Elder Law Attorneys Helping You Plan For The Future
Molly Dear Abshire
Practice Areas:
- Elder Law
- Probate and Estate Administration
- Special Needs Trust Planning
- Trust Administration
Education
- South Texas College of Law Houston, Houston, Texas
- J.D. - 1993
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
- B.A. - English - 1989
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1993
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Supreme Court
Licenses and Certifications
- Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Certified Elder Law Attorney, National Elder Law Foundation
- Accredited Claims Attorney, Department of Veterans Affairs
Professional Awards and Honors
- Listed as a Top Rated Lawyer in Trust & Estate Law, The American Lawyer Magazine, 2013
- Listed as Lawyer of the Year in Elder Law, Best Lawyers, 2012, 2016, 2018 and 2024
- Listed in Best Lawyers - Elder Law, Trusts and Estates, 2008-2024
- Listed in Texas Super Lawyers - Elder Law, Estate Planning and Probate, 2007-2024
- Listed in the Top 100: Houston Super Lawyers Top List, 2014, 2023-2024
- Listed in the Top 50: Women Texas Super Lawyers Top List, 2024
- Top Women Attorneys in Texas, Texas Monthly, 2023
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2008, 2012-2023
- Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2008, 2010, 2012-2015
- Listed as a Top Lawyer in Elder Law, Houstonia Magazine, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021
- Lawyers on the Fast Track, H Texas Magazine, 2004
- Martindale Hubble AV® Peer Review Rated
Professional Presentations
- University of Texas, 2024 Special Needs Trust Conference, “Overview of Special Needs Trust”, Speaker, Austin, February 2024
- State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate 2024, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January, 2024
- Houston Young Lawyer Association, Special Needs Planning and Guardianship Nuts and Bolts, May, 2023
- University of Texas, 2023 Special Needs Trust Conference, "Overview of Special Needs Trust," Speaker, February, 2023
- State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate 2023, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January, 2023
- State Bar of Texas Advanced Guardianship Law & Advanced Elder Law Conference, November 2022, Course Director
- Houston Business and Estate Planning Counsel, Top Ten Things to Know Regarding Elder Law, Houston, September 2022
- Houston Bar Association, Focus on Medicaid and Medicare, September 2022
- Co-Chair State Bar of Texas Handling Your First (or Next) Medicaid or Elder Law Case, Austin, Texas, March 2022
- University of Texas, 2022 Special Needs Trust Conference, "Overview of Special Needs Trust," Speaker, Webcast, February, 2022
- State Bar of Texas Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate 2022, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Webcast, January 2022
- Co-Chair State Bar of Texas, Handling Your First (or Next) Medicaid or Elder Law Case, Webcast, February 2021
- University of Texas, 2021 Special Needs Trust Conference, "Overview of Special Needs Trust," Speaker, Austin, February, 2021
- State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate 2021, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January, 2021
- University of Texas, 2020 Special Needs Trust Conference, "Overview of Special Needs Trust," Speaker, Austin, February 2020
- State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate 2020, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2020
- State Bar of Texas, Elder Law Course, Counseling Elder Law Clients: Getting People from A to Z, Houston, April 2019
- American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits, Including Special Needs Trusts," Speaker, South Carolina, July 2019
- State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate 2019, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2019
- American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits, Including Special Needs Trusts," Speaker, New York, July 2018
- Houston Bar Association, "The Impact of the Elder Getting Divorced in Texas," Co-Presenter, March 2018
- American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits, Including Special Needs Trusts," Speaker, New York, July 2017
- Houston Business and Estate Planning Council, "Dealing with Our Aging Clients (and Parents)," Co-Presenter, Houston, March 2017
- State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate 2017, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2017
- South Texas College of Law, "Planning for Retirement," Co-Presenter, October 2016
- Hidalgo County Bar Association, "Estate Planning and Why It Pays to Plan Ahead," Speaker, September 2016
- American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits, Including Special Needs Trusts," Speaker, New York, July 2016
- Houston Bar Association, "The Dementia Epidemic," Co-Presenter, July 2016
- Dallas Society of CPAs, "Capacity Issues," Speaker, Dallas, January 2016
- State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate 2018, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2018
- State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate 2016, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2016
- Texas A&M University, Texas Aggie Bar Association Conference, "What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Elder Law for Personal and Practice," Speaker, College Station, March 2016
