Our Firm

RATTIKIN.

The name is synonymous with commercial and residential real estate law in the State of Texas.

Jack Rattikin, Jr., and Jeffrey A. Rattikin—the partners comprising Rattikin & Rattikin, LLP—have a combined 73-plus years of experience in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate law across the State of Texas. The firm continues a tradition of providing the most professional, ethical and up-to-date legal services available in the industry. In response to the growing needs of its clients, the firm has expanded its areas of practice to include a broad range of real estate and transactional services.

We would welcome the opportunity to assist you with your legal needs, and appreciate your interest in the Firm.

Our History

Jack Rattikin Sr.

Jack Rattikin, Sr. began practicing law in the 1916, and quickly took a special interest in land records and real estate. By the 1920’s, Jack Sr.'s interest in real estate law led him to join Maco Stewart in leading the charge for the establishment of the title insurance industry in the State of Texas. Jack Sr. established and opened the title offices across the state, introducing Texans to the new concept of title insurance. By the time the Great Depression gripped the country, Jack Sr. had established his own law office and title company, which would eventually grow into one of the largest independent title agencies in the nation. But such a powerful company had a rather inauspicious start. In 1934, Jack Sr. was given the opportunity to own one of only two complete copies of the Tarrant County real property records, as long as he could get them out of the building in which they were housed within an afternoon. Realizing the importance of this opportunity, he backed up a pickup below a second floor window, and dumped all the records through the window and into the bed of the pickup. Several years later, the Tarrant County Courthouse copied his records, since they lost their own records in the turn of the century courthouse fires. Ironically, Jack Sr.'s frantic record dump out of a second floor window played a huge role in saving the historic record of Tarrant County.

Jack Rattikin Jr.

In 1968, Jack Rattikin, Jr. assumed control over the law firm and title company. While continuing the Rattikin legacy of serving in leadership capacities, Jack, Jr. has been honored with numerous professional and lifetime achievement awards for his unequaled contributions to the growth and integrity of real estate law and the title insurance industry both within Texas and across the nation.

Jeffrey Rattikin

In early 1993, Jeffrey A. Rattikin joined the Rattikin law firm, and quickly saw an opportunity to expand its services and client base beyond the family title insurance operations. Under Jeff’s leadership, the firm quickly took advantage of niche opportunities to practice commercial and residential real estate law in ways distinct from the age-old practices of traditional large law firms. First, the firm established a boutique title closing operation, catering to a select residential and commercial market segment. Second, the firm created an unequaled expertise in Sec. 1031 Tax –Deferred exchanges, now owning and operating three distinct exchange companies. Under the banner of such companies, Jeff quickly established himself as the market leader in the industry, and currently handles exchanges across the nation. Most recently, the firm has taken the initiative to form a one-of-a kind online legal services company known as TexasLegalDocs.com, which provides internet-based secure real estate transactional law services for clients across the State of Texas. This newest initiative utilizes state of the art technology to deliver accurate and secure documents to our clients, facilitated through the use of the latest social networking and internet platforms.

Our Philosophy

The firm of Rattikin & Rattikin, LLP prides itself in providing our clients with comprehensive, ethical and accurate representation in their transactional needs. We listen to our client, analyze the issues at hand and the proper steps necessary to ensure an effective solution, and ultimately deliver a professional and complete set of legal documents to our clients that will serve and protect them for years to come. The firm is different from traditional law firms in that we strive to deliver top quality legal services to the end-consumer, rather than large corporate entities. Our focus is on the everyday citizen who needs accurate and enforceable legal documents to help their families grow, succeed and enjoy life. We do not get trapped in the world of endless legal minutia, disputes and games associated with litigation and/or large corporate representation. Most exciting is our willingness to break through the traditional barriers of legal representation and offer our services online, utilizing the latest in technology and social networking platforms.

Our Staff

Jeffrey A. Rattikin

Jeffrey A. Rattikin is a partner of Rattikin & Rattikin, LLP, Fort Worth, Texas, a general civil practice with emphasis on commercial and residential real estate, corporate, probate, foreclosure and eviction law. Mr. Rattikin, an AV-rated attorney, has recently been named by his peers as the 2009 Top Real Estate Attorney in Fort Worth by Fort Worth, Texas Magazine for the seventh consecutive year. Read more...

