Douglas E. Clarke

Douglas E. Clarke serves as Of Counsel at Ford + Bergner LLP, bringing over four decades of experience in estate planning and probate law. He is known for crafting clear legal strategies for complex family and financial matters, helping clients preserve wealth, reduce tax exposure, and resolve estate conflicts. His practice includes estate planning, trust creation and reformations, probate litigation, fiduciary services, and guardianship matters.

Mr. Clarke earned his B.A. from Washington & Lee University in 1970 and his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 1973.

Mr. Clarke began his legal career in the tax section of Andrews, Kurth, Campbell & Jones, where he specialized in estate tax, probate, and trust law for 42 years. He was Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 35 years, from 1979 to 2014. He later practiced with MacIntyre, McCulloch & Stanfield before joining Ford + Bergner LLP.

Mr. Clarke assists clients with a wide range of estate strategies, including generation-skipping trusts, family limited partnerships, charitable gifts, life insurance trusts, and asset protection plans. He also advises on federal estate and state inheritance tax issues. His work includes resolving disputes among beneficiaries, executors, and trustees, as well as facilitating trust reformations and representing clients in estate tax audits.

With a reputation for simplifying complex legal issues, Mr. Clarke helps families protect hard-to-value assets and minimize estate taxes. He also has extensive experience forming and advising 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities.

Douglas E. Clarke has held leadership roles in the legal community, including serving as Chairman of the Houston SPCA and Chair of the Probate, Trust and Estate Section of the Houston Bar. He was also a Council Member of the State Bar of Texas Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section. Mr. Clarke remains a trusted legal advisor for individuals and families seeking practical estate planning solutions across Texas.

Law Office Affiliations

• Of Counsel, Ford + Bergner LLP
• Chairman, Houston SPCA
• Member, Houston Estate Forum
• Member, Houston Estate Planning Study Group

Licensed State

• Texas

Education

• University of Houston Law Center
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Washington & Lee University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges