Meet Sam M. (Trey) Yates, III
Education
Graduate:
St. Mary’s School of Law
San Antonio, Texas
Juris Doctor, 1984
Licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Texas – 1984
Undergraduate:
University of Houston
Bachelor of Arts – Political Science, 1981
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Los Angeles, California, 1979
Professional
Law Office of Sam M. (Trey) Yates, III, P.C.
A civil law trial practice since 1986 in Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Montgomery, and Galveston counties with a primary focus on family law litigation, probate/guardianship litigation and basic estate planning services. Experienced in collaborative family law, mediation, and Court appointments as a child representative.
Board Certified Family Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization – 2010;
recertified – 2015 and 2020
Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 2010
Martindale-Hubbell CV Peer Review Rated
Texas Super Lawyers – Family Law – 2015-2023
Best Lawyers Recognition – 2017-2025
American Inns of Court Mentorship
EXCELLENCE AWARD 2019-2021
Gulf Coast Family Law Specialist
David A Gibson Award of Excellence -2023
Additional Information
Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 2010
Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
Former President and Member of the Board of Directors, Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists
Texas Family Law Foundation
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Collaborative Divorce Texas
Collaborative Divorce Houston
Former President and Member of the Board of Directors, Family Law Section, Houston Bar Association
Former President and Member of the Board of Directors, Family Law Section
Member Probate, Trusts and Estate Section
Member Collaborative Law Section
Equal Access Champion
Houston Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
Outstanding Legal Article Award in The Houston Lawyer 2018
Fort Bend County Bar Association
College of the State Bar of Texas
American Inns of Court
Burta Rhoads Raborn Family Law American Inn of Court
Texas Probate American Inn of Court Member
Pro Bono College State Bar of Texas
The American Association of Justice
American Bar Association
State Bar of Texas
Lawyering Skills and Strategies – Advisory Board – University of Houston Law Center
State Bar of Texas Pattern Jury Change Committee – Family & Probate
Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists
David A Gibson Award of Excellence -2023
President – 2018 – 2019 Term
Vice President – One Term
Secretary – One Term
Board of Directors – Seven Terms
Burta Rhoads Raborn Family Law Inn of Court
President – 2015-2016 Term
Secretary – Two Terms
Board of Directors – Five Terms
American Inns of Court Mentorship
EXCELLENCE AWARD 2019-2021
The Texas Probate Law American Inn of Court
Founding Member and Master of the Bench – 2021
Houston Bar Association – Collaborative Law Section
Board of Directors – One Term
Houston Bar Association – Family Law Section
Chair – 2007 – 2008 Term
Chair Elect – One Term
Secretary – One Term
Board of Directors – Three Terms
Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, Inc.
Board of Directors – Three Terms
Former Family Law Pro Bono Mentor for King and Spalding, L.L.P
Star Volunteer of 1999
Houston Bar Association
President’s Award for outstanding service as Chair of AIDS Outreach Committee 1996-1997
Course Director – “Family Law Conference for General Practitioners and Legal Assistant” – South Texas College of Law (2004, 2005, 2006)
Course Director – “Ad Litem/Amicus Boot Camp” – South Texas College of Law (2009)
“Overcoming Family Law Presumptions”
2022 – Houston Bar Association Family Law Section
“Joining Forces: When Your SAPCR Suit Requires Guardianship and Probate Expertise”
2022 – 48th Annual Advanced Family Law Course – State Bar of Texas – San Antonio
“Marital Property Law”
2021 – Family/Probate Bench Bar Conference – 2021 – Houston
“You Have An Addiction and You Want Me To Try Your Case”
INNOVATIONS: BREAKING BOUNDARIES IN CUSTODY LITIGATION
2020 – American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Texas Chapter – Houston
“The ABCs of a Divorce Case”
HVL Family Law Seminar
2018; 2019 – South Texas College of Law – Houston
“Same-Sex Marriage Issues”
2018 – Marriage Dissolution Institute
State Bar of Texas – Dallas
“Pidgeon v Turner: The Status of Same-Sex Marriage in the Lone Star State”
2018 – Houston Bar Association Winter Seminar
“Temporary Orders”
2016 – HVL Family Law Seminar
Houston College of Law – Houston
“Real Property and Housewives of Harris County”
2016 – Houston Bar Association
“Same-Sex Marriage and Parentage Update”
2015 – Highlights for the Advanced Family Lawyer – Houston
“Sex and the Law: How Science & the Supreme Court Have Changed Your World”
2015 – Houston Bar Association
“Dog Fights and Bones of Contention – Family Law and Pets in Texas”
2015 – South Texas College of Law – Houston
“Same-Sex Couples and Texas Family Law”
2015 – HVL Family Law Seminar
South Texas College of Law – Houston
“Marriage and Divorce After the Demise of Doma”
2014 – 29th Annual Wills and Probate Institute
South Texas College of Law – Houston
“Marriage, Divorce and Parentage After the Demise of Doma”
2014 – 40th Annual Advanced Family Law Course
State Bar of Texas – San Antonio
“Marriage and Parentage After the Demise of Doma”
The American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
The American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Technology Attorneys
2014 – Annual Conference – New Orleans
“Marriage Equality and Divorce Equality After the Demise of Doma”
2014 – Houston Bar Association
“Legal Ethics Involved in Marketing Collaborative Divorce Services”
2014 – Houston Bar Association
“Marriage and Parentage After the Demise of Doma”
2014 – 28th Annual Family Law Conference
South Texas College of Law – Houston
“Equal Protection Under the Law and the Redefinition of Marriage”
2013 – Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists – Houston
“So What’s Happening With Same-Sex Marriage?”
