Practice areas: Estate Planning & Probate, Estate & Trust Litigation; view more
Licensed in Texas since: 1997
Education: Baylor University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2026 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2011 Call today:
713-352-0937
Ford + Bergner LLP
700 Louisiana St41st Floor
Houston, TX 77002 Visit website
As the managing partner of Ford + Bergner LLP, located in Houston, Texas, Don D. Ford III provides legal counsel in a range of estate-related matters, including guardianship and probate litigation, estate planning and administration. With a practice that also encompasses guardianship mediation, estate and gift tax issues, and wills and trusts, he represents clients navigating complex legal and financial decisions involving estates and long-term care planning.
With over four decades of legal experience, Mr. Ford has developed a practice focused on addressing sensitive and often high-stakes matters involving families, fiduciaries and vulnerable individuals. He works closely with clients to guide them through guardianship proceedings, contested probate cases and estate administration, offering clear communication and practical strategies tailored to each situation. His approach emphasizes thoughtful problem-solving and resolution, whether through litigation or alternative dispute methods such as mediation.
Mr. Ford earned his Juris Doctor from Baylor University School of Law in 1997 after completing his Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting at Baylor University in 1994. He further expanded his training in dispute resolution through the Stratus Institute at Pepperdine University in 2009, strengthening his ability to handle complex conflicts in probate and guardianship matters.
Admitted to practice in Texas since 1997, Mr. Ford is board-certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction recognizing his experience and knowledge in the field. He has also contributed to the legal community through service on the Guardianship Certification Board, to which he was appointed by the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court.
In addition, Mr. Ford is active in several professional organizations, including the Houston Bar Association, where he is a member of the Probate, Trust and Estate Section, and the American Bar Association. He also serves on the editorial board of The Houston Lawyer magazine and participates in the Disability and Elder Law Attorneys’ Association.
Practice areas
Estate Planning & Probate, Estate & Trust LitigationFocus areas
Estate Planning, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Probate & Estate Administration, Trusts, Will Contests, Wills
- 70% Estate Planning & Probate
- 30% Estate & Trust Litigation
First Admitted: 1997, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://fordbergner.com/attorney/ford-don-d-iii/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Commissioner, Judicial Branch Certification Commission (2014 - Present). The Commission is a 9 member body that adjudicates, among other things, complaints regarding private, professional guardians., 2020
- Texas Guardianship Association, Member, 2007 - Present
- National Business Institute, Member, Faculty and Planning Committee, 2003 - Present
- Houston Bar Foundation, Member, 2006 - Present
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2011 - Present, Member, Membership Nominating Committee, 2011
- Continuing Legal Education Committee member for the Houston Bar Association
- Disability & Elder Law Attorneys' Association, Member, 1999 - Present
- Commissioner, Judicial Branch Certification Commission -- Appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas to serve as a Commissioner in overseeing issues related to private professional guardians. Rules Task Force, 2013 – Present, 2014
- Texas Guardianship Certification Board (Rules Committee Chair, Disciplinary Review Committee member, Legislative Committee Member). Board member, 2006 - Present, 2006
- Probate, Trusts and Estates section member of the Houston Bar Association, 2020
- Attorneys in Tax and Probate Section Member for the Houston Bar Association, 2002 - Present
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Certified Mediator, Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law. Mediation Certification Program completed August 2009
- Guardianship Certification Board, Appointed by Chief Justice of Texas Supreme Court Board Member, 2006 - Present, Rules Committee (Chairman, 2006 - Present), Legislative Committee (Member, 2007 Texas Legislative Session)
- Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2010 - Present , 2010
Educational Background
- Baylor University School of Business, Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting, 1994
- Baylor University, Postgraduate Courses, Masters in Taxation
White Papers
- Authored paper on Tax issues in a probate case. Presented paper at continuing education course on the same topic., 2024
- Authored paper on litigating a contested probate estate. Presented paper in continuing education seminar on the same topic, Litigating the Contested Estate, Attorneys, 2024
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Presented continuing education presentation to attorneys on the topic of litigating a contested estate proceeding., Speaker, Litigating the Contested Estate, Attorneys, 2024
- Presented continuing education lecture on the appropriate steps in Closing a Probate Estate to attorneys., Speaker, Closing the Probate Estate, Attorneys, Accountants, 2023
- Presented continuing education lecture on Tax Issues in Probate for attorneys and accountants., Speaker, Tax Issues in Probate, Attorneys, Accountants, 2024
- Probate Practice: The Essential Basics, Basic Tax Matters; Common Probate Problems and How to Solve Them, 2006
- Alternatives to Guardianships, Houston Bar Association’s Probate Court Ad Litem Certification Course, 2002
- Oddities and Challenges in Texas Probate Law, Who’s in Charge? Issues Affecting Personal Representatives; Miscellaneous Odd and Challenging Issues in Probate, 2004
- Top 10 Estate Planning Techniques, Testamentary Trusts (Bypass and QTIP); Business Entities (An Overview of the Basics); Revocable Living Trusts vs. Traditional Wills, 2009
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish, The Laws of Intestacy and How They May Apply; Litigating the Case in Probate Course; Putting the Case to Rest: Closing the Estate, 2008
- Probate: Beyond the Basics, Tips for Avoiding Liability Issues You May Face in Closing; Preparing for Challenging Litigation Issues in Probate Proceedings, 2008
- South Texas College of Law Real Estate Law Conference, Probate Issues in Real Estate, 2014
- Hidalgo County Bar Association Guardianship Course, Fundamentals of Guardianship Litigation with an Emphasis on Discovery, 2011
- Fundamentals of Trust Administration, Overcoming Ethical Challenges; Essential Steps in Trust Termination, 2012
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish, Administering the Estate Effectively; Uncovering the Laws of Intestacy and How They May Apply; Putting the Case to Rest: Closing the Estate, 2013
- Estate Planning from A to Z, 2013
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish for Paralegals, 2013
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish, 2016
- Denton County Probate Bar, Intestacy in Blended Families, 2016
- Institute for Paralegal Education, The Probate Process from Start to Finish for Paralegals, 2016
- Texas Center for the Judiciary: Civil Justice Conference, Improving Court Processes & Practices in Guardianship Cases, 2017
- A Review of How to Build and Manage an Estates Practice, The Houston Lawyer Magazine, July/August 2008
- Muniment of Title: The Misunderstood Method of Probate, March 1, 2006
- Estate Tax Repeal: Miracle or Myth? The Houston Chronicle, August 31, 2001
- Fundamental Issues to Understand Before Accepting a Guardianship Litigation Engagement, The Advocate Litigation Magazine, State Bar of Texas Litigation Section, Fall 2009
- Your Complete Guide to Leaving an Inheritance for Your Children and Others, Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc., 2008
- Guest Faculty, September 2007
- Guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Texas College of Probate Judges, September 2006.
Industry Groups
- Commissioner on the Judicial Branch Certification Commission
- Editorial Board Member For The Houston Lawyer Magazine
- Houston Lawyer Referral Service Board Of Trustees (President 2010-2011)
- Judicial Branch Certification Commission
- Texas Guardianship Certification Board Member
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2026
- Rising Stars: 2011
