R. Keith Morris, III

R. Keith Morris, III, J.D., received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and his Bachelor of Arts from Texas A&M University. Mr. Morris is a leading probate and guardianship litigation attorney, practicing across Texas including in Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, and San Antonio. In addition to litigation, Mr. Morris’s practice also includes estate administration, estate planning, and serving as mediator for probate and guardianship matters. Mr. Morris is frequently appointed by county probate courts to serve in a fiduciary capacity as Ad Litem, Administrator, or Guardian. In addition to representing individuals, he is also experienced in representing companies in probate administrations who seek to open creditor’s administration.

Mr. Morris is consistently recognized as a “Houston Top Lawyer” in Probate and Guardianship Litigation by H Texas magazine and Houstonia magazine, as a “Power Lawyer” by Modern Luxury magazine, and as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Estate & Trust Litigation by Thomson Reuters. Mr. Morris was recently named a “Best Lawyer” in Trusts and Estates Litigation by Best Lawyers in America.

Education & Accreditations

• Texas A&M University (1997)
  Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
• University of Houston Law Center (2001)
  Juris Doctorate
• State Bar of Texas

Honors & Awards

• Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation-Trusts and Estates (2021-2023)
• “Texas Super Lawyer” in Estate & Trust Litigation by Thomson Reuters (2015-2019)
• “Texas Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters (2011-2015)
• “Houston Top Lawyer” in Probate and Guardianship Litigation by H Texas Magazine (2013, 2016-2019)
• “Houston Top Lawyer” by Houstonia Magazine (2012-2014)

Professional Memberships & Designations

• State Bar of Texas – Litigation Section; Estate Planning & Probate Section
• Tarrant County Probate Bar Association
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• Dallas Bar Association
• Adjunct Professor – Pre-Trial Advocacy, University of Houston Law Center (2015-2017)

