Pamela D. Orsak
Pamela D. Orsak practices law in Victoria, Texas, and the surrounding counties where she focuses her practice on estate planning, probate, trust and guardianship issues.
She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence in May 1999, from Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina, and received her undergraduate degree in accounting, summa cum laude, in May of 1996, from the University of Houston as a member of the Honors College.
After graduation from law school, she was selected to serve as Justice Kem T. Frost's briefing attorney on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals. Upon completion of that term, she was given the opportunity to serve as the staff attorney in charge of the litigation and mental health dockets for Harris County Probate Court Number Three Judge Rory Olsen. She went on to work as an associate for Ware, Snow, Fogel & Jackson and then for Ware, Jackson, Lee & Chambers in Houston. Upon moving to Victoria in 2006, she worked as an associate for Anderson, Smith, Null & Stofer until June of 2010.
She has authored numerous papers and has been a speaker for various state and local professional organizations.
She remains active in various local and state legal organizations including: Victoria Area Estate Planning Council, President 2009-2010; Victoria County Bar Association, President 2008-2009; College of the State Bar, Member (2002-present); Victoria Professional Express Network, a chapter of the American Business Women's Association (2008-2011); Presbyterian Day School, Secretary 2011-2012; Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Lifetime Member; Junior League of Houston, Member (2002-2006); Junior League of Victoria, Texas, Inc., Treasurer 2010-2011, Membership Development Chair 2012-2013, Public Relations Chair 2013-2014, Member (2006-present)
She is the proud mother of two young boys and enjoys biking, hunting, playing guitar, scuba diving, snow skiing, and reading in her free time.
Areas of Practice
- Elder Law
- Estate Planning
- Probate & Estate Administration
- Guardianship
- Trusts
- Wills
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1999
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 2000
Education
- Duke University School of Law, Durham,
North Carolina
- J.D. - May, 1999
- University of Houston, Houston,
Texas
- B.B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) - May, 1996
- Major: Accounting
Author/Speaker
- Speaker, “Administering the Estate,” State Bar of Texas Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate Course, 2020
- Speaker, “Administering the Estate,” State Bar of Texas Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate Course, 2019
- Speaker, “Administering the Estate,” State Bar of Texas Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate Course, 2018
- Author/Speaker, “Techniques for Avoiding Probate for Real Estate: Old Foundations, New Foundations, or Wrecking Balls,” Corpus Christi Estate Planning Council, 2018
- Speaker, “Administering the Estate,” State Bar of Texas Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate Course, 2017
- Author/Speaker, “Transfer Techniques for Real Estate That Can Avoid Probate: Old Foundations, New Foundations, or Wrecking Balls,” Notre Dame Estate Planning Institute, 2017
- Author/Speaker, “Save Me from Probate: Transfer on Death Deeds and Lady Bird Deeds,” 40th Annual Advanced Estate Planning & Probate Course, 2016
- Speaker, “Administering the Estate,” Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate Course, 2016
- Author/Speaker, “Use and Abuse of Show Cause Motions in Probate Proceedings,” 39th Annual Advanced Estate Planning & Probate Course, 2015
- Speaker, “Estate Planning: Who, What, Why & How,” Victoria College Foundation, 2015
- Speaker, “Administering the Estate,” Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate Course, 2015
- Speaker, “Administering the Estate,” Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate Course, 2014
- Speaker, “Unintended Consequences of TOD, POD and Other Beneficiary Designations,” Victoria Area Estate Planning Council, September 2014
- Speaker, “Administering the Estate,” Building Blocks of Wills, Estates and Probate Course, 2013
- Speaker, “Estate Planning Post 2010,” First Victoria National Bank, 2011
- Speaker, “Trusts Who Needs Them,” Victoria Professional Express Network, 2010
- Speaker, 2010 Changes to Estate Tax Laws and Opportunities they Present, Investment Professionals Inc. & First State Bank, Yoakum, July 13, 2011
- Speaker, “Why Do I Need a Will,” Victoria Professional Express Network, 2008
Professional Activities and Honors
- Board Certified, Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers
- Marquis Who’s Who in America 2020 edition
- Victoria Area Estate Planning Council, President, 2009 - 2010
- Victoria Area Estate Planning Council, Member, 2008 - Present
- Victoria County Bar Association, President, 2008 - 2009
- Victoria County Bar Association, Member, 2007 - Present
- College of the State Bar, Member, 2002 - Present
- Junior League of Victoria, Texas, Inc., Treasurer, 2010 - 2011
- Junior League of Victoria, Texas, Inc., Member, 2006 - Present
- Junior League of Victoria, Texas, Inc., Membership Development Chair in 2012-2013
- Junior League of Victoria, Texas, Inc., Public Relations Chair in 2013-2014
- Victoria Professional Express Network, a chapter of the American Business Women’s Association, Member 2008 - 2012
- Presbyterian Day School, Secretary 2011 - 2012
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Lifetime Member
- Junior League of Houston, Member 2002 - 2006
Past Employment Positions
-
January 2011 – presentThe Law Office of Pamela D. OrsakVictoria, Texas
-
January 2006 – June 2010Anderson, Smith, Null & Stofer, AssociateVictoria, Texas
-
October 2004 – January 2006Ware, Jackson, Lee & Chambers, AssociateHouston, Texas
-
June 2002 – October 2004Ware, Snow, Fogel & Jackson, AssociateHouston, Texas
-
September 2000 – June 2002Harris County Probate Court Number Three, Litigation & Mental Health Staff AttorneyHouston, Texas
-
September 1999 – August 2000Fourteenth Court of Appeals, Briefing Attorney for The Honorable Kem T. FrostHouston, Texas
Languages
- English