The Attorneys
Savanna R. Griffith
Ms. Griffith is dedicated to understanding her client’s goals and developing a comprehensive plan that continues past the lifetime of the client. She grew up with a desire to help the elderly and grew up volunteering at nursing homes. She has assisted multiple generations with elder law issues and appreciates the knowledge, dedication, and work ethic her grandfather has passed on to her.
Ms. Griffith completed her undergraduate work at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Baylor Law School. While in law school, she gained practical experience, serving as President of the Student Bar Association and developing advocacy skills in mock trial competitions.
Savanna enjoys her life on the family ranch, where she, her husband, and their two daughters have renovated a home that has been in the family for generations. She is called to a life of service to her community and to their livestock. She can be seen mucking the cattle pen, or dressed in a suit representing her clients in Court, and feels equally comfortable in both roles. Savanna is a black belt in taekwondo, competing in the junior Olympics, and carries forward that same discipline and competitive spirit to her law practice. She is a zealous advocate and offers compassionate representation for her clients.
Thomas N. “Tommy” Griffith (1930–2025)
Founder, Griffith Law Firm
Tommy Griffith opened Duncanville’s first law office in 1957, back when the town was still small enough that everyone knew everyone. He grew up here after his family moved to Duncanville in 1938, and he graduated from Duncanville High School in 1947. He earned his degree at The University of Texas, and his law school studies there were interrupted by the Korean War. As a 1st Lieutenant, he oversaw the first officer prisoner-of-war exchange. He came home, finished law school in 1955, and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas that September.
In 1960, he and his father built the building on North Main Street where the firm still practices today. For nearly seven decades he helped Duncanville families with wills, estate planning, probate, and real estate, and he served twenty-two years as the city’s first municipal judge. He kept his license active until the very end, at ninety-five.
Outside the office, Tommy was a cattleman, a gardener, a Lion, a Mason, and a charter member of First Baptist Church of Duncanville. He loved cooking for Dodie, his wife of sixty-seven years. He passed away peacefully at home on December 2, 2025, surrounded by family.
He taught his granddaughter, Savanna, everything he knew about serving clients with honesty and care. Griffith Law Firm carries on his work today.
Staff
Saif A. Castaneda, Law Clerk
Saif (pronounced “Safe”) joined Griffith Law Firm after graduating from UNT Dallas College of Law, and he works under the supervision of attorney Savanna Griffith. He grew up near Houston as the son of first-generation immigrants, and he learned early to stand up for people who are overlooked or treated unfairly. That conviction has shaped everything he’s done since.
Saif earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A&M University. There he led his outfit in the Corps of Cadets and competed on the Taekwondo team, where he met Savanna. Before law school, he taught high school in East Texas, helping students who never pictured themselves in college believe they could get there. During the pandemic he built his district’s online learning program. Most recently, he served at the Smith County District Attorney’s Office.
Saif helps clients through intake, document preparation, and will signings. At home on the family ranch, he keeps a pair of muddy boots by the door, ready to help a neighbor at a moment’s notice. He once even jumped into an iced-over pond during a winter freeze to rescue two drowning cows.
Holly Griffith, Office Manager and Legal Assistant
Holly has been part of Griffith Law Firm for more than 25 years, most of them working alongside founder Tommy Griffith. A 1984 graduate of Duncanville High School, she knows this community and many of the families we serve.
Holly is usually the first person clients talk to, and she stays with them through every step. She schedules consultations and signings, gathers the information and documents we need, and prepares wills, trusts, and probate paperwork for attorney review. She also keeps clients updated so no one is left wondering where things stand. After decades in estate planning and probate, she knows how stressful these matters can feel for families, and she’s passionate about making the process clear, organized, and as easy as possible.
Outside the office, Holly loves reading, game nights with friends, and helping host a local Mahjong league. Her favorite title of all is “GG,” short for Grandmother Griffith, which is what her grandkids call her.