Kelley Bentley focuses her practice on elder law, estate planning, trust administration, probate and guardianship. Ms. Bentley is board certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, in addition to being a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation.
Ms. Bentley regularly advises clients on the preparation of estate planning documents, with an emphasis on the special needs of the elderly and individuals with disabilities. Ms. Bentley assists individuals with the preparation and administration of special needs trusts, as well as advises individuals on long-term care planning needs, including qualification for Medicaid benefits and VA benefits. Ms. Bentley advises individuals regarding all issues surrounding estate and trust administration, including representation before the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program, as well as coordination of assets and lifetime gifts to reduce income and transfer tax liability.
Ms. Bentley frequently speaks to professional organizations, as well as community groups, on elder law, estate planning and probate issues. Ms. Bentley seeks to educate and assist individuals on options for financing long-term care, as well as on estate planning techniques to mitigate tax liability.
Practice Areas
Elder Law
Estate Planning
Trust and Estate Administration
Special Needs Planning, including Medicaid planning
Guardianship
VA Benefits Planning
Education
University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas LL.M in Taxation, 2010
South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas Juris Doctorate, 2005
Assistant Note & Comment Editor, South Texas Law Review
University of Houston, Houston, Texas
B.A. in Music, minor in French, 2001
Certifications
Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Texas Chapter Member
Honors and Awards
Listed, Thompson Reuters Super Lawyer (2019, 2020)
Listed, Thompson Reuters Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
- Up-and-Coming 100, 2017, 2018
- Up-and-Coming 50 Women, 2017, 2018
Listed, H Texas Magazine “Top Lawyer” for Elder Law (2014, 2015)
Affiliations
Fort Bend County Bar Association, Member Board of Directors (Past Board Member)
Member, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section, State Bar of Texas
Member, Probate, Trust and Estates Section, Houston Bar Association
Member, Attorneys in Tax and Probate
Member, Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association (President)
Texana, Community Advisory Board
Texana, Human Rights Committee
Bar Admissions
State Bar of Texas, 2005
Publications
State Bar of Texas, Intermediate Estate Planning & Probate, Presenter, “ABLE Accounts, ARC of Texas and Special Needs Trust,” Houston, June 2017
Houston Bar Association, Co-Presenter, “Fiduciaries Gone Wild,” Houston, February 2017
Planned Giving Council of Houston, “Estate Planning Basics” and “How to Avoid the Unauthorized Practice of Law,” Houston, February 2017
University of Texas Probate, Elder Law and Guardianship Conference, Presenter, “Changing Probate Ships Midstream,” Galveston, August 2016
State Bar of Texas, Intermediate Estate Planning & Probate, “Planning for Beneficiaries With Special Needs: How Public Benefits Affect Planning, Guardianship and Litigation,” San Antonio, June 2016
Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association, “Financing Long-Term Care Without Breaking the Bank,” Houston, May 2016
Fort Bend County Bar Association, Co-Presenter, “Corporate Trustees: Not Just for Probate Anymore,” Richmond, March 2016
State Bar of Texas, How to Handle Your First (or Next) Medicaid Case, “Medicaid Estate Recovery Program,” Austin, December 2015
Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association, Co-Presenter “Guardianship for the Medicaid Recipient,” Houston, December 2015
University of Texas Probate, Elder Law and Guardianship Conference, Co-Presenter “Guardianship for the Medicaid Recipient,” Galveston, August 2015
Attorneys in Tax and Probate Law, “Hot Topics in Elder Law,” Houston, March 2015
University of Texas Probate, Elder Law and Guardianship Conference, “Dealing With Non-US Applicants for Medicaid Benefits,” Galveston, August 2014
Attorneys in Tax and Probate Law, “Top Ten Mistakes in Drafting and Administering Special Needs Trusts,” Houston, March 2014
Texas Society of CPAs CPE Expo, “Financing Long Term Care,” Houston, December 2013
South Texas College of Law, 28th Annual Wills and Probate Institute, “Medicaid: All You Need to Know,” Houston, September 2013
Texas Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Elder Law 101 Course, “ABCs of Medicaid Planning,” Austin, September 2013
