Jefferson County Family Lawyers

Daniel S. Chavez was born and raised in McKinney, Texas. He attended the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. There, he was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity. During this time, he met his wife Kirsten. Today, they are happily married and have a beautiful daughter, Blakely.

Following UNT, Daniel obtained his law degree from the historic Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas where he graduated Cum Laude. He was an avid member of the James Douglas’s Board of Advocates, Honor Court and the Hispanic Law...

When clients seek my assistance, it is often during challenging and uncertain times in their lives. They come to me in search of guidance and clarity, wanting to understand what they can expect throughout the legal process. My primary objective is to lend an empathetic ear and offer comprehensive support, guiding them step by step through the complexities of their situation. With 25 years of experience, I firmly believe that honesty is paramount when dealing with such weighty matters, so I adopt a transparent approach with my clients, ensuring that all the cards are laid on the table. Even in...

Mark Rush Williamson is a partner at Williamson Family Law, located in the heart of Dallas, Texas. He is dedicated to helping individuals navigate some of life's most challenging situations, focusing on family law matters such as divorce, custody and support, modifications, grandparents’ rights, paternity, and even complex business and property division cases. With over 25 years of experience, Mark is well-known for his genuine kindness and empathy. He understands how sensitive family law issues can be and takes the time to guide his clients through the legal process with care and compassion. At the same time, he fights tirelessly to...

Keith Spencer is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Family Law. That Board Certification mark of excellence and distinguished accomplishment is attained by only one in ten Texas attorneys, and indicates that Keith has substantial, relevant experience and has demonstrated the same in family law cases. Keith was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1987. Mr. Spencer is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and holds Bachelor’s and Masters degrees in Communications from the University of North Texas. Keith is a Board Certified Family Law specialist. Mr. Spencer has practiced Family Law in Tarrant...

A highly respected attorney who was named Lawyer of the Year in Family Law, Dallas/Ft. Worth by The Best Lawyers in America 2016, Diana S. Friedman has joined her family law practice with that of GoransonBain Ausley’s. Diana shares the core values of GoransonBain Ausley in helping clients make the difficult transition through family law problems in the best way possible.

Diana recognizes that divorce and other family law issues are very personal experiences, so she strives to build comfortable, trusting relationships with her clients. She works with clients to establish goals for their cases, giving them the benefit of her...

Karen's goal is to help clients acquire the tools they need to begin the next chapter of their lives successfully. Clients can count on Karen to be straightforward, honest, and compassionate. She approaches each client’s unique story with genuine curiosity, offering guidance to navigate the best path forward.

Rachel has significant experience in all aspects of family law and passionately advocates for her client’s best interests through negotiation, mediation, or litigation. By listening carefully and finding solutions, Rachel helps clients feel more in control of the process.

The law firm of Bailey & Galyen is one of the largest “consumer law firms” in the state of Texas with over 30 attorneys and 13 offices throughout Texas. The Firm was originally established in 1989 with the objective of providing high quality legal services to the public by acquiring the best attorneys, staff and utilizing the latest technology to maximize productivity. Bailey & Galyen has expanded its services to include most consumer areas of law. The Firm’s focus is to provide competent legal representation which centers on total client satisfaction. The pride of past accomplishments here at Bailey &...

The Barrows Firm provides effective solutions in high conflict divorce cases, criminal and juvenile criminal matters, probate, guardianship and more.

Board Certified Family Lawyer, Texas Board of Legal Specialization and obtained certification in 1999, licensed since 1991. Office located in San Antonio, Texas. We represent Spanish speaking clients with bilingual staff. Certified mediator, speciality in Family Law with 20 years experience as Mediator Experienced trial lawyer Guardianship certified Prior to law school I became a Registered Nurse, and still maintain license. Active in legal, community and nonprofit organizations. President, Family Law Bar Association San Antonio, 2022 CCA, Dress for Success and Canines for Warriors volunteer Proud parent of two professional children - not attorneys Graduate, University of Texas School of Law

I have been a member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas since 2003. In that time, I've focused on family law and estate planning/probate matters, with a special emphasis on child abuse and neglect cases. When it comes to child abuse and neglect cases, I've sat at every table in the courtroom, having represented parents, children and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services during my career.

At Roberson Duran Law, PLLC, we take a client-centered approach to legal representation, where we take into consideration the unique and specific needs of each client. We treat each...

