About Us
Robert A. Kraft
For almost 50 years, I’ve been representing Texans in distress. Making a positive difference in people’s lives is what keeps me working.
I founded Kraft Elder Law so I could help people who need Medicaid Planning to protect their hard-earned assets from the high costs of nursing homes, and so I could represent veterans or their surviving spouses who want to qualify for Veterans Pension Benefits.
One motivating factor in my forming Kraft Elder Law was the difficult experience my family went through in trying to get my father’s VA pension benefits approved. Dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs was frustrating, to say the least. Unfortunately, my father passed away, at the age of 90, while we were still waiting for the VA to make a decision.
That episode made me realize that other families would need help in dealing with the VA or with Medicaid, and I wanted those families to have a compassionate, competent law firm they could turn to in stressful times.
Although I am no longer practicing elder law I do want to continue to provide legal, medical, and consumer information on this blog for seniors and their families.
I also have a separate law firm, called Kraft & Associates. That firm was founded in 1979. We represent people who are in unfair fights. Some are car wreck victims fighting big insurance companies. Some are physically or mentally disabled people fighting the huge bureaucracy at the Social Security Administration or at the Department of Veterans Affairs. In all our cases we believe we’re on the side of the underdog, helping our clients in their uphill battles. You can learn more about that side of my life by visiting KraftLaw.com.
General
Born in Waco, Texas. Married since 1969, two beautiful daughters – one lawyer, one teacher. Two handsome grandsons and one gorgeous granddaughter.
Education
Undergraduate: Baylor University, B.B.A.
Law: Baylor University School of Law, J.D. 1971
Practice
Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, and Veterans Benefits law
Plaintiff Personal Injury and Social Security Disability law in Dallas since 1971
Memberships
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys – Member
- Department of Veterans Affairs – Accredited by the VA to represent veterans in claims for benefits, including Aid & Attendance Pension Benefits
- United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims – Licensed to practice since 1994
- Veterans Advocates Group of America – Member
- Military Law Section of the State Bar of Texas – Member
- North Dallas Bar Association – Former President, current Officer and Director
- Dallas Trial Lawyers Association – Director Emeritus
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association – Member
- American Association for Justice – Sustaining Member
- Dallas Bar Association – Member
- American Bar Association – Member
- National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives – Sustaining Member
- College of the State Bar of Texas – Fellow
- Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism – Member
Books
American Bar Association Magazine Articles
- Legal Pitfalls When Hiring Domestic Help
- Social Security Disability: What Every Lawyer Should Know
- The Client Matters
- Rallying the In-House Team
- Accommodations for Diversity
- A Blueprint for Marketing with Staff
- Hiring, Training, and Retaining Staff
American Bar Association Book Chapter Contributions
Recent Presentations
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: The Impact of Technology on Lawyer Mental Health
2019, Addison, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Website Ethics for Lawyers
2018, Addison, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: The Ethics of Getting Clients and Managing Staff
2017, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Legal Aspects of Distracted Driving
2015, Farmers Branch, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Volunteer Opportunities for Texas Lawyers
2014, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Ethical Issues in Representing Injured or Disabled Clients
2013, Addison, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Ethical Duty to Use the Texas Lawyers Assistance Program
2013, Addison, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Legal Hazards of Hiring Household Help
2012, Kaufman, Texas
Sponsor: Kaufman County Bar Association
Topic: Medicaid Planning and VA Pension Benefits
2012, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: Dallas Bar Association, Media Relations Committee
Topic: Ethical Considerations of Use of Social Media
2012, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: Dallas Bar Association, Senior Lawyers Committee
Topic: Medicaid Planning and VA Pension Benefits
2012, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: Dallas Bar Association, North Dallas Clinic
Topic: Medicaid Planning and VA Pension Benefits
2011, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: Medallion Assisted Living Center
Topic: VA Pension Benefits
2011, Plano, Texas
Sponsor: LifeCare Hospitals of Plano
Topic: Long Term Care Options
2011, Irving, Texas
Sponsor: Heritage Senior Center of Irving
Topic: VA Pension Benefits
2011, Irving, Texas
Sponsor: Heritage Senior Center of Irving
Topic: Medicaid Planning for Long Term Care
2011, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: Medicaid Planning and VA Pension Benefits
2009, Cary, North Carolina
Sponsor: Personal Injury Lawyers Marketing and Management Association
Topic: Attracting Clients Through Blogging
2009, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation
Topic: Using Avvo & Twitter to Build Your Law Practice
2008, Phoenix, Arizona
Sponsor: ATLAS Lawyer Group
Topic: Client Relationship Marketing
2008, Austin, Texas
Sponsor: State Bar of Texas
Topic: The Ethics of Law Firm Blogs
2008, Durham, North Carolina
Sponsor: Lawyers Inner Circle
Topic: Internet Social Networking for Lawyers
2007, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Sponsor: Lawyers Inner Circle
Topic: Marketing to Your Client Base
2006, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
Topic: Preventing Employee Turnover
2005, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: Carrollton Bar Association
Topic: Ethical Attorney Advertising
2004, Dallas, Texas
Sponsor: North Dallas Bar Association
Topic: New Rules for Attorney Advertising
Blogs
P.I.S.S.D. (Personal Injury, Social Security Disability) — About the ways injured and disabled persons are mistreated by governments and insurance companies