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What happens legally when someone passes away? What happens when an adult can no longer make certain decisions independently? And where do probate and guardianship attorneys step in when these major life events occur?

Join the Probate, Guardianship Law, Estates & Trusts Society (PGLETS) for lunch and conversation about "When Life Happens," an engaging and informative introduction to probate and guardianship law. Over lunch, students will hear from Texas Law alumni whose experiences provide distinct perspectives on these practice areas. Rather than beginning with the code, the conversation will begin with the real-life events that trigger probate and guardianship law and explore how attorneys and courts help individuals and families navigate what happens next.

We are excited to welcome Emma Jane Hopper ’25, Associate Attorney with the fiduciary litigation team at Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton, LLP. A graduate of the Texas Law, Emma focuses her practice on matters involving trusts, probate, guardianship, and fiduciary litigation. During her time at Texas Law, Emma founded PGLETS and developed several probate and guardianship related pro bono initiatives through the Mithoff Pro Bono Program, including wills clinics, alternatives-to-guardianship clinics, and a court visitor program in partnership with the Travis County Probate Courts. Her work earned her recognition as a National Jurist Law Student of the Year and the Texas Access to Justice Commission’s Law Student Pro Bono Award.

Joining Emma will be Nolan Bedward ’22, an Associate Attorney at Savrick Schumann Johnson McGarr Kaminski & Shirley, LLP and graduate of the Texas Law. Nolan brings a unique perspective shaped by experience both inside the probate court system and in private practice. He previously served as a Law Clerk and Staff Attorney with the Travis County Probate Court, gaining firsthand experience with probate and guardianship matters and the procedures through which they move through the court. Nolan later practiced at Jackson Walker before joining Savrick Schumann, where he continues his practice as a litigation attorney. His experience across the court, Big Law, and private litigation practice provides students with insight into both the substantive work of probate and the different career paths through which attorneys can encounter these areas of law.

Together, Emma and Nolan will introduce students to “When Life Happens," the moments of death, incapacity, family change, and conflict that can trigger probate or guardianship proceedings. Through a conversational but informative discussion, they will explore when these areas of law come into play, the types of matters probate and guardianship attorneys handle, how contested and uncontested proceedings may differ, and what practicing in these areas actually looks like.

Whether you already have an interest in probate, guardianship, trusts and estates, or litigation, or have never encountered these practice areas before, When Life Happens is designed to provide an accessible, practical introduction to an area of law that touches individuals and families at some of life’s most significant transitions.