Practice areas: Estate Planning & Probate, Estate & Trust Litigation, Tax
Licensed in Texas since: 2016
Education: University of Houston Law Center
Selected to Rising Stars: 2023 - 2025 
Free Consultation Ford + Bergner LLP
700 Louisiana Street41st Floor
Houston, TX 77002 Phone: 713-255-3223 Email: J. Crispin Clarke Visit website
Details
Mr. Clarke is a native Houstonian and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center.
While pursuing his law degree, Mr. Clarke developed a strong interest in the subject area of probate, trust, estate, and guardianship law. Mr. Clarke showed success in the area through grades, honors and awards, and publication in the section area’s quarterly journal of the State Bar of Texas; he also served as a judicial intern in Harris County Probate Court Number Three (3).
Both during and after law school, Mr. Clarke worked for a probate litigation firm in Houston where he represented guardians, trustees, administrators, beneficiaries, and executors of estates in administrative matters and fiduciary litigation matters. He also counseled and represented individuals on matters involving financial planning and planning for the disposition of assets at death.
Mr. Clarke continues to handle administrative and estate planning matters at Ford + Bergner and caters to a diverse base of clients in both the Greater Houston area and throughout the State of Texas.
First Admitted: 2016, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://www.fordbergner.com/attorney/clarke-j-crispin/
- Member, Houston Bar Association: Probate, Trusts & Estates and Taxation Sections (2016-Present), 2025
- Member, Attorneys in Tax and Probate (2020-Present), 2025
- Member, University of Houston Law Center Professional Mentoring Program (2021-Present), 2025
- Member, Houston Estate and Financial Forum (2021-Present), 2025
- Council Member, Houston Bar Association: Probate, Trusts & Estates Section (2024-Present), 2025
- Member, Texas Bar College (2025), 2025
- Member, Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association (2016-Present), 2025
- Member, State Bar of Texas: Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law and Tax Sections (2016-Present), 2025
- Alumnus, State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law Section – REPTLLeadership Academy, 2023
- Officer, Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association (2022-Present), 2025
- Guardian Ad Litem Certification, State Bar of Texas, 2024
- Houston Bar Association, Probate, Trusts & Estates Section Award, Houston Bar Association, Probate, Trusts & Estates Section, 2016
- Top Rising Young Attorneys In Texas (Estate Planning & Probate), Texas Super Lawyers Magazine and Texas Monthly Rising Stars Special Edition, 2024
- Top Rising Young Attorneys In Texas (Estate Planning & Probate), Texas Super Lawyers Magazine and Texas Monthly Rising Stars Special Edition, 2023
- State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law (REPTL) Section Student Writing Contest Award, State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law (REPTL) Section, 2016
- Juris Doctor, University of Houston Law Center, 2016
- Bachelor of Arts with Special Honors in Humanities, University of Texas at Austin, 2011
- Bachelor of Arts with Honors in History, University of Texas at Austin, 2012
- Updated, “Practical Aspects of Guardianship Law,” Guardian and Attorney Ad Litem Certification Course, South Texas College of Law, 2014, “Practical Aspects of Guardianship Law", Guardian and Attorney Ad Litem Certification Course, South Texas College of Law, 2014, 2014
- Co-Presented, “Success and Succession: Celebrity Planning and Probate Blunders,” AustinBar Association: Estate Planning & Probate Section, January 17, 2025, “Success and Succession: Celebrity Planning and Probate Blunders”, Austin Bar Association: Estate Planning & Probate Section, 2025
- Co-Presented, “Success and Succession: Celebrity Planning and Probate Blunders,” HoustonBar Association: Probate, Trusts & Estates Section, September 24, 2024, “Success and Succession: Celebrity Planning and Probate Blunders”, Houston Bar Association: Probate, Trusts & Estates Section, 2024
- Co-Authored, “Texas Probate and Trust Administration,” NBI – National Business Institute Seminar, September 21, 2022, “Texas Probate and Trust Administration”, NBI – National Business Institute Seminar, September 21, 2022, 2022
- Co-Authored, “Trust and Taxes from A to Z,” NBI – National Business Institute Seminar, March 17, 2022, “Trust and Taxes from A to Z”, NBI – National Business Institute Seminar, March 17, 2022, 2022
- Co-Authored, “Pandemic procedure and Protocol in the Courtroom,” Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Reporter, Volume 59, No. 1, February 2021, “Pandemic procedure and Protocol in the Courtroom”, Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Reporter, Volume 59, No. 1, February 2021, 2021
- Co-Authored, “Fiduciary Duties in Limited Partnerships,” 42nd Annual Advanced Estate Planning & Probate Course, State Bar of Texas, 2018, “Fiduciary Duties in Limited Partnerships”, 42nd Annual Advanced Estate Planning & Probate Course, State Bar of Texas, 2018, 2018
- Co-Authored, “Privilege Issues for Estate Planners and Probate Practitioners,” 28th Annual Estate Planning & Probate Drafting Course, State Bar of Texas, 2017, “Privilege Issues for Estate Planners and Probate Practitioners”, 28th Annual Estate Planning & Probate Drafting Course, State Bar of Texas, 2017, 2017
- Authored, “Estate Planning and Probate for the Hispanic Community: A Growing Need for Legal Services and an Opportunity for Practitioners,” Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Reporter, Volume 55, No. 1, November 2016, “Estate Planning and Probate for the Hispanic Community: A Growing Need for Legal Services and an Opportunity for Practitioners”, Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Reporter, Volume 55, No. 1, November 2016, 2016
- Updated, “Modification of Guardianships,” Guardianship Ad Litem in Probate Court Institute, Harris County Jury Plaza, 2015, “Modification of Guardianships”, Guardianship Ad Litem in Probate Court Institute, Harris County Jury Plaza, 2015, 2015
Office location for J. Crispin Clarke
700 Louisiana Street
41st Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2023 - 2025