Maura Phelan

Guiding clients through complex fiduciary litigation with strength and experience.

Maura K. Phelan, J.D., Partner focuses her practice on fiduciary litigation, probate disputes, guardianships, and estate planning. She represents individuals, fiduciaries, and businesses in high-stakes matters involving trusts, estates, and contested proceedings where careful strategy and courtroom strength matter most.

With more than three decades of litigation experience, Maura brings seasoned judgment, commanding courtroom presence, and disciplined preparation to every case. Her background spans probate litigation, business disputes, contractual matters, guardianships, conservatorships, and estate planning, allowing her to approach fiduciary conflicts from both a trial and strategic advisory perspective.

Education & Credentials

University of Houston Law Center, Juris Doctor

Texas A&M University, B.S. Commercial Animal Science

Licensed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Licensed in the U.S. Tax Court
Licensed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Fellow of the State Bar of Texas

Formerly Board Certified in Criminal Law
Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Experience & Practice Focus

Maura has litigated fiduciary matters for decades, representing clients in disputes involving trusts, estates, businesses, and all fiduciary positions. Her practice includes probate administration, contested guardianships and conservatorships, estate planning, and contractual litigation.

Prior to joining Texas Probate Attorney as a Partner, Maura served as Managing Partner of Phelan Bay, PLLC, and previously founded and led multiple firms focused on fiduciary and litigation matters. Earlier in her career, she served as an Assistant District Attorney for Travis County, where she conducted more than fifty felony jury trials and handled hundreds of court proceedings, building a formidable trial foundation that continues to shape her advocacy today.

Her early prosecutorial experience, combined with years of complex civil litigation, gives her a uniquely strong courtroom presence and deep trial experience in contested matters.

Professional Leadership & Community Involvement

Maura has authored and published Elements of the Crime, a guidebook for law enforcement, and has served as a training instructor on child abuse matters for CASA and the Texas Department of Public Safety. She is also deeply involved in community service, including founding Gold Ribbon Rescue, LLC, a Golden Retriever rescue organization operating in Texas since 1998.

Clients turn to Maura for her experience, decisiveness, and unwavering commitment to protecting their interests in complex and contested matters.