Donna has been helping Texas families through complex and trying legal issues for almost two decades all over the State of Texas. Her practice focuses primarily on will contests, guardianships, and trust, estate and fiduciary litigation.
Donna J. Yarborough is a probate litigation attorney & guardianship attorney in Dallas handling mainly contested matters including will contests, trust litigation, and fiduciary litigation, as well as estate administration. Ms. Yarborough has extensive experience in guardianship litigation, which involves dealing with incapacitated individuals to protect their health and financial estates, representing applicants as well as defending proposed wards.
Donna as a guardianship attorney in Dallas, Texas area handled all aspects of guardianship litigation, including obtaining emergency guardianships, obtaining a divorce in a guardianship proceeding, and freezing a person’s financial estate to protect them from third parties. She is certified by the State Bar of Texas to serve as an attorney ad litem in guardianship proceedings.
Ms. Yarborough has experience in handling a wide variety of estate and trust litigation, from securing Temporary Administrations to prevent the dissipation of estate assets to making critical decisions to benefit the heirs in all types of estate proceedings. She has pursued even the most unusual of cases, such as the exhumation of a body to prove heredity through DNA evidence, obtaining crime scene photos from the Dallas Police Department and photos from the Dallas Medical Examiner’s Office, convincing the judge to have a guardianship hearing at the proposed ward’s home, and successfully defending the proposed ward. Additionally, Ms. Yarborough has been successful in getting a decedent’s loved one declared the common law spouse to that their rights were protected in the decedent’s state. Donna has litigated unique estate cases throughout her active career.
Ms. Yarborough has written several articles featured in the Dallas Bar Association’s Headnotes magazine and has spoken regarding guardianship to the Probate Section of the Dallas Bar, the Texas Trial Lawyer’s Association and the Dallas Young Lawyer’s Association.
Professional and Personal Highlights
Bar Admissions
State Bar of Texas
Certifications
Certified by the State Bar of Texas to serve as an attorney ad litem in guardianship proceedings
Education
- J.D. from Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana (2001)
- Visiting Third year student at Southern Methodist School of Law (2000-2001)
- Summer abroad University of Vienna Law School (1999)
- B.A. in Political Science from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas (1991)
Memberships/Affiliations
Real Estate, Probate & Trusts Section
State Bar of Texas
Dallas Bar Association
Collin County Bar Association
Testimonials
“A fearless lawyer who is not afraid to tacklee a big case and who fights for her clients. Best lawyer I’ve ever had.”
– Nikki M., Duncanville TX
“I hired Donna to represent me in an extremely unusual probate case. I was offered creative options that in the end, got me terrific results. Having worked in the legal profession for twenty years myself, I have a real understanding for working with a sense of urgency. Donna showcases that capability at its highest level.”
– B. Boren, Dallas TX
“Ms. Yarborough is the best thing that ever happened to me. She provided excellent and quality service in getting my issues resolved. I would most definately use her again, in the future, and will refer as many people as I can. Great attorney.”
– Yulanda W., Dallas TX