James Hartley, J.D.

Attorney Reviewer · Law-Trust.com

Licensed Attorney — Texas State Bar

Practice: Estate Planning & Probate Jurisdiction: Texas (licensed) At Law-Trust.com since: 2023

James Hartley is a licensed Texas estate planning attorney who serves as the legal reviewer for Law-Trust.com. In this role, he reviews all published content for legal accuracy — including statutory references, jurisdiction-specific requirements, and claims about the legal validity of online documents — before articles go live.

James has practiced estate planning law in Texas for over a decade, advising clients on wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and probate administration. He brings firsthand knowledge of the real-world situations families face — and the legal documents that protect them or fail them — to every review.

His role at Law-Trust.com is strictly editorial: reviewing factual and legal accuracy, not providing legal advice to individual readers or creating an attorney-client relationship with any visitor to this site.

🔒 Verify Attorney Credentials

James Hartley is a licensed member of the Texas State Bar. You can independently verify active Texas Bar membership at the Texas State Bar Member Directory. Licensed attorneys in Texas are regulated by the State Bar of Texas under Rules of Professional Conduct.

Credentials & Background

Licensed attorney — Texas State Bar (active member in good standing)
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school
10+ years of estate planning practice in Texas: wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, probate administration
Direct experience with online estate planning tools — understanding where DIY is appropriate and where attorney intervention is essential
Reviews every article published on Law-Trust.com before publication for legal accuracy, jurisdictional compliance, and consumer clarity

How Legal Review Works at Law-Trust.com

Draft review: James receives every article draft before publication and flags any legally inaccurate claims, overgeneralizations, or statements that could mislead readers about what online services can legally deliver.

Statutory verification: Any reference to specific laws, statutes, or legal standards (e.g., probate thresholds, witness requirements, tax exemptions) is verified against primary legal sources — not just other secondary websites.

Disclaimer compliance: James ensures every article clearly states its limitations: educational content only, no attorney-client relationship, professional consultation recommended for complex situations.

Ongoing updates: As laws change (estate tax exemptions, state probate rules, etc.), James flags articles requiring updates and verifies that corrected content is legally accurate before republication.

Important Disclaimer

James Hartley's review of Law-Trust.com content does not constitute legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and is not a substitute for qualified legal counsel in your jurisdiction. If you have a complex estate planning situation — business ownership, blended families, multi-state assets, special needs beneficiaries — consult a licensed attorney in your state.