Our Attorneys

Attorney Mark Stanton Smith

atysmith@heardandsmith.com

Mark Stanton Smith is a long-time resident of San Antonio. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Government in 1983. Upon returning to San Antonio, Mr. Smith graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1985 and shortly thereafter began his practice with Partner John R. Heard. Probate and guardianship are particular areas of interest for Mr. Smith and he has written, lectured and taught in these areas. Mr. Smith has served two terms as President of the National Guardianship Association and is a nationally recognized expert in guardianship law. In 1996, Mr. Smith was elected to the Texas Guardianship Advisory Board by the probate judges of Texas. Mr. Smith has been involved in hundreds of cases and estates, including contested guardianship and wills and has litigated cases throughout the federal and state court systems. Recently, Mr. Smith received an appointment to the Advisory Council of the Center for American History, a division of the University of Texas at Austin.

Education
University of Texas at Austin, B.A. (1982)
St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D. (1985)

Professional Background
Partner, Heard & Smith, L.L.P.
Licensed in Texas Courts
Admitted in practice before the Federal Western District of Texas, the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, the Court of Veterans Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Activities
President, National Guardianship Association (1998–2000)
Director, National Guardianship Association (1994–2005)
Director, Guardianship Advisory Board (appointed 1997)
Chair of Advisory Council of the Center for American History, University of Texas (2005-2011)
Member of College of State Bar of Texas
San Antonio Bar Association
State Bar of Texas
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
San Antonio Estate Planning Council

Speaker at 1996 National Guardianship Association Annual Conference, Litigating Contested Guardianships and Fiduciary Litigation

Keynote address at 1998 National Guardianship Association Annual Conference, The Future of Guardianship

Keynote address at 1999 National Guardianship Association Annual Conference, Professionalism in Guardianship

Speaker at 1998 Texas Guardianship Association Conference, End of Life Decisions

Speaker at 1999 Texas Guardianship Association Conference, National Developments in Guardianship and panel discussion: End of Life Decisions

Speaker at 1999 National Conference of Probate Judges, Update from the National Guardianship Association

Speaker at 2000 Docket Call presented by San Antonio Young Lawyer’s Association, Lost in Space? Where to Go When You Need Help

Quoted in the Wall Street Journal, May 8, 1998

Quoted in Worth Magazine "Guardian Angels", July 1998

Representative Clients
Frost National Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, National Bank and Trust, City of Castle Hills, City of Olmos Park, City of Helotes, City of Hollywood Park, Ingleside Independent School District, Southwest Independent School District, League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

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