Michael J. Cenatiempo

Michael J. Cenatiempo focuses his practice on private wealth preservation and estate planning strategies, including probate, trusts, wills, estates, gift, estate and GST taxation, fiduciary risk management, asset protection planning, elder law and guardianships. He represents both families and executors in all phases of estate settlement, including estate tax compliance, and assists families with wealth transfers and business succession. Michael advises trustees and trust beneficiaries on trust administration matters such as risk management, investment and business matters, and fiduciary discretion. He handles trust modifications, decanting, and relocation of trusts and also provides legal counsel regarding trusts and estates in divorce or other litigation. Michael is also an experienced litigator in matters related to estates, trusts, guardianships and tax disputes. Upon graduation, Michael served as the Briefing Attorney for the Honorable Ruel C. Walker, Justice in The Supreme Court of Texas during the 1971-1972 Term. Michael is board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

REPORTED CASES

• Ditta v. Conte, 298 S.W.3d 187 (Tex.2009)
• J.D. Abrams, Inc., v. McIver, 966 S.W.2d 87 (Tex. App. - Houston 1st Dist. 1998, n.w.h.)
• Cullen Center Bank & Trust, Trustee v. Texas Commerce Bank, N.A., Trustee, et al, 841 S.W.2d 116 (Tex. App. - Houston 14th Dist. 1992, writ denied)
• Dyer v. Eckols, 808 S.W.2d 531 (Tex. App. - 14th Dist 1991, writ denied)
• Hanau v. Hanau, 730 S.W.2d 663 (Tex. 1987)

Presentations

• Let Me Speak with the Manager! Planning with Business Assets, State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Estate Planning Strategies Course (April 2012)
• What Have Six Years of the UPIA's Done, If Anything? Should We "Draft Around," "Modify," or Just Punt? State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Estate Planning & Probate Institute (June 2010)

Publications

• Co-author. Discretionary Trusts Primer, 147 Trusts & Estates 42 (February 2008)
• Co-author. Trusts & Estates; Estate Planning Complexities, Texas Lawyer Newspaper (2007)