Jeff has also been selected as a Texas Super Lawyer for 2009, a designation afforded to the top 5% of lawyers in Texas. In 1999, Jeff was named the Outstanding Young Lawyer in Fort Worth and Tarrant County, and was runner-up as Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas that same year. Jeff was honored by the Fort Worth Business Press as a member of the 1998 "Forty Under Forty" list of young civic leaders. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a B.B.A. in Finance and Southern Methodist University School of Law. He is board certified in Residential Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Rattikin serves as counsel for Rattikin Title Company/AmeriPoint Title Fort Worth, a 65 year old title insurance company, and manages the Westside Fort Worth office for the company. Mr. Rattikin is founder, owner and President of Rattikin Exchange Services, Inc., AmeriPoint Exchange Services, L.P. and Alliant National Exchange Services, L.P., Fort Worth, Texas, companies offering qualified intermediary services in connection with §1031 tax deferred exchanges. Mr. Rattikin is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, and is active in the Texas Land Title Association, Federation of Exchange Accommodators, Real Estate Section of the Tarrant County Bar Association, Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors, Society of Commercial Realtors, Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council, Tarrant Organization of Professionals, Inc. and Leadership Fort Worth. His latest endeavor is the creation of TexasLegalDocs.com, facilitating the representation of real estate clients across the State of Texas. Mr. Rattikin is a frequent presenter and speaker at real estate industry conferences, workshops and meetings.

E-mail: rattikin@rattikinlaw.com

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Jack Rattikin, Jr.

Jack Rattikin, Jr. has been in the practice of real estate law since 1957, handling thousands of real estate transactions. In addition to being a founding partner of Rattikin & Rattikin, LLP, he is board certified in Residential Real Estate Law by the State Board of Legal Specialization. In his illustrious career, he has served as President of the Texas Young Lawyers Association, Texas Land Title Association and American Land Title Association. Read more... In addition, Mr. Rattikin has been honored as the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, Title Man of the Year, and in 2005 was named an "Attorney of Excellence" by the Fort Worth Business Press. Mr. Rattikin also serves as Chairman of the Board for Rattikin Title Company, a Fort Worth based title company with over six decades of experience specializing in residential and commercial title insurance services. Under Mr. Rattikin's direction, Rattikin Title is widely acclaimed for its particular expertise in the handling of large, complex real estate transactions. Mr. Rattikin is a well-known authority in real estate law and title insurance, and his expertise is sought nationwide by clients and law colleagues alike.

E-mail: jrattikinjr@rattikintitle.com

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Jo Poteet

Jo Poteet serves as Escrow Officer and Senior Legal Assistant for Rattikin & Rattikin, LLP., with over 45 years of experience in real estate, probate and corporate law, as well as 8 years experience in the banking industry.

E-mail: japoteet@rattikinlaw.com

Cathey Kluge

Cathey Kluge serves as Senior Legal Assistant for Rattikin & Rattikin, LLP, specializing in the preparation of legal documents used in the closing of title insurance transactions. Cathey has over 30 years experience as a legal assistant, escrow officer and closer for title company operations.

E-mail: ckluge@rattikintitle.com

Brenda Balzano

Brenda Balzano is a legal assistant for Rattikin & Rattikin, L.L.P., with over 30 years experience as an escrow assistant, closer and conveyancer. Brenda specializes in the preparation of legal documents used in the closing of title insurance transactions.

E-mail: bbalzano@rattikintitle.com

Sabra Howell

Sabra Howell serves as Escrow Officer and Legal Assistant for Rattikin & Rattikin, LLP. Sabra has over 15 years experience in handling the closing of commercial and residential title insurance transactions, title abstracting and research.

E-mail: showell@rattikinlaw.com

Missy Henderson

Missy Henderson serves as Legal Assistant for Rattikin & Rattikin, L.L.P. and Rattikin Exchange Services, Inc. Missy has 12 years experience in multiple facets of real estate, title insurance, construction and 1031 exchange law.

E-mail: mhenderson@rattikinlaw.com

Michelle Sims

Michelle Sims serves as Senior Exchange Coordinator for Rattikin Exchange Services, Inc. and Legal Assistant with Rattikin and Rattikin, LLP. Michelle has over 21 years experience in multiple aspects of Sec. 1031 exchange, real estate and health administration law.

E-mail: mboggess@rattikinexchange.com

Stephanie Fuller

Stephanie Fuller serves as Legal Assistant and Escrow Assistant for Rattikin & Rattikin, L.L.P., with over 4 years experience in title closing, loan closing and loan processing services.

E-mail: sfuller@rattikinlaw.com

Erin Dent

Erin Dent serves as Legal Assistant for Rattikin & Rattikin, LLP. Erin has over 8 years experience in real estate documentation, foreclosure, probate and title closing services.

E-mail: edent@rattikinlaw.com

Our Causes

TLD Loves a Good Walk in the Park
We at TexasLegalDocs.com all about enhancing the quality of life for Texans. To that end, one of our primary focuses will be on financially supporting Texas parks and public open spaces. From Memorial Park in Houston to Trinity Park in Fort Worth, from Lost Maples State Park in the Hill Country to the Monahans Sandhills in West Texas, from Big Bend to the Padre Island National Seashore and beyond, you can count on our support!