Fernando D. Gireud was born in El Paso, Texas, and graduated from Coronado High School in 2002. He attended the University of Texas – Austin where he majored in Computer Science and graduated in 2007. Afterwards, Fernando attended law school at St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas where he graduated with his J.D. in 2010.

Shortly thereafter, Fernando moved back to his hometown of El Paso, Texas, where he worked for the Domestic Relations Office of El Paso County where he acted as friend of the court and worked on child support enforcement cases. In March 2012,...

Mr. Bridge serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Firm Managing Attorney at Bailey & Galyen, one of the largest consumer law firms in Texas. A dedicated leader and experienced attorney, James has been instrumental in driving the firm’s success and overseeing its operations. James earned his undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University (TCU) and went on to graduate from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in 1998. During law school, he demonstrated his leadership abilities as the President of the Student Bar Association and as the President of his legal fraternity. With a proven track record in litigation, James is a...

I have been on the Board of Directors of TRINITY METRO since 2013, served as Secretary 2015-2016 and Vice Chairman 2017-2019. TRINITY METRO operates all transportation services for Tarrant County, Texas, including bus, commuter rail, Zip Zone and Access for handicapped persons.
I have served on the Irving, Texas, Planning and Zoning Commission 1971-1975 and the Southlake, Texas, City Council 1992-1995.
I have been a member of the Grapevine Rotary Club since 1992 and served on their Board of Directors.
TEXAS MONTHLY Super Lawyer 2003 to present.
FORT WORTH MAGAZINE Top Lawyer 2009 to present.
Martindale-Hubbell AV rated & Preeminent Lawyers
Who's Who in American...

Linda Risinger has been in private practice since 1989, focusing on the needs of North Texans primarily in Collin, Dallas and Denton Counties. However, her expertise has been called upon in cases across Texas. Linda is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and Southern Methodist School of Law in 1983 with a Juris Doctor. In 1989, she moved to Collin County, preferring the opportunity to meeting her client's needs in a more personal, committed level. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Collin County Bar Association. Her commitment to maintaining the highest level of knowledge and experience...

Carla De La Cruz was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Carla has practiced family law in DFW and surrounding counties since 2017 and joined the Bogdanowicz Family Law team in 2020. She has experience in all areas of family law and is a native Spanish speaker.

Carla graduated from the University of Puerto Rico and later attended Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law. While in law school, she gained family law experience interning at the Child Support Offices in the District Court of Ponce, Puerto Rico. She further developed her skills...

Mark has been licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas to practice in Texas state courts since November 1, 2013. Mark attended the University of North Texas in Denton, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in August 2005. He studied law at Texas Wesleyan School of Law and graduated with his Juris Doctor in May 2013, after which the school became Texas A&M University School of Law in the fall of 2013. Mark served in the United States Army from August 2005 until July 2009. He was stationed in Germany most of that...

Born and raised in San Antonio and the Bexar County area. I am a graduate of NEISD, UTSA and Saint Mary's Law School, with 12 years of legal experience. I am committed to helping those in my community in true need of help.

Attorney Derek S. Ritchie – the founder and managing partner of The Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie, PLLC – is an accomplished lawyer focusing his practice on family law and criminal defense.
Derek obtained his law degree in London where he practiced criminal defense, handling a variety of sex crimes, gang-related crimes, and violent crimes. From there, Derek moved to the U.S. and earned his LLM from The University of Texas School of Law. He gained prosecution experience while working for the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office. After graduating with his LLM, Derek worked for a criminal defense firm in...

Paul G. Daly has a strong desire to help people resolve their legal issues. Since joining Anderson Legal Group, P.C., in August of 2012, Mr. Daly has resolved a variety of family law (including adoptions, divorces, custody disputes, and child support modifications) and criminal law cases for his clients.

Education and Goals
In addition to his Law Degree, Mr. Daly also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology, or the study of the physical, cultural and societal developments of people. As such, Mr. Daly has a deep understanding of a wide range of cultural backgrounds and ideologies....

Megan was a family law paralegal for 16 years before becoming a family lawyer, and has seen firsthand what matters to clients: knowing their case is in good hands with an attorney who understands their personal situation and who is capable of providing personalized options for addressing their legal issues. With a combination of sound legal counsel and practical advice, Megan guides clients toward goal-oriented decision-making that positions them for a better future. Megan was named to the 2023 Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch © list in the field of Family Law.

Tom Trahan is proficient in all facets of family law, from out-of-court settlements to courtroom litigation. His deep understanding of the litigation process enhances the chances of reaching negotiated or amicable resolutions, as opposing counsel and clients often realize that finding common ground can lead to beneficial outcomes.

