Stephen J. Helman - Austin, TX

Mr. Helman was a founding partner of Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton, LLP. Mr. Helman specialized in probate and estate planning law. He also served as one of four attorneys responsible for drafting and grading the Texas Board of Legal Specialization’s annual examination in estate planning and probate law. Mr. Helman was regularly listed in The Best Lawyers in America for his practice areas and is a former All American swimmer from Southern Methodist University. Mr. Helman is now retired from the practice of law and lives in Austin.

Education

• University of Texas Law School (J.D., with honors, 1978)

• Independent Study Program, Perkins School of Theology (1971-1973)

• Southern Methodist University (B.A., Spanish and Religion, 1971)

Publications and Presentations

• Speaker, "Duties and Responsibilities of Guardians," 15th Annual University of Texas School of Law Estate Planning, Guardianship and Elder Law Conference in Galveston, Texas (August 8-9, 2013)

• Speaker, "The Administration of Guardianships," State Bar of Texas Advanced Elder Law and Advanced Guardianship Law Course in Houston, Texas (April 11-12, 2013)

• Author, "Forced Heirship/Family Protections" (Texas Law Section), American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Study No. 21 (to be published)

• Co-author/speaker, "Dual Compensation Issues for Attorneys Serving as Fiduciaries", Texas College of Probate Judges Annual Meeting (2011); Texas College of Probate Judges Annual Meeting (2007).

• Author/Presenter, "Lawyer as Guardian, Lawyer as Applicant," State Bar of Texas Guardianship Course (2007)

• Author/Presenter, "The Role of the Guardian," State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course (2004); State Bar of Texas Guardianship and Elder Law Course (2004); University of Texas School of Law Estate Planning, Guardianship and Elder Law Conference (1999-2001); Texas College of Probate Judges Program in Guardianship Law Education (1995, 1997)

• Co-Author/Presenter, "12-Step Program to Avoid Malpractice: Are You Addicted to Tax Planning?," State Bar of Texas Guardianship and Advanced Elder Law Course (2003); University of Texas School of Law Estate Planning, Guardianship, and Elder Law Course (2003)

• Presenter, "Creditors’ Claims in Independent, Dependent and Guardianship Estates," University of Texas School of Law Estate Planning, Guardianship, and Elder Law Course (2002).

• Author/Presenter, "Beneficiary Designations for Retirement Plans and IRAs, With Emphasis in the New Proposed Regulation Governing Minimum Required Distributions," Travis County Bar Association Estate Planning and Probate Seminar (2002)

• Author/Presenter, "Administering Guardianships from Beginning to End," State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course (2001)

• Author/Presenter, "Guardianship Administration: The Basics," State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course (1998)

• Author/Presenter, "Integrating Guardianship with Overall Estate Planning," Southwestern Legal Foundation Annual Wills and Probate Institute (1995)

• Contributing Author, Asset Protection: Domestic and International Law and Tactics, (four volumes; updated quarterly) (West Group, 1995)

• Author, "Will Contests," in Texas Probate, Estate and Trust Administration (Matthew Bender 1994)

• Author/Presenter, "Tax Aspects of Will Contest Litigation," State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course (1994)

• Author/Presenter, "Independent Administration," University of Houston Law Foundation Wills and Probate Institute (1994); Texas College of Probate Judges Annual Meetings/Regional Workshops (1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003)

• Author/Presenter, "Selected Tax Issues in Will Contest Litigation," Travis County Bar Association Estate Planning and Probate Seminar (1994)

• Author/Presenter, "Conflicts in Representation: Client Identification Problems and Related Concerns," State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course (1990); Texas College of Probate Judges Annual Meeting (1990)

• Author/Presenter, "Protecting Your Client and Yourself in Hard Times," State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course (1988)

• Author/Presenter, "Dependent and Independent Administration – With Emphasis Upon Creditors’ Claims and the Accountability of Personal Representatives," Travis County Bar Association Estate Planning and Probate Seminar (1987)

• Author, "Protecting Assets in Hard Times," State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program (1987)