TLD Wants to Lend a Helping Hand
We are serious in our desire to help our fellow Texans in need. It is indeed a privilege to offer our financial support to faith-based organizations around our State who minister to the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of our fellow Texans.

TLD Cares for Our Neighbors
TexasLegaloDocs.com supports a wonderful outreach organization known as Volunteers For Christ, Inc. (“VFC”), a non-profit IRS approved 501(c)(3) Christian organization formed for the specific purpose of reaching out to the poor, destitute children of Brazil. Specifically, VFC provides educational, medical, housing, vocational and spiritual comfort and assistance to the villagers of tiny Abreu do Una, a remote fishing village on the coast of Brazil, as well as to the citizens of Recife, Brazil, a city of several million impoverished residents. At both locations, VFC focuses on improving the lives of the local children, mostly orphaned and plagued with disease, drugs and deplorable living conditions. We encourage you to visit VFC’s website, www.vfcbrazil.org, to gain a full understanding and appreciation for its varied programs and initiatives. Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration of this ministry.

Who We Service

Start with a real big 254. A number of great importance to all of us here at TexasLegalDocs.com. Through TLD, the lawyers of the Rattikin legal team provide attorney and legal services to Texans in all 254 counties of this great State.

Anderson
Andrews
Angelina
Aransas
Archer
Armstrong
Atascosa
Austin
Bailey
Bandera
Bastrop
Baylor
Bee
Bell
Bexar
Blanco
Borden
Bosque
Bowie
Brazoria
Brazos
Brewster
Briscoe
Brooks
Brown
Burleson
Burnet
Caldwell
Calhoun
Callahan
Cameron
Camp
Carson
Cass
Castro
Chambers
Cherokee
Childress
Clay
Cochran
Coke
Coleman
Collin
Collingsworth
Colorado
Comal
Comanche
Concho
Cooke
Coryell
Cottle
Crane
Crockett
Crosby
Culberson
Dallam
Dallas
Dawson
Deaf Smith
Delta
Denton
DeWitt
Dickens
Dimmit 
                    

Donley
Duval
Eastland
Ector
Edwards
Ellis
El Paso
Erath
Falls
Fannin
Fayette
Fisher
Floyd
Foard
Fort Bend
Franklin
Freestone
Frio
Gaines
Galveston
Garza
Gillespie
Glasscock
Goliad
Gonzales
Gray
Grayson
Gregg
Grimes
Guadalupe
Hale
Hall
Hamilton
Hansford
Hardeman
Hardin
Harris
Harrison
Hartley
Haskell
Hays
Hemphill
Henderson
Hidalgo
Hill
Hockley
Hood
Hopkins
Houston
Howard
Hudspeth
Hunt
Hutchinson
Irion
Jack
Jackson
Jasper
Jeff Davis
Jefferson
Jim Hogg
Jim Wells
Johnson
Jones
Karnes                    
                    

Kaufman
Kendall
Kenedy
Kent
Kerr
Kimble
King
Kinney
Kleberg
Knox
Lamar
Lamb
Lampasas
La Salle
Lavaca
Lee
Leon
Liberty
Limestone
Lipscomb
Live Oak
Llano
Loving
Lubbock
Lynn
Madison
Marion
Martin
Mason
Matagorda
Maverick
McCulloch
McLennan
McMullen
Medina
Menard
Midland
Milam
Mills
Mitchell
Montague
Montgomery
Moore
Morris
Motley
Nacogdoches
Navarro
Newton
Nolan
Nueces
Ochiltree
Oldham
Orange
Palo Pinto
Panola
Parker
Parmer
Pecos
Polk
Potter
Presidio
Rains
Randall
Reagan                    
                    

Real
Red River
Reeves
Refugio
Roberts
Robertson
Rockwall
Runnels
Rusk
Sabine
San Augustine
San Jacinto
San Patricio
San Saba
Schleicher
Scurry
Shackelford
Shelby
Sherman
Smith
Somervell
Starr
Stephens
Sterling
Stonewall
Sutton
Swisher
Tarrant
Taylor
Terrell
Terry
Throckmorton
Titus
Tom Green
Travis
Trinity
Tyler
Upshur
Upton
Uvalde
Val Verde
Van Zandt
Victoria
Walker
Waller
Ward
Washington
Webb
Wharton
Wheeler
Wichita
Wilbarger
Willacy
Williamson
Wilson
Winkler
Wise
Wood
Yoakum
Young
Zapata
Zavala