- State Bar of Texas, Handling Your First (Or Next) Medicaid Case, "Creating a Plan to Achieve Medicaid Eligibility," Speaker, Austin, December 2015
- American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits, Including SNTs," New York, July 2015
- State Bar of Texas, Advanced Elder Law and Guardianship Course, "Initial Client Meeting for Medicaid Planning," Speaker, Houston, April 2015
- State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estate and Probate Course, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2015
- State Bar of Texas, 16th Annual State Bar College Summer School Course, "Elder Law and Disability Issues," Speaker, Galveston, July 2014
- American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits, Including Special Needs Trusts," Speaker, New York City, July 2014
- University of Houston, 12th Annual Gulf Coast Regional Gift Planning Conference, The Top Ten Things a Planner Should Know about Elder Law, UH Hilton, Houston, April 2014
- State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estate and Probate Course, "Elder Law Overview," Speaker, Austin, January 2014
- State Bar of Texas, 15th Annual Summer School Course, "Top Ten Things an Estate Planner Should Know," Speaker, Galveston, July 2013
- American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits, Including Special Needs Trusts, Speaker, New York City, July 2013
- State Bar of Texas, Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, "Hot Topics in Elder Law," Speaker, Houston, June 2013
- Hidalgo County Bar Association, "Elder Law Planning and Special Needs Trusts," Speaker, McAllen, May 2013
- Dallas Society of CPAs, "Financing Long-Term Care," Speaker, Dallas, May 2013
- State Bar of Texas Building Blocks of Wills, Estate and Probate Course, "Elder Law Planning and Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2013
- Corpus Christi Estate Planning Council, "The Top Ten Things an Estate Planner Should Know About Elder Law," Speaker, Corpus Christi, October 2012
- American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits," New York, July 2012
- State Bar of Texas, Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, "The Top Ten Things an Estate Planner Should Know About Elder Law", San Antonio, June 2012
- South Texas College of Law, "Elder Law Symposium, Guardianship Alternatives, Including Powers of Attorney," Co-Speaker, Houston, April 2012
- Rio Grande Valley Estate Planning Council, "Elder Law Overview," Speaker, McAllen, April 2012
- Hidalgo County Bar Association, "Special Needs Trust," Speaker, McAllen, April 2012
- State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate, "Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2012
- State Bar of Texas, Medicaid 101, "Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, November 2011
- South Texas College of Law, "26th Annual Wills & Probate Institute, Medicaid & VA Updates," Speaker, September 2011
- American Bar Association, Skills Training for Estate Planners, "Planning for Public Benefits," Speaker, New York, July 2011
- State Bar of Texas, "35th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Law Course, Medicaid & VA Update," Speaker, Fort Worth, June 2011
- Hidalgo County Bar Association, "Building a Successful Estate Planning & Probate Law Practice, Court Created Trusts in Texas, Including Ethical Considerations," Speaker, McAllen, March 2011
- State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates, & Probate, Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2011
- State Bar of Texas, Estate Planning & Probate Drafting Course, "Drafting to Retain Governmental Benefits for Devisees" Speaker, Houston, October 2010
- South Texas College of Law, 25th Annual Wills & Probate Institute, "Medicaid Update," Speaker, Houston, September 2010
- State Bar of Texas, "Advanced Elder Law 2010, 2009 Legislative Changes," Speaker, Dallas, April 2010
- State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate, Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, Austin, January 2010
- Houston Bar Association, "Guardianship Ad Litem in Probate Court & Elder Law Institute, Continuing Legal Education, Introduction To Veterans Benefits," Speaker, Houston, January 2010
- State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate Course," Speaker, January 2009
- State Bar of Texas, Advanced Elder Law & Guardianship Course, "Medicaid Estate Recovery Program" Speaker, Houston, March 2009
- State Bar of Texas, "Medicaid Planning, What You Can Do and You Must Know," Speaker, Austin, November 2008
- Houston Bar Association, "Sole-Benefit Trusts," Speaker, Houston, July 2008
- "Victoria Area Regional Estate Planning Council, Wills & Supplemental Needs Trusts Overview," Speaker, Victoria, May 2008
- State Bar of Texas, "Advanced Guardianship & Elder Law Course, When Family Law & Elder Law Intersect," Speaker, Dallas, March 2008
- Disability & Elder Law Attorneys Association, "Non-Institutional Medicaid Programs for the Elderly & Disabled," Speaker, Houston, January 2008
- State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate Course," Speaker, January 2008
- Attorney in Tax & Probate, "Supplemental Needs Trusts Overview," Speaker, Houston, April 2007
- Houston Bar Association, "Probate, Trusts & Estates Section Meeting, Medicaid Changes & Strategies," Speaker, Houston, March 2007
- University of Texas School of Law, Special Needs Trusts: A Guide for Attorneys, "Financial Advisors & Trust Officers, HUD Housing," Speaker, Austin, February 2005
- University of Texas, "Special Needs Trust Conference, Special Needs Trust Overview," Speaker, February 2007
