Mark Stanton Smith is a long-time resident of San Antonio. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Government in 1983. Upon returning to San Antonio, Mr. Smith graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1985 and shortly thereafter began his practice with Partner John R. Heard. Probate and guardianship are particular areas of interest for Mr. Smith and he has written, lectured and taught in these areas. Mr. Smith has served two terms as President of the National Guardianship Association and is a nationally recognized expert in guardianship law. In 1996, Mr. Smith was elected to the Texas Guardianship Advisory Board by the probate judges of Texas. Mr. Smith has been involved in hundreds of cases and estates, including contested guardianship and wills and has litigated cases throughout the federal and state court systems. Recently, Mr. Smith received an appointment to the Advisory Council of the Center for American History, a division of the University of Texas at Austin.

Education

• University of Texas at Austin, B.A. (1982)
• St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D. (1985)

Professional Background

• Partner, Heard & Smith, L.L.P.
• Licensed in all Texas Courts
• Admitted in practice before the Federal Western District of Texas, the Fifth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, the Court of Veterans Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Activities

• President, National Guardianship Association (1998–2000)
• Director, National Guardianship Association (1994–2005)
• Director, Guardianship Advisory Board (appointed 1997)
• Chair of Advisory Council of the Center for American History, University of Texas (2005-2011)
• Member of College of State Bar of Texas
• San Antonio Bar Association
• State Bar of Texas
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
• San Antonio Estate Planning Council
• Speaker at 1996 National Guardianship Association Annual Conference, Litigating Contested Guardianships and Fiduciary Litigation
• Keynote address at 1998 National Guardianship Association Annual Conference, The Future of Guardianship
• Keynote address at 1999 National Guardianship Association Annual Conference, Professionalism in Guardianship