Walt Fair began his career in the land title business in 1976, seven years before he earned his J.D. from Baylor University School of Law in 1983 at age 23. That early entry into title work, followed by decades of real estate and business law practice in Waco, Texas, produced a practice depth that shows in the details: the firm holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest available, and maintains client relationships documented to span more than 30 years. The firm operates in Waco under two names, the Law Firm of Walt Fair, PLLC and Waco Title, The Fair Firm, reflecting the dual nature of its work in legal representation and title insurance.
Practice Areas
Real Estate Law
The firm’s real estate practice covers the full spectrum of property transactions in Texas, from residential purchases and sales to commercial development, construction law, and industrial projects. Walt Fair represents buyers, sellers, lenders, developers, and investors. Specific areas include title examination and opinion, foreclosure, mechanic’s lien filings, property management counsel, restaurant and retail development projects, easements, and IRC Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges. The firm also handles local counsel assignments in Waco’s Western District of Texas federal court for real estate matters.
Title Insurance
Operating as Waco Title, The Fair Firm, the practice provides in-house title insurance services for both residential and commercial transactions. The firm employs four licensed escrow officers, Denise Fair, Amanda Eads, Angelic Serrano, and Katie Stufflebeam, alongside the attorneys. Title work is handled internally rather than outsourced, which gives the firm direct control over the examination process and closing coordination.
Corporate and Business Law
The business law practice covers the full lifecycle of business entities, from formation to dissolution and everything between. The firm represents sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, corporations, and non-profits. Specific services include purchase and sale of businesses, financial structuring, ownership governance, lease agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and contract drafting, review, and negotiation. This practice area overlaps with the real estate work for clients who own commercial property through business entities.
Estate Planning and Probate
The firm handles wills, trusts, and probate administration for clients in the Waco area. For business-owning clients, estate planning is integrated with the business succession and governance work.
Banking and Finance Law
The firm represents lenders and financial institutions on the legal side of lending transactions, including documentation, security interests, and compliance.
1031 Exchange
IRC Section 1031 exchanges allow property owners to defer capital gains taxes by reinvesting sale proceeds into qualifying replacement property. The firm handles the legal coordination of these transactions, which involve strict timing requirements and documentation standards.
Local Counsel Services
For matters in the Western District of Texas, Waco Division, the firm provides local counsel representation. This is particularly relevant given the district’s caseload under Judge Alan Albright, before whom Mark Siegmund clerked.
Attorney Profiles
Walt Fair is the principal attorney and has been the central figure in Waco’s real estate and title law community for nearly 50 years. He earned his J.D. from Baylor University School of Law in 1983 at age 23, making him one of the youngest lawyers in modern Texas history at the time of admission. His involvement in the land title business began in 1976, before his legal education. He served as Managing Director of Home Abstract and Title Company until 2003. The Stewart Title Guaranty Company named him Texas Young Titleman of the Year in 1991. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. His community involvement includes service as Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Waco, Director of Lorena State Bank, President of the Board of Trustees of Waco Baptist Academy, Trustee of Vanguard College Preparatory School, President of the Baylor Fast Break Club, and District Director of the Baylor University School of Law Alumni Association. He is licensed in Texas and available in both English and Spanish (Se Habla Espanol).
Mark D. Siegmund is Of Counsel and Partner. He holds a B.S. in Finance from Texas A&M University, where he attended on a full Naval ROTC scholarship as a member of the Corps of Cadets, and a J.D. from Baylor Law School, where he graduated first in his class, served as Associate Editor of the Law Review, received the Steve Dillard Practice Court Award, and attained moot court barrister status. After law school, he served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including two overseas deployments. He then clerked for U.S. Federal District Judge Alan D. Albright in the Western District of Texas before joining the firm. He is admitted to the Western and Eastern Districts of Texas. He serves as an adjunct professor at Baylor Law School and published in the Baylor Law Review in Spring 2019.
Location, Language, and Service Area
1508 North Valley Mills Drive, Waco, TX 76710
Phone: (254) 772-6400
Website: waco-title.com/
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Services available in English and Spanish.
The firm serves Waco and the surrounding Central Texas region. For title insurance and 1031 exchange matters, the firm handles transactions statewide and nationally. Local counsel services are available in the Western District of Texas, Waco Division.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell signify?
Martindale-Hubbell rates attorneys on two scales: legal ability and ethical standards. The AV Preeminent rating is the highest available on both scales. Ratings are based on peer review from other attorneys and judges who are familiar with the rated attorney’s work. Walt Fair holds this rating, reflecting his standing in the Central Texas legal community after decades of practice.
Why does the firm operate under two names, “Law Firm of Walt Fair” and “Waco Title, The Fair Firm”?
The two names reflect the dual nature of the practice. Legal representation in real estate, business, and related matters operates under the law firm name. Title insurance services and escrow coordination operate under the Waco Title name. Both functions are housed within the same firm and staffed by the same attorneys and licensed escrow officers.
What is a 1031 exchange, and how does the firm handle these transactions?
A 1031 exchange under the Internal Revenue Code allows a property owner to sell real property and defer capital gains taxes by reinvesting the proceeds into qualifying replacement property. The exchange must meet strict requirements regarding timing and the use of a qualified intermediary. The firm handles the legal documentation and coordination for these transactions.
What is the Western District of Texas, Waco Division, and why is local counsel relevant there?
The Western District of Texas includes a Waco Division that has a notable caseload, particularly in intellectual property and patent litigation. Attorneys from outside the district who have cases there often need local counsel who knows the court’s procedures and personnel. Mark Siegmund clerked for Judge Alan Albright in that district, providing direct familiarity with its operations.
What is the connection between the law firm and Home Abstract and Title Company?
Walt Fair served as Managing Director of Home Abstract and Title Company until 2003. The firm continues to operate alongside a title company function, meaning clients can access both legal representation and title services through the same office. This dual capacity is relevant for real estate transactions where both legal review and title insurance are needed.