Practice areas: Estate & Trust Litigation, Elder Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Licensed in Texas since: 1989
Education: Pepperdine University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2026 The Blum Firm, P.C.
777 Main StreetSuite 550
Fort Worth, TX 76102 Phone: 817-334-0066 Email: Lynn Kelly Visit website
Details 
Lynn Kelly
received her law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law where she was awarded a full academic scholarship. She has practiced law in North Texas since 1989 and has advocated for clients in front of hundreds of Texas juries.
As Associate Judge of Tarrant County Probate Court 2 from 2017 - 2023, she presided over more than 6,000 probate hearings. Her current practice focuses on representing clients in probate matters, estate litigation, and guardianship proceedings throughout North Texas. She also serves as mediator in contested probate litigation matters, bringing her judicial and advocacy experiences to the table to resolve conflicts.
First Admitted: 1989, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://www.theblumfirm.com/attorney/lynn-waller-kelly/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Member, Board of Directors, Tarrant County Bar Association, Women Attorney's Section, 2014
- Associate Judge, Tarrant County Probate Court No. 2, Fort Worth, Texas 2017 - 2023 * Presided over estates hearings (uncontested and contested; approximately 6,000 hearings) * Presided over contested guardianship hearings on weekly basis * Reviewed Annual and Interim Court Visitor Reports in each of the court’s pending guardianship matters; work with Court staff social workers/court visitors to resolve concerns * Primary responsibility for civil mental health commitment docket (over 2,000 case filings per year) * Presided over civil commitment trials and probable cause hearings at public county hospital (over 1,000 hearings) * Presided over Assisted Outpatient Treatment docket (one of few such programs for civil mental health commitment patients in Texas) * Assisted in training of psychiatry and psychology residents in giving court testimony *Presided over forensic medication hearings at various Texas State Mental Hospitals (approximately 200+) * Presided over forced medication hearings for criminal detainees at Tarrant County jail * Presided over guardianship proceedings (person and estate) * Public speaking on topics of interest (Texas A&M Law School, Baylor Law School, Texas Guardianship Association; local mental health and parent groups), 2017
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Mediation resolution as mediator of probate litigation, Tarrant County Cause No. 2023-PR01582-1., 2024
- Cause No. 2024-GD00099-1; in the Probate Court No. 1 of Tarrant County, Texas. Lynn represented adult son of elderly male with dementia diagnosis. Another family member subject of investigation by Texas Department of Family and Protective Services regarding $200,000.00 having been misappropriated from incapacitated person's assets. Lynn's client awarded permanent guardianship of person and estate. , 2024
- Cause No. 2024-GD00031-2; in the Probate Court No. 2 of Tarrant County, Texas; Lynn represented adult son of elderly person diagnosed with dementia who was communicating online with unknown actors and giving them money; Lynn's client awarded temporary and permanent guardianship of the estate., 2024
- Cause No. 25G013 in County Court, Parker County, Texas. Lynn represented family member of 89 year old male with dementia diagnosis in emergency temporary guardianship in which non-family member had obtained power of attorney and medical power of attorney subsequent to psychological evaluation of dementia and used powers of attorney to isolate incapacitated person from family and move him out of county. Temporary guardianship for Lynn's client was granted., 2025
- Cause No. 2024-GD00161-1; Guardianship of Andrew S. Zak in the Probate Court No. 1 of Tarrant County, Texas - Represented granddaughter of 77 year old male with Alzheimer's and dementia diagnoses who was victim in investigation validated by Texas Department of Family and Protective Services for financial abuse by relative in excess of $729,000.00. Contested guardianship; guardianship was awarded to Lynn's client.
- Mediation resolution as mediator of litigated probate case, Tarrant County Cause No. 2023-PR01494-1., 2024
Videos
- Attorney Keith Morris and former Associate Judge Lynn Waller Kelly discuss navigating the involuntary commitment system in Texas, including how the system works and misconceptions about the system. Judge Kelly also addresses a frequently asked question concerning the "public records of a private nature" once someone has been in the mental health court system., Navigating the Texas Mental Health System with Former Judge Lynn Waller Kelly, 2024
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Certified by State Bar of Texas as attorney ad litem/guardian ad litem in guardianship cases, 2023
Pro bono / Community Service
- Board of Directors, Fortress Youth Development Center, 2015
- Board of Directors, The Parenting Center, Fort Worth, 2012
Educational Background
- Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, California top 1/3 of graduating class, 1989
- B.A. in government, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas, magna cum laude, 1986
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Presentation at annual conference on how various professionals can best serve their clients through their court testimony in Texas guardianship proceedings., Author/Presenter, Effective Presentation of Guardianships in the Courtroom: A Retrospective From 5 Years on the Bench, Texas Guardianship Association Annual Conference, 2024
Honors
- Named as one of the Fort Worth Business Press "Power Attorneys" for 2014, Power Attorney, Fort Worth Business Press, 2014
- Selected by peers as "Top Attorney" in Estate/Probate Law category, "Top Attorney" Award, 360 West Magazine, 2024
- Selected by peers as a "Top Attorney" in Estate/Probate Law Category, "Top Attorney" Award, Fort Worth Magazine, 2024
- Selected by peers as one of the top attorneys in Tarrant County as reported by Fort Worth, Texas Magazine 8 times in various categories (2013 and 2014 in two categories each year -- Civil Litigation and Employment Law - Employer), "Top Attorneys in Tarrant County", Fort Worth, Texas Magazine, 2003
Industry Groups
- Financial Institutions
- Individuals
Office location for Lynn Kelly
777 Main Street
Suite 550
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Selections
1 Year Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2026