Farrow-Gillespie Heath Wilmoth LLP

Deborah J. Schmidt practices in probate, guardianship, and elder law, including administrations and litigation for probate, guardianship, and trusts. Deborah is certified by the Texas State Bar to serve as an attorney ad litem and guardian ad litem for probate and guardianships. With trial experience in civil, family, and probate law, she works tirelessly to protect and serve families in Collin, Dallas, Hunt, Kaufman, and Tarrant, as well as surrounding counties.

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Deborah previously owned DJS Mediation Services, a mediation practice with a focus on family law and probate matters, where she resolved high conflict family disputes; performed evaluations for adoptions and contested custody cases; and taught mediation courses for Collin County Community College District. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in psychology, and earned her M.A. in dispute resolution from Southern Methodist University. Deborah was admitted to the Texas State Bar, in 2018, after graduating with the inaugural class at UNT Dallas College of Law. She is active in several alumni and service organizations, mentors law students, and assists at UNT Dallas College of Law as an adjunct professor for the Interviewing and Counseling, and Negotiation courses.

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Deborah’s professional memberships include the Collin and Dallas Bar Associations. Collin, Dallas, and Texas Women Lawyers’ Associations; and the State Bar of Texas. Deborah accepts every opportunity to volunteer with Attorneys Serving the Community, Dallas Volunteer Attorneys, the DBA Habitat Build, Legal Hospice of North Texas, and Rotary International.

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Deborah resides in Allen, Texas, where she has lived with her husband and children since 1991. She enjoys yoga, soccer, tennis, skiing, and is attempting to learn golf and to master pickleball. Deborah loves to travel, especially to the Rocky Mountains and white sandy beaches.

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Practice Areas

• Probate and Guardianship Administration

• Probate, Guardianship, and Trust Litigation

• Elder Law

• Mediation

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Education

• J.D., University of North Texas, at Dallas College of Law, 2017

• M.A., Southern Methodist University, 2007

• B.S., Texas A&M University, College Station, 1991

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Professional Memberships and Activities

• State Bar of Texas, Licensed in Texas: 2018

• Collin County Bar Association, Probate Section Member

• Collin County Women Lawyers Association

• Dallas Bar Association, Probate Section Member

• Dallas Bar Association, Bar None (2016, 2018)

• Dallas Women Lawyers Association

• Texas Aggie Bar Association

• Texas Bar College

• Texas Women Lawyers Association, Board Member

• UNT Dallas College of Law, Mentor

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Community Service Memberships

• Texas A&M University, Association of Former Students

• ​Collin County Aggie Moms

• Attorneys Serving the Community

• DBA: Habitat Build and “Bar None”

• Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program

• Legal Hospice of North Texas

• North Texas Women’s Soccer Association

• Rotary International, Allen Sunrise Chapter

• St. Jude Catholic Church, Allen, Texas

• Texas A&M University, Association of Former Students

• • Aggie Bar Association

  • Dallas and Collin A&M Clubs