John R. Strohmeyer

But estate planning isn’t just about documents—it’s about making sure your loved ones aren’t left overwhelmed and unprepared. I learned that firsthand when my family had to navigate my father’s guardianship. (If you’re looking for a run down of my resume, you can skip the next few paragraphs.)

The Guardianship We Never Thought We’d Need

It seemed so simple when dad was still himself. He had always been sharp, independent, and strong-willed—the kind of man who took pride in solving his own problems. He had a will, he had his documents, and in his mind, that meant everything was handled. But what seemed simple to him became impossibly complicated for the rest of us.

At a family wedding, my Aunt Judy pulled me aside. “Have you noticed your dad lately?” she asked. I had. We all had. The little slips, the forgetfulness, the moments of confusion—it had been happening for a while. But it was easy to explain away. It wasn’t until we were confronted with the reality that we realized how serious it had become.

That’s how Frustration and Delays showed up first.

Dad never transferred control of anything. As much as he planned for the future, he had never accepted that one day he might not be able to manage his own affairs. And because of that, my sister, Sara, and I found ourselves fighting an uphill battle—not just against his decline, but against the legal system that now required us to prove he needed help.

And then came Fights—not among us, but with him. He had spent his life as the provider, the protector. To him, signing over control felt like admitting defeat. No amount of logic could change that. Sara and I knew that it wouldn’t be easy, and that dad would be furious with us. But for us to take care of him, we had to challenge him. So, as a team, we filed for the guardianship, knowing that one of us would end up being the “bad guy,” but he couldn’t be mad at both of us.

Unnecessary Costs piled up. The legal fees, the hearings, the paperwork—it was all avoidable if only he had structured things differently while he was still able to do so. Guardianship wasn’t just emotionally exhausting, it was expensive. And it wasn’t just about the money. It was about the time, the energy, and the emotional toll of watching our father—who had spent his life making decisions—lose the ability to have a say in his own affairs.

And worst of all, Loss of Assets became a real possibility. Without clear direction, we had to untangle accounts, track down investments, and figure out where everything was. Even simple questions—who handled his pension? Where were the long-term care insurance documents?—became puzzles that took weeks to solve.

Looking back, I’m grateful that Sara and I had each other. We had the support of our other sisters, Aunt Judy, and the rest of the family, but the day-to-day weight of it fell on us. We did it because we had to, but I couldn’t help but think—this didn’t have to be this hard.

What seems simple when you’re healthy and in control can become a nightmare when you’re not. No matter how much someone plans, if they don’t plan for the right things, their loved ones are the ones left struggling to pick up the pieces.

I earned my B.S. in Zoology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002, followed by my J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 2009. I then completed a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation at the New York University School of Law in 2010. Since then, I’ve become Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in both Tax Law and Estate Planning & Probate Law.

My work has been recognized by my peers, including being elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. I have been named a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Super Lawyers (Thompson Reuters) in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and previously as a Rising Star from 2015 to 2019. Additionally, I was honored as the “Rookie of the Year” in 2016 and Outstanding Substantive Committee Chair in 2017 by the State Bar of Texas Tax Section. I’ve also served as a Fellow of the ABA Section of Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law and as a Young Leader of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

Outside of work, I spend my time with my three rescued mutts—Griswold, Billy, and Tank—running marathons (50 as of January 1, 2025), and expanding my LEGO collection.