Wills & Probate

Larry Huddleston was admitted to the Bar in 1977 and has been an estate planning attorney for more than 20 years. He was in the first class of Certified in Ohio as Specialists in Trust, Probate, and Estate Planning. He has taught estate planning in almost half the states in America to attorneys, accountants, physicians, and many others in groups from 10 to 1,000. He participates in several professional organizations from trade associations to "think tanks." He is rated "10.0 Superb" by AVVO.com and "AV Pre-eminent" by Lawyers.Com/Martindale-Hubbell. He is enthusiastic about his work and intends to keep at it for many years. Larry (or "C L" to his close friends) carries a single-digit golf handicap at Scioto Country Club, is a passable fly fisherman, an active pilot ("Air Gramps" to his grandsons), still enters ski races occasionally and sings bass in the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church choir. He is a graduate of Portsmouth (Ohio) High School, Muskingum College, and Capital University School of Law. Prior to starting his estate planning career, he was a general practice attorney, litigator, financial regulator, expert witness in "banker misbehavior" cases, and a financial institutions merger and acquisitions consultant. He lives in Upper Arlington with Debbie, his patient wife of 40 years. They have two grown daughters and two grandsons.

I specialize in estate planning for families, probate & estate administration, business succession planning, and resolving your IRS problems. I am an expert in the field, but it is my commitment to you that differentiates me from others. You can count on personalized, focused attention. Your estate plan will reflect your unique values and concerns. Your questions will be answered promptly and with respect. When you’re done, you’ll understand how the documents work and what you need to do to keep them current during your lifetime.

Over 30 years of experience in providing individualized legal services. Fishing is one of my favorite activities. Fly fishing is my preferred method. But I love teaching kids how to fish. Sailing is another passion of mine, and I lived aboard my sailboat in the mid-1990s in the harbor just off Galveston Bay. Travel fascinates me, too. My next destination is Italy. I’ve been to Greece, and to stand in the palace of King Mynos was thrilling. I enjoy cooking and gardening, and I’m always searching for new foods and new recipes.

John F. “Jack” Whitworth was born in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1959. Jack earned a B.B.A (Accounting) from the University of Texas at Austin in August, 1981. He subsequently worked in the oil and gas industry in Houston, Texas for several years. He became a Certified Public Accountant (Texas) in October, 1984 and attended law school at South Texas College of Law, graduating in August, 1990 with a J.D. degree. Jack practices primarily in the area of estate planning and probate and strives to develop long-term professional relationships with his clientele based on mutual respect and trust. He is committed to giving each client’s matter his undivided attention. Before relocating to San Antonio in 2005, Jack was a member of the Northside Rotary Club of Victoria, Texas. He serves as a Lector at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, and Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Jack serves as an associate member of the Board of Directors for Security Service Federal Credit Union.

James Stapler has been licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas since 1999. He has successfully represented hundreds of clients in Family and Criminal Courts throughout Texas. James is admitted to practice in all State Courts as well as the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, including Fort Hood. He has won jury trials in Bell, Coryell & Lampasas Counties. Most of his practice is made up of Family and Criminal Law, including divorce, custody, child support, CPS, as well as all misdemeanors and felonies. James also handles probate, guardianship, and personal injury cases. Mr. Stapler said, "My goal is to get the right resolution for each client whether that means seeking an amicable resolution or fighting tooth and nail in court. I look forward to meeting you to see how we can help you."

My practice focuses on estate planning and litigating complex trust, estate and guardianship disputes. With over 20 years of civil trial and appellate experience, I have represented clients in all stages of litigation from pre-trial, trial, mediation and appeals to the Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court. I have represented clients in over 70 appeals in both the Texas and Federal Courts of Appeal and am Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. My experience as a litigator and appellate attorney permits to provide my clients with a high level of analysis in all facets of a dispute and find a path to victory. However, my true strength as an attorney arises from my client-centered approach. I understand and accept that my clients come to me with both legal and personal disputes which arise after the death or incapacity of a close family member. As your attorney, my job is to help my clients navigate these disputes and move on to a place in their lives where they can focus on what really matters - their families and loved ones.

I am a Strong Protection Attorney, allow me to protect what matters to you . . .

Ben Hand is the founding partner of Hand Law Firm, LLC. as well as a partner in Hand & Hand Mediation, LLC. Ben was admitted to the Bar in Alabama in 1990 after earning his Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Ben completed his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Auburn University in 1987b and has remained an avid Auburn fan. Ben was born in Valley, Alabama and traveled as a child to Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Mexico with his parents who worked as missionaries and teachers. It was during his childhood travels that he learned to love the Central American culture and learned to speak fluent Spanish. After high school, Ben returned to Auburn and has remained a citizen of Lee County for the past thirty-five years. In 1990, Ben founded Hand Law Firm, LLC. He has been practicing for over twenty-five years. Ben focuses his practice on criminal defense, civil litigation, social security, family law, and probate law. In addition to his duties at Hand Law Firm, Ben is also a state registered mediator and has served as a Municipal Judge for over twenty years. Ben has served the cities of Roanoake, Wedowee, Camp Hill and Opelika during his tenure as Municipal Judge and Prosecutor and thus has a unique perspective in criminal defense. Ben lives in Opelika with his wife, Elizabeth Hand and together they are raising their ten children.

Working to protect Kentucky’s most vulnerable citizens and natural landscapes has long been Joe’s personal and professional passion. As an undergraduate student at the University of Kentucky, Joe successfully lobbied for Appalachian studies curricula and the formation of the UK Appalachian Center. As a law student, Joe spent his summers working throughout east Kentucky and central Appalachia with the Appalachian Land Ownership Task Force documenting absentee land and mineral ownership by out of state energy giants. This work inspired the creation of the Kentucky Fair Tax Coalition, which later became Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. Joe started his legal career with the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund (AppalRed) in Jackson, Kentucky, and has now been in private practice for forty years. He represented landowners in some of Kentucky’s most important mineral and tax litigation, which led to major reforms in property tax of unmined minerals and passage of the Broad Form Deed Amendment to the Kentucky Constitution in 1988. ​ From 1988 to 1992, Joe was a partner of Shepherd & Childers, where he practiced with now Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd. From 2007 to 2011, Joe was a partner in Getty & Childers, a Lexington civil litigation firm. In 2012, Joe started Joe F. Childers & Associates, the predecessor to Childers & Baxter, PLLC. Joe has served on the boards of the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, Kentucky State University, Kentucky Employers Mutual Insurance Company, the State Board of Claims, and as Commissioner on the State Mine Safety Review Commission and the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Since 2015, Joe has served as Board Chair of the Kentucky Resources Council. Joe and his wife Denise have two adult children.