Top Rated Estate Planning & Probate Attorney in San Antonio, TX

The founder of his eponymous law firm, Gilbert Vara Jr. maintains a diverse practice that encompasses civil litigation at both the trial and appellate levels as well as having a concentration in probate, guardianship, estate planning, and estate and trust administration. Based in his native city of San Antonio, Texas, Mr. Vara represents people and businesses in Bexar County and throughout Central Texas. Admitted to practice in Texas since 1986, Mr. Vara is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Western, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, as well as before the United States Supreme Court.

In his litigation practice, Mr. Vara has represented plaintiffs and defendants. Many of his cases are complex, multi-party lawsuits that involve allegations of professional negligence on the part of attorneys, realtors, securities brokers, builders, contractors, and members of other licensed occupations. In addition, Mr. Vara has handled cases grounded in breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation, shareholder and partner disputes, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duties. Mr. Vara has also successfully represented plaintiffs and defendants in his appellate practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, Texas Supreme Court, multiple state courts of appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. 

Mr. Vara’s estate planning experience has included the preparation of wills, living and irrevocable trusts, family limited partnerships, advance medical directives, and financial and health care powers of attorney. He has also assisted business owners with the development of succession plans in the event of their incapacity, retirement, or death as well as providing counsel in the selection of entities. Mr. Vara additionally guides heirs and beneficiaries through the process of probating a will. He has represented many, many clients who seek to be appointed as guardians to manage the affairs of their wards who have special needs or lack the cognitive capacity to protect themselves.

Held in high regard by his colleagues for his fairness, collegiality, and zealous but ethical representation, Mr. Vara has received an AV Preeminent* peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell and a “Superb” peer review rating through Avvo. A graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1985, Mr. Vara was inducted into the Order of Barristers. After graduation, he was honored by being selected as a briefing attorney by the Honorable Rudolph S. Esquivel, Associate Justice of the Fourth Court of Appeals, San Antonio Division.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.