2013 – 27th Annual Family Law Conference
South Texas College of Law – Houston
“Real Estate Issues for Same-Sex Couples”
2013 – State Bar of Texas – Austin
“Issues for Divorcing Parents with Special Needs Children Under the Texas Family Code and Texas Probate Code”
2012 – Houston Bar Association
“Effectively Assessing Cases for ADR”
2012 – 26th Annual Family Law Conference
South Texas College of Law – Houston
“Getting the Benefit of the Bargain: Drafting Enforceable Language on Temporary Orders and Final Decrees”
2012 – Houston Bar Association Family Law Institute – Houston
“Support for a Disabled Adult or Minor Child and Related Issues”
2012 – Inns of Court – Houston
“Getting It In and Keeping it Out – A Practical Guide to Using Evidence in Family Law Cases”
2011 – Houston Bar Association
“Who’s My Daddy? A Parentage Mystery”
2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 – HVLP Family Law Seminar – Houston
“Dance With The One Who Brung Ya – A Private Practitioner’s Dance With The Office of The Attorney General and IV-D Courts of Harris County, Texas”
2011 – Houston Bar Association
“The Business of Family Law”
2011 – 25th Annual Family Law Conference – South Texas College of Law – Houston
“The Business of Family Law”
2010 – 24th Annual Family Law Conference-South Texas College of Law – Houston
“Common Law and Same Sex Marriages, Adult Adoptions, Maternity Tests, and Other Unusual Topics”
2009 – 23rd Annual Family Law Conference – South Texas College of Law – Houston
Course Director
2009 – Ad Litem/Amicus Boot Camp – South Texas College of Law, Houston
“Deciding a Child’s Fate: Child Custody Evaluations, Ethics and Investigating Allegations of Sexual Abuse, Galveston, Direct and Cross Examination of a Custody Evaluator”
2008 – Deciding a Child’s Fate: Child Custody Evaluations, Ethics and Investigating Allegations of Sexual Abuse, Galveston
“Child Support Calculations: Guidelines and Above”
2008 – Family Law Institute – Houston Bar Association – Houston
“Direct and Cross Examination of a Custody Evaluator”
2008 – Deciding a Child’s Fate: Child Custody Evaluations, Ethics and Investigating Allegations of Sexual Abuse – Galveston
“Making Mediation Work for You”
2008 – 22nd Annual Family Law Conference – South Texas College of Law – Houston
“Family Law and Fido: How to Split the Dog”
2008, 2006 – Texas Dog Law Seminar – Houston
“Parenting Plans”
2007 – 21st Annual Family Law Conference – South Texas College of Law – Houston
“Paternity and Co-Respondent”
2007 – HVLP Family Law Seminar – Houston
“Paternity and Co-Respondent”
2006 – HVLP Family Law Seminar – Houston
Course Director
Family Law Conference for General Practitioners and Legal Assistants
2006 – South Texas College of Law
Course Director
Family Law Conference for General Practitioners and Legal Assistants
2005 – South Texas College of Law
“Voir Dire and Opening and Closing Statements”
2005 – 21st Annual Family Law Conference – South Texas College of Law – Houston
Course Director
Family Law Conference for General Practitioners and Legal Assistants
2004 – South Texas College of Law
“Legislative Changes and Updates”
2004 – 20th Annual Family Law Conference – South Texas College of Law – Houston
“Law Office Management Tips”
2003 – 19th Annual Family Law Conference – South Texas College of Law – Houston
Houston Grand Opera
Board of Trustees – Current
Leadership Initiative Committee – Current
Unity Church of Christianity – Houston
President – Two Terms
Board of Directors – Six Terms
Leaving a Legacy – Giving Beyond a Lifetime
Course Director – Current
Dalton DeHart Photographic Foundation
Board of Directors – Current
Bering Omega Community Services
Board of Trustees – Seven Terms
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
Certified Volunteer Ombudsman – 2000 to Current
University of Texas Houston Center for the Aging
Raintree Place Property Homeowners Association
President – 2009
Board of Directors – Two Terms
MECA (Multicultural Education & Counseling through the Arts)
Board of Directors – Three Terms
Gala Co-Chairman “Noche de Milagros”
AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc.
Advisory Board – Current
Vice President – Two Terms
Board of Directors – Five Terms
“In Your Ear and Off The Wall” Gala Co-Chair 1997 Benefit for AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc.
Hermann Park Conservancy
Board of Directors – Two Terms
Advisory Board – Current
Luncheon Co-Chair “Picnic In The Park” – 1998
The Assistance Fund
President and Chairman of the Board – Two Terms
Vice President – One Term
Board of Directors – Three Terms
Former Legal Counsel
Eagle Scout (1969)