Deborah J. Schmidt practices in probate, guardianship, and elder law, including administrations and litigation for probate, guardianship, and trusts. Ms. Schmidt is certified by the Texas State Bar to serve as an attorney ad litem and guardian ad litem for probate and guardianship matters. With trial experience in civil, family, and probate law, she works tirelessly to protect and serve families in Collin, Hunt, Kaufman, Van Zandt, Dallas, and Tarrant, as well as East Texas and most surrounding counties.

Deborah previously owned DJS Mediation Services, a mediation practice with a focus on family law and probate matters, where she resolved high conflict family disputes; performed evaluations for adoptions and contested custody cases; and taught mediation courses for Collin County Community College District. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in psychology, and earned her M.A. in dispute resolution from Southern Methodist University. Deborah was admitted to the Texas State Bar, in 2018, after graduating with the inaugural class at UNT Dallas College of Law. She is active in several alumni and service organizations, mentors law students, and assists at UNT Dallas College of Law as an adjunct professor for the Interviewing and Counseling, and Negotiation courses.

Deborah resides in Allen, Texas, where she has lived with her husband and children since 1991. She enjoys yoga, soccer, tennis, skiing, and is attempting to learn golf and to master pickleball. Deborah loves to travel, especially to the Rocky Mountains and white sandy beaches.