William R. Hayes is board certified in Estate Planning and Probate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a partner in Hayes & Wilson, PLLC. Founded in 2007, the firm has grown to be one of the recognized small firms focusing on Estate Planning, Probate, Guardianship and Special Needs. He is a frequent speaker on Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Probate, Charitable Gifting, Disability Planning, Elder Law, and Medicaid.

In 2004, William received the HBA President’s Award. He has served the Houston Bar Association as co-chair of the Elder Law Committee and as chair of the Fee Dispute Committee. Currently, he is a member of the Texas Bar Association, the Houston and Texas Bar Foundations, the Houston Estate and Financial Forum, the Houston Business and Estate Planning Council, Attorneys in Tax and Probate (ATP), and the Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association (DELAA).

Active in several charitable organizations, William has served on the boards of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Legacy Deo, Lutheran Education Association of Houston, Volunteer Interfaith Caregivers—Southwest, Adult Protective Services Advisory Board, Region 4, Red Bird Center for Bereavement and Loss Counseling, the Melanchthon Institute, and Senior Guidance Directory of Houston. He has provided pro bono legal services to patients at the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s ALS Clinic at Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center for over 20 years. He served for 12 years in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod dispute resolution system as a reconciler and facilitator.

William has one daughter, Emily, and a mutt named Lady. He enjoys running, Crossfit, and biking, has completed 18 marathons and over 100 half-marathons in the United States, Canada and Europe, and has completed several MS-150.

Areas of Practice

• Estate Planning
• Wills
• Trusts
• Probate
• Powers of Attorney
• Medical Directives
• Medicaid Planning
• Guardianships
• Special Needs Trusts

Certified Legal Specialties

Estate Planning and Probate, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Bar Admissions

Texas, 1976

Education

Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas
J.D.

Southern Methodist University
B.B.A.

Classes & Seminars

Frequent Speaker on Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts, Probate, Charitable Gifting, Disability Planning, Elder Law and Medicaid

Professional Associations & Memberships

• State Bar of Texas, Member
• Houston Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Houston Estate and Financial Forum, Member
• Houston Business and Estate Planning Council, Member
• Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association, Board Member

Pro Bono Activities

Volunteer attorney to the monthly ALS clinic of the Muscular Dystrophy Association at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas

Frequent Speaker for the Houston Chapter of the Texas Society of CPA’s, Parkinson’s Society, Alzheimer’s Association.