Ms. Baxter-Thompson named to 2024 Texas Super Lawyers® List

Baxter-Thompson Law is pleased to announce that Ms. Baxter-Thompson has been named to the 2024 Texas Super Lawyers® list in the area of Estate & Trust Litigation.  Estate litigation involves suits related to probate, such as will contests, suits against Executors, or life insurance claims.  Trust litigation involves suits against trustees for removal or accountings and can also be a trust contest to set aside the trust agreement.

The Super Lawyer list is “exclusive, recognizing no more than five percent of attorneys in each jurisdiction as Super Lawyers.” With more than 130,000 attorneys in Texas, Super Lawyers helps clients hone in the best lawyer for their legal needs. “Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.”

To decide who will join the 2024 Texas Super Lawyers® list, the process involves selecting attorneys using a “patented multiphase selection process combining peer nominations and evaluations with independent research,” and that “each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.” Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. According to Super Lawyers, their objective is to create a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel.  This is the 8th year Ms. Baxter-Thompson has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer.  She was previously selected to Rising Stars from 2012 – 2015.

Need help with an estate or trust litigation matter, request a consult now.

Brandy Baxter-Thompson sitting in a chair posing for an image
Brandy Baxter-Thompson

Texas Fiduciary Litigation Planning Committee

Ms. Baxter-Thompson has been invited to join the Planning Committee for the 19th Annual Fiduciary Litigation Seminar to be held on December 5th and 6th, 2024, in San Antonio at teh Kimpton Santo Hotel.  Ms. Baxter-Thompson joins just 8 other lawyers who will choose the program for this year’s conference.  Texas lawyers from around the state will present on various topics including Trust Litigaton, Fiduciary Compensation, Deposing a Fiduciary, and Discovery from a Fiduciary.

Baxter-Thompson Law specializes in estate and trust litigation involving fiduciaries, trusts, and estates.

Adult Adoption . . . Inheriting Hermès fortune

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Hermès History

In 1837, Thierry Hermès established the fabled marque in Paris. Originally a saddle-making workshop when horse-drawn transportation was common, Hermès continues to utilize the equine theme in the luxury goods made today.  Such goods include scarves, handbags, small leather goods, ready-to-wear, shoes, and home goods, including the Avalon blanket.

The Hermès “marque” is synonymous with luxury goods . . . the most famous of which are the Birkin Bag and Kelly Bag – both named for women known for their exquisite fashion sense and style: Jane Birkin and Grace Kelly. While the Kelly bag had been in production since the 1930s, Hermès adopted the Kelly name in 1956 after a photograph of the Princess carrying the bag was plastered around the world. The Birkin bag was specifically crafted for the actress and singer after she met Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight where the contents of her bag spilled onto the floor.  Monsieur Dumas designed the Birkin to create the ideal bag that would be both elegant and voluminous.

Will a Gardener Inherit a piece of the Hermès fortune? 

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In 2022, Hermès earned 11.6 billion Euros making it the second most valuable luxury brand in the world next to LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey), also based on Paris.

Recently, an heir of the Hermès company, Nicolas Puech, 80, has purportedly began the process of adopting is his former gardener, aged 51, and cancel a “succession agreement” whereby he pledged to fund a charity he established in 2011. The estimated value of the lucky gardener’s share of the inheritance is over $5 billion Euros. Nicolas Puech is a direct descendant of Thierry Hermès; he is unmarried and childless.

Swiss Law – Adult Adoption, Contract of Succession, and Inheritance

In Switzerland, a person may create a will or enter into a contract of succession. A contract of succession must be signed before a notary public by both the maker and the recipient.  All contracting parties must agree to amend a contract of succession.

While Switzerland permits adult adoption, it is rare, as is the case in most jurisdictions around the world.  It is permissible to adopt a an adult, but only under certain circumstances.  The adopter must demonstrate that there are “important reasons” to adopt the adult.  The adopter and adoptee must have lived together for a year.

As a Swiss citizen and resident of Martigny, Switzerland, the proceeding will take place in the canton of Valais.  Without question, the requested adult adoption will face challenges from both the charitable fund and the remaining family members in control of the Hermès fortune.  Given the staunch opposition and legal hurdles of adult adoption, it is unlikely the adoption will be approved and recognized by the Swiss courts.

Disinheritance

While adult adoption is rare, Monsieur Puech’s attempts to disinherit are not uncommon.  At Baxter-Thompson Law, we can help when your inheritance is threatened by an interloper trying to gain control of a person with waning capacity or by shutting out family members.  To discuss how to preserve your rightful inheritance, contact our office for a free consultation.

2024 North Texas Probate Bench Bar – Registration is Open!!

North Texas Probate Bench Bar is back and Early Bird Registration is live! Join us April 3-5 at Live! By Loews for CLE, Entertainment, and Networking. Check it out at the website: https://ntxprobatebenchbar.com/

Conference.  The conference will run much like it did last year. With a full day of CLE programming on Thursday and a half day on Friday. We have several of our North Texas Probate Judges confirmed to speak on various panels. We will also have breakout sessions for planners and litigators.

Costs:

  • Early Bird Registration through January 31st – $500
  • Regular Registration through February 29th  – $550
  • Late Registration through March 15th – $600

In addition to the CLE programming, your $600 registration includes: a Welcome Event on Wednesday Night; breakfast, lunch, cocktail reception, dinner, and entertainment (start practicing your best karaoke bit) on Thursday; and breakfast on Friday.

There are additional registration options that include hotel rooms at a discounted rate through our block of rooms. If you are interested in staying with us book quick! We sold out of rooms prior to the event last year. We hope you will stay and take part in all of the activities we have planned.

Golf.  You can also still register for a round of golf at Texas Rangers Golf Club on Friday, April 5th, whether you register for the CLE event or not.  For $125, you will receive a boxed lunch, green fees, and a shared cart.

Dinner Guest.  Want to bring a spouse, significant other, or guest to the happy hour and dinner reception on Thursday evening?  You can register for a guest to attend for a fee of $125 on the website, as well!

To register for the CLE, golf, and/or a guest:

  1. Go to https://ntxprobatebenchbar.com/register
  2. Click on “Click here to register.”
  3. Enter password “probatebenchbar”
  4. Make your selections
  5. Check out

Fiduciary Litigation Seminar 2023

On December 14 and 15, Ms. Baxter-Thompson is attending the Fiduciary Litigation seminar in San Antonio, Texas – the only legal education seminar sponsored by the State of Bar of Texas focusing on litigation involving fiduciaries such as trustees, executors and administrators.  The topics presented include defending trustees, contesting the validity of documents, and statutes of limitation in trust and estate disputes.  Attending legal education conferences focusing on Ms. Baxter-Thompson’s area of practice keeps her abreast of recent developments in the law and helps her represent her clients better.