Christine Butts
Top rated Estate Planning & Probate attorney in The Woodlands, Texas
Riddle & Butts, LLP
Practice areas: Estate Planning & Probate; view more
Licensed in Texas since: 1997
Education: University of Houston Law Center
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2008 - 2011 Call today:
281-990-4157
Free Consultation Riddle & Butts, LLP
8777 West Rayford RoadThe Woodlands, TX 77389 Visit website
Details
With over 25 years of experience in helping clients deal with complex estate planning, administration and probate matters regarding businesses and individuals involving wills, trusts, estate and gift taxation, guardianship and nonprofits, Christine Butts has been the pioneering figure of leadership in the field. From Riddle & Butts, LLP, in The Woodlands, Texas, she serves the residents of the surrounding region and the Houston metropolitan area, as well as across the state.
Ms. Butts completed her undergraduate studies in 1993, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in international business from The University of Texas at Austin. She went on to pursue her legal studies at the University of Houston Law Center, where she honed her legal acumen and bolstered her legal foundation in an effort to help her clients today. After receiving her Juris Doctor in 1996, she obtained her license to practice in Texas a year later.
Throughout her illustrious career, Ms. Butts has been a stalwart advocate for her clients, working tirelessly to achieve their goals expeditiously and in an amicable fashion. She understands the external pressures that come with creating comprehensive estate plans for her clients, and she carries that legal burden onto her shoulders so that they can focus on their personal development and their loved ones. For her many contributions, she has been rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell and holds a perfect “10.0” rating on Avvo, along with many positive client testimonials on the latter site as well.
Within her legal community, Ms. Butts holds many close affiliations with prominent legal organizations such as the Houston Bar Association, the National College of Probate Judges (president), the Pasadena Bar Association and the Association of Women Attorneys, among many others. In addition, she is board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in estate planning and probate law.
*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 Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Estate Planning & ProbateFocus areas
Estate Planning, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Living Wills, Power of Attorney, Probate & Estate Administration, Trusts, Wills
- 100% Estate Planning & Probate
First Admitted: 1997, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://riddlebutts.com/attorneys/christine-butts/
- Drafted the Chapter on 1301 Court Created Trusts for the Guardianship Manual on behalf of the State Bar of Texas, 2022
- Master of the Bench, Texas Probate Law American Inn of Court, 2021
- Immediate Past President of the National College of Probate Judges, Williamsburg, Virginia
- Drafted the Mental Health Chapter of the Guardianship Manual for the State Bar of Texas, 2020
- Course Director for Advanced Guardianship and Elder Law Course; September 2-3, 2020, 2020
- President-Elect, National College of Probate Judges, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2019
- Planning Committee for State Bar of Texas 20th Annual Guardianship Law and Elder Law Course, April 5th, 2019, Houston, Texas., 2019
- Secretary/Treasurer National College of Probate Judges, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2018
- Planning Committee for the State Bar of Texas 12th Annual Fiduciary Litigation Course, November 30, 2017, San Antonio, Texas., 2017
- Houston Bar Association's Speakers Bureau, 2009
- Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2003), 2003
- Guardianship Certificate, 2019
- MS 150 Rider, 2014
- MS 150 Rider, 2012
- Advisory Board Member of Houston Achievement Place, 2010
- Board Member of Planned Giving Council of Houston, 2009
- Active Member of the Junior League of Houston as a seamstress for the VIEW, 2006
- 4 1/2 Star Rating and Endorsement from the Houston Chronicle
- 2017 Houston Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Qualification Poll
- 2015 Houston Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire Results
- 2013 Houston Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire Results
- Endorsed as Judge of Harris County Probate Court 4, Houston Chronicle, 2018
- Endorsed for Judge of Harris County Probate Court 4, Houston Chronicle, 2014
- Rising Star, Texas Monthly Magazine, Super Lawyer Edition, 2011
- AV Rated 5.0 Preeminent Martindale Hubble, Martindale Hubble, 2010
- Rising Star, Texas Monthly Magazine, Super Lawyer Edition, 2010
- Rising Star, Texas Monthly Magazine, Super Lawyer Edition, 2009
- Houston's Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2009
- Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2009
- Rising Star, Texas Monthly Magazine, Super Lawyer Edition, 2008
- Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2008
