Jaclyn Patton interned at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and at Harris County Probate Court Three while earning her J.D. from South Texas College of Law, giving her early direct exposure to the courtroom context in which wills get contested and guardianships get adjudicated. She is also a certified Ad Litem for probate and guardianship proceedings, meaning Texas courts have authorized her to serve as an independent attorney for parties who cannot represent themselves in these matters. She was recognized under Texas Rising Stars from 2021 through 2024 and named one of Houston’s Best Probate Lawyers in 2022.
Overview
The Patton Law Firm, PLLC operates from 639 Heights Boulevard in the Houston Heights neighborhood, serving Houston and surrounding Harris County in estate planning, probate administration, guardianship, elder law, and small business matters.
Jaclyn Patton is the founding and sole attorney of the practice. She was licensed to the Texas Bar on May 3, 2013 (Bar No. 24085521), and has built the practice into a solo firm with a consistent record of professional recognition across four consecutive years of Texas Rising Stars designations.
The Heights neighborhood location is characteristic of the firm’s client base: Houston Heights is a residential community with a mix of long-established families and newer residents, many of whom need estate planning for the first time or probate assistance when a family member dies. The practice serves that community directly.
The firm’s fee approach is notable: clients can expect flat fees for defined matters, hourly rates for matters with variable scope, and payment plan options for clients who need flexibility. This structure reflects a practice oriented toward accessibility rather than maximizing per-client revenue.
Client reviews describe the attorney as giving advice the way she would to close friends: direct, clear, and honest about what clients actually need rather than what would generate the most billing.
Practice Areas
Estate Planning is the firm’s core offering. Comprehensive plans include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, medical directives, financial directives, and end-of-life planning documents. The firm handles both standard estate planning and specialized trust structures, including disability trusts and NFA (National Firearms Act) gun trusts. NFA gun trusts are used to hold NFA-regulated firearms (suppressors, short-barreled rifles, machine guns) in a trust structure that facilitates legal transfer, ownership, and succession. This is a niche estate planning product with specific technical requirements, and not all estate planning attorneys prepare them.
Probate Administration covers the Texas probate process for estates of all sizes, representing executors and administrators through Harris County Probate Court proceedings.
Guardianship proceedings are handled for clients seeking to establish legal guardianship over an incapacitated adult or minor. Patton’s certification as Ad Litem for probate and guardianship proceedings is relevant here: courts appoint Ad Litems to represent the interests of proposed wards who cannot speak for themselves, and Patton’s certification means she has met Texas requirements for this role.
Alternatives to Guardianship are also considered. Texas law provides mechanisms short of full guardianship that can be appropriate in some circumstances, and the firm evaluates these alternatives as part of the guardianship intake process.
Elder Law covers legal planning for older clients, including issues specific to aging: Medicaid planning considerations, long-term care, and related estate planning needs.
Powers of Attorney (both durable financial and medical) are prepared as part of estate planning engagements and as standalone documents when clients need them.
Medical, Financial, and End-of-Life Directives include healthcare proxies, living wills, and related documents establishing client preferences and designating decision-makers.
Small Business Law serves the legal needs of small business owners, covering formation, contracts, and business-related matters.
Name Changes are handled as a civil matter through Texas courts.
Attorney Profiles
Jaclyn D. Patton (Jaclyn Denise Patton) is the principal attorney and founder of The Patton Law Firm, PLLC.
Education: B.B.A. in International Business and B.A. in History with a minor in German, University of Texas at Austin; J.D., South Texas College of Law. Published in the South Texas Law Review on military and for-profit college GI Bill policy.
Internships: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas; Harris County Probate Court Three.
Bar admission: Texas Bar No. 24085521, licensed May 3, 2013.
Memberships: State Bar of Texas; Houston Bar Association; Attorneys in Tax and Probate.
Certifications: Certified Ad Litem for probate and guardianship proceedings in Texas courts.
Recognition: Texas Rising Stars 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024; named one of Houston’s Best Probate Lawyers 2022.
Language note: Patton completed a minor in German at UT Austin. Whether German is offered as a client service language has not been confirmed in public sources.
Location and Service Area
Office: 639 Heights Boulevard, Houston, TX 77007. Phone: (713) 730-9446. Fax: (713) 583-4180.
Website: txestateplanning.com/
Consultation booking: consult.pattonlawtx.com.
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. After-hours and weekend appointments are available by arrangement.
The firm’s service area is Houston and surrounding Harris County.
Client Focus
The Patton Law Firm serves Houston Heights residents, Harris County families, and small business owners. The practice is accessible by design: flat fee options, hourly billing, and payment plans are all available, and extended hour availability by appointment accommodates clients who cannot meet during standard business hours.
Fee structures: flat fees, hourly rates, and payment plans are available. Whether initial consultations are provided without charge is not publicly specified; consultations can be booked online at consult.pattonlawtx.com.
Languages: Jaclyn Patton studied German at UT Austin; confirmed client service in German is not publicly available.
FAQ
Does The Patton Law Firm handle NFA gun trusts?
Yes. The firm prepares National Firearms Act trusts, which are used to hold NFA-regulated firearms in a trust structure. These trusts have specific technical requirements, and not all estate planning attorneys prepare them.
What are the firm’s billing options?
The firm offers flat fees for defined matters, hourly rates for matters with variable scope, and payment plans for clients who need flexibility in paying legal fees.
What is a certified Ad Litem, and why does it matter for guardianship cases?
A certified Ad Litem is an attorney authorized by Texas courts to serve as an independent representative for parties who cannot advocate for themselves, such as proposed wards in guardianship proceedings. Jaclyn Patton’s certification means she can be appointed by courts in these roles and brings experience in the guardianship process from that perspective.
Does the firm handle both planning and probate, or only one?
Both. The firm prepares estate planning documents during a client’s lifetime and also handles the probate administration process after death, including representation through Harris County Probate Court.
Can appointments be scheduled outside standard business hours?
Yes. While standard office hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, after-hours and weekend appointments are available by arrangement.
Closing
The Patton Law Firm’s position in the Houston Heights community reflects a solo practice built on accessible pricing, direct attorney involvement, and a specific depth in probate and guardianship proceedings that few solo practitioners combine with comprehensive estate planning. Four consecutive years of Texas Rising Stars recognition and a Houston’s Best Probate Lawyers designation confirm that depth in a measurable way.