- State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate Course, Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, Houston, January 2007
- State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate Course, Live Studio Broadcast, "Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, January 2006
- State Bar of Texas, "Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning & Probate Course, Elder Law Drafting Considerations," Speaker, Austin, October 2005
- University of Texas School of Law, Elder Law Conference, "Nursing Home Misrepresentations," Speaker, Galveston, August 2005
- State Bar of Texas, "Elder Law Primer," Speaker, Dallas, June 2005
- Attorneys in Tax & Probate, "Medicaid Update," Speaker, Houston, May 2005
- Disability & Elder Law Attorneys Association, "How to Determine if Your Client Qualifies for Low-Cost Housing," Speaker, Houston, February 2005
- State Bar of Texas, "Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate Course, A Live Studio Broadcast, Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, January 2005
- State Bar of Texas, Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning & Probate Course, "Drafting for the Elderly: Medicaid & Other Mountains, Speaker, League City, October 2004
- University of Texas School of Law, Intermediate Estate Planning, Guardianship & Elder Law Conference, "Affordable Housing," Speaker, Galveston, August 2004
- Halfmoon LLC, Practical Medicare & Medicaid Skills in Texas, Medicaid Benefits & Eligibility, Speaker, Houston, August 2004
- University of Houston, Wills & Probate Institute, Medicaid, Medicare & Estate Recovery: Can You Get the Benefits without Losing Everything, Speaker, Houston, May 2004
- National Business Institute, Estate, Financial & Health Care Planning Seminar, Speaker Houston, April 2004
- State Bar of Texas, Building Blocks of Wills, Estates & Probate Course, A Live Studio Broadcast, "Elder Law Planning & Issue Spotting," Speaker, January 2004
- Disability & Elder Law Attorneys Association, Basic Self-Settled SNTs/Pooled Trusts, Speaker, Houston, May 2003
- South Texas College of Law, Elder Law Conference: Estate Planning, Special Needs Trusts & Guardianships, Ten Common Errors in Medicaid Planning, Speaker, Houston, May 2003
- Halfmoon LLC Seminars: Practical Medicare & Medicaid Skills in Texas, "Planning for Medicaid Eligibility & Avoiding the Unauthorized Practice of Law, Speaker, Houston, March 2003
- South Texas College of Law, Representing the Elder Client: Estate Planning, Special Needs Trusts & Guardianships, Speaker, Houston, September 2002
- South Texas College of Law, Wills & Probate Institute, Medicaid Planning, Speaker, Houston, September 2001
- State Bar of Texas, Elder Law Course, Abuse, Neglect & Financial Exploitation of the Elderly, Co-Author, Houston & Dallas, December 2000 & February 2001
- NASA/Johnson Space Center, Total Health & Safety Day, Elder Law Issues, Speaker, October 2000
- State Bar of Texas, Agricultural Law Seminar, Trespass Concerns, Austin, June 1994
Newspaper, Textbooks, and Online Articles and Quotes
- “Estate Planning as Part of Retirement Planning,” Houston Chronicle, Retirement Planning Section, Co-Author, January 2018
- “Elder law: How will you pay for long-term care?” facebook.com/national-elder-law-foundation, 2017
- “Elder Law: How will you pay for long-term care?” lmtonline.com, 2017
- Houston Chronicle Columnist, “Elder Law Notes,” Monthly, Senior Living Section
- Houston Chronicle Columnist, "Elder Law Notes," Monthly, 50+ Section
- "Planning Effectively to Cope with Medicaid Estate Recovery," Estate Planning, Vol. 32 No. 8, Co-Author, August 2005
- South Texas College of Law, Representing the Elderly Client: Estate Planning, Special Needs Trusts & Guardianships, "Fifteen Misrepresentations Made by Nursing Homes," Co-Author, Houston, May 2002
- State Bar of Texas, Elder Law Course, "Basic Medicaid & Long-Term Care Planning," Co-Author, Austin, March 2002
- Houston Bar Association, Wills & Probate Institute, "Practical Considerations in Medicaid Planning: Twelve Things to Avoid," Co-Author, Houston, February 2002
- State Bar of Texas, Advanced Estate Planning & Probate Course, "Report on Medicare After the HMO Retreat, What's New in Advanced Medicaid Planning Techniques & Prospective Dilemmas in Medicaid Planning," Co-Author, Houston, June 2001
- "Miller Trust May Help You, Loved One, Qualify for Medicaid Benefits," Houston Chronicle, 50+ Section, Co-Author, March 2001
- The University of Texas School of Law, Intermediate Estate Planning, Guardianship & Elder Law Conference, "Recognizing & Responding to Inappropriate or Illegal Estate Planning," Co-Author, Galveston, August 2000
- "Special Trust Protects from Medicaid Rules," Houston Chronicle, 50+ Section, Co-Author, February 2000
- "Assessing a Person for Nursing Home Medicaid Eligibility," The Pocket Guide, Co-Author, 1999
Books
- Save My Home! Saving Your Home, Farm or Ranch from Medicaid Estate Recovery in Texas, Co-Author
- Thomson West’s, Texas Elder Law, Vol. 51, Texas Practice Series, Co-Author
Professional Associations
- Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
- Member, State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate & Trust Section
- Member, Houston Bar Association, Probate, Trusts & Estates Section, Council, 2009-2019; Chair, 2019-2020
- Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
- Member, Texas Chapter of NAELA, Board Member, 2005-2011, Past President