- Houston's Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2008
- Top Lawyer, H Texas Magazine, 2007
- Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2007
- Top Lawyer for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2006
- University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Business Administration, 1993
- Served as the Elected Judge of Harris County Probate Court 4 from 2011-2018, 2011
- Choosing a Business Entity in Texas with an Eye Toward Succession Planning, Presented to the Attorneys in Tax and Probate, May 4, 2004
- Moderated panel of three attorneys who specialize in elder law and discussed what they wish estate planners knew with regard to elder law., Moderator, Ask the Experts: Elder Law Panel, State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning & Probate Course, Legal, 2022
- Discussed the 1301 Court Created Trust and how the terms of such trust may be adapted in many ways to address unique needs of beneficiary., Presenter, Customizing 1301 Trusts—The Next Big Thing, State Bar of Texas 20th Annual Guardianship Law and Elder Law Course, Legal, 2019
- Discussed the rights of children with respect to heirship, guardianship, planned gifts, and testamentary bequests, as such rights vary from state to state in the United States., Presenter, The Kids are Alright—Navigating Between the Hard-Knock Life and Easy Street When Passing Assets to Children, Summer Conference of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Chicago, Illinois, Legal, 2018
- Discussed various thoughts and opinions about the proper practice of probate in Texas., Presenter, Probate Matters: A View from Both Sides of the Bench, State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, Legal, 2018
- Discussed various tips and traps with regard to practicing in probate in Texas., Presenter, Tips from Judges to Elder and Guardianship Attorneys Errors Seen in the Courtroom and Beyond, State Bar of Texas 19th Annual Guardianship Law and Elder Law Course, Legal, 2018
- Discussed when to file a declaratory judgment action., Presenter, When is a Declaratory Judgment Proper, State Bar of Texas 12th Annual Fiduciary Litigation Course, Legal, 2017
- Discussed the drafting of various probate and guardianship pleadings., Presenter, Drafting Common and Uncommon Pleadings, State Bar of Texas 28th Annual Estate Planning and Probate Drafting Course, Legal, 2017
- Discussed the role of the attorney ad litem in probate and guardianship matters., Presenter, The Runaway ad Litem, State Bar of Texas Advanced Guardianship and Elder Law Course, Legal, 2017
- Discussed attorney fee standards and applications for attorney fees., Presenter, Attorney and Appointee Fees, Houston Bar Association’s 2012 Wills and Probate Institute, Legal, 2012
- Discussed important considerations when representing clients facing civil mental health commitment. , Presenter, Representing Clients Facing Mental Health Commitment, Disability and Elder Law Attorney’s Association, Legal, 2012
- Discussed the importance of dovetailing beneficiary designations with estate planning documents and various options regarding beneficiary designations., Presenter, Beneficiary Designations: Has Your World Changed in the Past Five Years?, 24th Annual Wills and Probate Institute, South Texas College of Law, Legal, 2009
- Discussed administering intestate estates in Texas., Presenter, Intestacy and Closing the Estate, National Business Institute, Legal, 2008
- Discussed the benefits of revocable trusts in the context of estate planning., Presenter, Using Revocable Trusts as Estate Planning Tools, Lorman Education Services, Legal, 2008
- Discussed formation of tax exempt organizations, obtaining tax-exempt status, and maintaining compliant., Presenter, Tax Exempt Organizations in Texas, Lorman Education Services, Legal, 2007
- Discussed use of Family Limited Partnerships in business succession planning and with asset protection strategies., Presenter, The Future of Family Limited Partnerships in Estate Planning, American Women's Society of CPAs, Accounting, 2006
- Discussed each business entity type in Texas and contrasted each type with respect to asset protection qualities, functionality, and tax attributes., Author, Choice of Business Entity in Texas, Houston Business and Tax Law Journal, Volume 4, 2004, Legal, 2004
- Discussed each business entity type in Texas and contrasted each type with respect to asset protection qualities, functionality, and tax attributes., Presenter, Choice of Business Entity in Texas, 2003 Accounting Expo Sponsored by the TSCPA Foundation, April 22, 2003, Accounting Industry, 2003
- Served as observer on behalf of the National College of Probate Judges with respect to the Uniform Law Commission's drafting of The Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act , 2018
- Served as the Elected Judge of Harris County Probate Court No. 4 from 2011 through 2018 (two terms), 2011
Office location for Christine Butts
8777 West Rayford Road
The Woodlands, TX 77389
Phone: 281-990-4157
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2008 - 2011
