Practice

Shyla R. Buckner is Of Counsel with Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC.  Her practice focuses on wealth planning and probate for high-net-worth individuals, couples and families. She also advises individual and corporate fiduciaries in estate and trust matters. Shyla primarily advises on matters related to:

• Estate, Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Planning
• Wills
• Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts
• Pre- and Post-nuptial Agreements
• Financial and Medical Powers of Attorney
• Advance Health Care Directives, or “Living Wills”
• Life Insurance Trusts
• Charitable Lead and Remainder Trusts
• Retirement Benefit Planning
• Probate and Trust Administration
• Preparation and Filing of Federal Estate and Gift Tax Returns
• Federal Estate and Gift Tax Controversies with the IRS

Shyla also advises groups on all aspects of forming and maintaining private foundations and public charities.

Before becoming Of Counsel with Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC, Shyla was an adjunct professor at the Baylor University School of Law in Waco, Texas, where she taught Retirement Law and Elder Law courses. Before teaching, she was a shareholder at Sprouse Shrader Smith PC from 2003-2004 and a partner at Gibson, Ochsner & Adkins, LLP, from 2000-2003.

Shyla is a frequent speaker for the State Bar of Texas continuing legal education seminars and other professional groups.

Practice Areas

• Wealth Planning & Probate
• Non-Profit Organizations

Certifications / Specializations

Distinctions / Honors

• Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
• Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel

Admissions

• Texas State Courts, 1993

Education

• Baylor University School of Law, J.D., 1993
• Baylor University, B.A., 1991

Memberships

• Amarillo Area Bar Association (Past Director)
• State Bar of Texas Section on Real Property, Probate and Trust Law
• Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Council Member (2015-2019)
• Amarillo Area Estate Planning Council (President 2016-17, VP 2015-10, Secretary-Treasurer 2014-15)
• WTAMU Foundation (Board Member, 2016-Present)
• WT125 Subcommittee (Co-Chair, 2019)