Meet Jana McCreary | Estate Planning Attorney

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jana McCreary and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jana, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My father died suddenly and unexpectedly in June 2012. I was a law professor in Florida at the time, and he was a veterinarian who owned his own practice in Texas. As his executor, suddenly, I was running a small business. Although it was a practice I grew up in, being responsible for the business side was new. As executor, I owed a duty to the other beneficiaries (my siblings), so I took that role seriously and learned what I needed quickly.

A year later, I was still dealing with his estate. He had had a will, but it was the most basic will there is; it was not suitable for his estate or his family situation. At that time. I also found myself at a crossroads in my professional life. The answer was clear: although I never chose to become a veterinarian, it was time to follow in my father’s footsteps and become a small business owner, opening my own practice. I knew too, from working on his estate, that that practice needed to focus on providing clients with a personalized estate plan based on their unique needs, something my father did not have.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
When I decided to go to law school at age 30, it wasn’t with a goal of opening my own firm. And after graduation, I initially worked with the court of appeals then as a law professor. But when life led me here after my father died, it made sense, and I know that I’m a better attorney and business owner because of that path.

Part of that path involved the decade before law school when I worked with persons with intellectual disabilities and mental illness. This experience directly impacts my work with families with family members who have special needs. The details of estate planning for those families is crucial to get correct to make sure benefits are protected.

Another part of my path was my time as a law professor. I come from a long line of educators, and I genuinely loved teaching. Although I’m no longer in front of a classroom, my natural gift of teaching is used in every client meeting. Clients don’t know what is needed for an estate plan, so spending that time with them, educating them about estate planning, should be a part of every estate planning attorney’s practice. I feel so strongly about the educational component of my role that I will, this summer, begin offering free seminars to educate those in the community about estate planning and its importance.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We love our bayou trails — for walking and biking. The microbrewery scene is also fantastic. An ideal weekend afternoon might include biking along the trails and streets of Houston, visiting different breweries and catching an Astros or Texans game on the TV there (if not attending one in person). In the evening, we enjoy walking to local eateries in the Heights like Ginger Mule, Blue Tuba, Crisp, and Agnes and Sherman.. We also greatly enjoy activities like attending Miller Outdoor Theater, Blanket Bingo at Market Square Park, and Yacht Rock Bingo at Shady Acres Saloon.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Starting my law firm as a solo attorney — just me — meant I had to find mentors quickly. And find them, I did. I owe so much to the selfless women law firm owners who are in several groups I belong to and who regularly share their knowledge, insights, and tips. The collegiality, the support, and the empathy among these women law firm owners is astounding.

Website: https://mccrearylawoffice.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccrearylawoffice/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janarmccreary/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mccrearylawoffice

Image Credits
Shala Wilson