Publications & Speeches

• “Estate and Trust Litigation,” South Texas College of Law Probate Clinic (April 2023)
• “The Role of Litigators in a Modern Estate Planning Practice,” co-authored with Marvin E. Blum, Trusts & Estates magazine (February 2023)
• “The Last Line of Defense or the Final Hurdle?: Navigating Frustrating Real Estate Transactions in Estate and Trusts,” Tarrant County Probate Bar Association (November 2022)
• “Estate and Trust Litigation,” South Texas College of Law Probate Clinic (November 2022)
• “Addressing Creditor Claims” at Texas Probate Process – 7 Simple Steps, National Business Institute (June 2022)
• “Estate and Trust Litigation,” South Texas College of Law Probate Clinic (April 2022)
• “Estate Planning and Cryptocurrency,” WEB3 Law Conference (April 2022)
• “Estate and Trust Litigation,” South Texas College of Law Probate Clinic (November 2021)
• “Fiduciary Duties in Real Estate and Beyond,” American National Bank and Trust (August 2021)
• “Probate Property vs. Non-Probate Assets & Handling Claims Against the Estate” at Texas Probate Process Start to Finish, National Business Institute (June 2021)
• “Estate and Trust Litigation,” South Texas College of Law Probate Clinic (April 2021)
• “Fiduciary Duties in Real Estate Transactions and Beyond,” Tarrant County Probate Bar Association (2021)
• “Estate and Trust Litigation,” South Texas College of Law Probate Clinic (November 2020)
• “Estate and Trust Litigation,” South Texas College of Law Probate Clinic (April 2020)
• “COVID-19 Has Increased Demand for Estate Planning. Here is How to Do It Right,” Texas Lawyer (2020)
• “Estate and Trust Litigation,” South Texas College of Law Probate Clinic (November 2019)
• “Estate and Trust Litigation,” South Texas College of Law Probate Clinic (April 2019)
• The University of Houston Law Center’s People’s Law School (2019)
• “Estate and Trust Litigation,” South Texas College of Law Probate Clinic (November 2018)
• “Estate and Trust Litigation,” South Texas College of Law Probate Clinic (April 2018)
• “‘Signing’ Without Signing: What Every Estate Planner Should Know About the Federal E-Sign Act and the Texas Uniform Electronic Transactions Act,” Montgomery County Bar Association (2018)
• “Agents and Managers for Athletes, Actors and Musicians and the Related Fiduciary Duties,” The State Bar of Texas (2018)
• “‘Signing’ Without Signing: What Every Estate Planner Should Know About the Federal E-Sign Act and the Texas Uniform Electronic Transactions Act,” National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys’ Annual Council of Advanced Practitioners Conference (2018)
• The University of Houston Law Center’s People’s Law School (2018)
• “How Not to Pay the Piper – Creditors and Estates,” San Antonio Estate Planners Council’s Docket Call in Probate Court (2018)
• “Estate and Trust Litigation,” South Texas College of Law Probate Clinic (November 2017)
• “Dealing with MERP Claims Through Probate Proceedings,” Advanced Elder Law (2017)
• The University of Houston Law Center’s People’s Law School (2017)
• “The Changing Face of the Jury Trial,” Fiduciary Litigation Seminar (2016)
• “Working with Creditors and Claims in Guardianship, Dependent and Independent Administrations,” The University of Texas School of Law’s Estate Planning, Guardianship, and Elder Law Conference (2016)
• “Prejudgment Processes and Procedures to Level the Playing Field – Tricks, Traps and Opportunities from a Litigator and Judicial Perspective,” The State Bar of Texas’s Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course (2016)
• The University of Houston Law Center’s People’s Law School (2016)
• “Texas Guardianship Manual” (Editor and Co-Author), State Bar of Texas (2015)
• “Prejudgment Processes and Procedures to Level the Playing Field – Tricks, Traps and Opportunities from a Litigator and Judicial Perspective,” Fiduciary Litigation Seminar (2015)
• The University of Houston Law Center’s People’s Law School (2015)
• “The Probate Process from Start to Finish,” National Business Institute (2015)
• “Intersection of Probate and Bankruptcy,” Houston Paralegal Association (2014)
• “The Probate Process from Start to Finish,” Institute for Paralegal Education (2013)
• “Fiduciary Duty in Real Estate Transactions,” Houston Bar Association Real Estate Section (2013)
• “Protecting and Administering Digital Assets,” Houston Bar Association Litigation Section (2013)
• “Estate Planning and Probate with Social Media in Mind,” Houston Bar Association Estate Planning and Probate Section (2012)
• “Guardian Ad Litems and Contested Matters,” Guardian Ad Litem Certification Course for South Texas College of Law’s Wills and Probate Institute (2011)
• “Planning for the Future,” Mended Hearts Support Group’s Annual Meeting (2011)
• “Estate Planning and Probate,” The University of Houston Law Center’s People’s Law School (2009)
• “Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step Is Important,” National Business Institute (2009)
• “Estate Planning and Probate,” The University of Houston Law Center’s People’s Law School (2009)
• “Finding FDCPA Claims in Bankruptcy,” Houston Association of Debtor’s Attorneys (2008)
• “Consumer Credit and Debt – How to Safeguard Your Credit,” Stonewall Lawyers Association’s Law Day (2007)
• “Consumer Credit and Debt – Debt Collection and Your Credit Report,” The University of Houston Law Center’s People’s Law School (2007)
• “Living the Dream: Perspectives on Solo Practice or Starting Your Own Firm,” Asian American Bar Association (2007)
• “Basics of Estate Planning,” Interfaith Care Partners (2006)
• “Organizing for the Future,” Interfaith Care Partners (2006)
• “Probate Law for Personal Injury Attorneys,” Texas Trial Lawyers Association (2006)
• “Death and Dying: Wills, Living Wills and Powers of Attorney,” The University of Houston Law Center’s People’s Law School (2006)
• “Basics of Estate Planning,” The American Legion (2006)