993.