Jay V. Knighton II

Jay Knighton is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Personal planning and business planning go hand-in-hand, therefore, Jay prepares Wills and trusts, handles the firm’s probate matters, and works closely with families to create estate plans that address their concerns and fit their needs. Furthermore, he advises clients with regard to business planning, asset transfers, acquisitions and contracts to protect assets, minimize income taxes, and efficiently and effectively transfer wealth to successive generations. Since the firm’s legal tax practice serves a substantial part of its client base, and comingles with estate and business planning, Jay also handles IRS tax matters.

Jay is a frequent speaker at continuing education seminars for Certified Public Accountants, financial planners, and insurance agents on the topics of estate planning, probate, trusts and business planning. His most recent seminars topics include, “What Every Business Person Should Know about the Law,” “Retirement Benefits Trusts,” “The Fundamentals of Estate Planning,” “Life Insurance: The Lynchpin of Estate and Business Planning,” “Business Planning: Incubation to Termination,” “Advanced Estate Planning,” and “Estate Planning After the 2010 Tax Act.”

A native of Corinth, Mississippi, Jay joined the firm in February 2004 and became Managing Partner in November of 2007.

He earned his Bachelor of Accountancy in 1998 from The University of Mississippi. As one of the top 24 graduating students, he was awarded a Marcus Elvis Taylor Medal. In 2001, he earned his law degree (Juris Doctorate) from Tulane University School of Law. In 2002, he earned a Masters of Laws in Taxation (LL.M. in Taxation) from The University of Florida, one of the most recognized legal tax programs in the country.

In the greater Houston area community, Jay served as one of the Directors of the South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce, serves on the Economic Outlook Conference Committee, and formerly served as team leader of the advisory council for the Young Professional Association. He recently concluded a three year period as the President of the University of Mississippi (Houston) Alumni Association. Professionally, he is a member of the Rotary Club – The Woodlands.

Jay lives and works in The Woodlands, and in his free time enjoys playing golf and is a member of The Woodlands Country Club. He is also an avid college athletics fan, reads a considerable amount, and enjoys travelling to Europe.

Areas Of Practice

  • Estate Planning
  • Contracts
  • Probate, Estate, and Trust Administration
  • Business and Corporate Law
  • Income Tax Planning
  • Partnership Taxation
  • Corporations, LLC, and LP, Formations
  • Charitable Planning
  • Trademarks and Branding
  • Business Reorganizations
  • Asset Acquisitions and Sales
  • Lending and Borrowing
  • Real Estate Transactions
  • General Business Representation
  • International Tax Transactions and Business Planning

Professional Licenses / Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas (2003)
  • State Bar of Georgia (2001)
  • Board Certified Estate Planning and Probate Attorney by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Education

  • Master of Laws in Taxation, University of Florida School of Law (2002)
  • Juris Doctorate, Tulane University School of Law (2001)
  • Bachelor of Accountancy, University of Mississippi (1998)