ABOUT BEN
Dallas-based attorney Benjamin Palatiere is a courtroom veteran with over 10 years of experience helping individuals, families, and businesses in civil disputes.


Education

Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, 2008
Texas State University, magna cum laude, 2005


Licensed/Admitted

Benjamin is admitted to the Texas Bar and licensed to practice in all district and county courts at law throughout the state.


Groups / Clubs

Dallas Young Lawyers Association
Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Attorney Sylvia A. Cavazos is a former prosecutor and worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Bexar county for 10 years. She has extensive criminal trial experience in Felony and Misdemeanor cases including 1st Degree Aggravated Felonies. Ms. Cavazos opened up her private law office in 2007. She is a highly motivated and aggressive attorney who knows the law and the criminal justice system. Ms. Cavazos is one of the top criminal lawyers in San Antonio and surrounding counties. She also practices in Federal Court in the Western District of Texas and also has federal...

I have been licensed to practice law in Texas for 40 years. I have tried thousands of cases, from traffic tickets to death penalty cases, from simple divorces and visitation cases to complex divorce and custody cases, to the court and to juries, in all levels of Texas trial courts and in the Federal Courts of Texas. I am a member of the San Antonio Bar Association, San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, State Bar of Texas.

After gaining 13 years’ experience as a collaborative law divorce attorney, litigator and mediator with extensive experience representing families in Plano, Richardson, Frisco, Allen, McKinney, and Dallas in Texas courts, Sharon Corsentino made the decision to dedicate her practice exclusively to mediation. Sharon recognizes the value of taking a non-adversarial approach to family law matters, including divorce, child custody, and child support, to help parties maintain long-term relationships and keep children’s best interests at heart.

Sharon helps couples settle their disputes privately in a dignified manner, without involving a judge who could impose decisions on them that do not meet their...

With more than 15 years of experience as a practicing attorney, Armando J. Román provides advice and counsel to clients needing legal representation in the areas of personal injury, criminal defense, civil defense, citizenship and immigration services, removal defense, real estate, business, contracts, wills, probate, guardianship and family law matters.

Lawyers tend to focus or specialize in only particular areas of the law, while Armando focuses on serving his clients in several areas of the law. He represents people who are injured in motor vehicle accidents or because of the negligent acts of others. He represents people who have...

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Juan is from the town of La Feria, Texas where he grew up on a farm and ranch. His upbringing instilled in him the value of respect and a purpose to help others. These values helped Juan as he pursued his studies at the University of Texas Pan American and University of Texas, where he graduated with his law degree. Prior to practicing law in the great state of Texas, Juan had the privilege of working in Washington, DC in the U.S. House of Representatives and United States Treasury Department where he worked on national issues related to...

Ricardo Julio was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. His family moved to the US at an early age, and he has lived in Texas ever since. Growing up in a foreign country, he quickly learned the value of hard work and dedication. Ricardo received his Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Baylor University in 2009. After graduating, Ricardo attended the night program at St. Mary’s Law School while maintaining a full-time job in Austin. At St. Mary’s, Ricardo was part of the St. Mary’s Civil Clinic where he provided pro bono representation to members of...

Aida was born in Matamoros, Mexico and came to the US with her family at the age of 4. She attended the public school system in Brownsville and graduated in the Top 5% of her 2006 graduating class at Porter High School. After high school, Aida attended the University of Texas at Austin where she graduated in 3 years with her Bachelor’s in Communication Studies-Political Communications. In 2009, Aida began law school at St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas, where she simultaneously received her Master’s Degree in International Relations-Security Policy and National Security Issues....

Jane Mapes has been practicing law for 26 years and has devoted her practice to Family Law for the past 16 years, in Texas. Prior to relocating to Texas in 1996, she concentrated on real estate and personal injury law in the State of Florida, where she went to law school, and was admitted to the Bar in 1988. Upon moving to Texas, Ms. Mapes was admitted to the State Bar of Texas, and began practicing with a general practice law firm in Grand Prairie, where she familiarized herself with the courts in Tarrant and Dallas Counties. Jane then joined...

I’m a former El Paso prosecutor and a captain in the U.S. Army JAG Reserve with extensive trial experience. After years of handling high level felony cases as a prosecutor, I left government work to go into private practice, where I provide aggressive legal advocacy in criminal and family law. I’ve been the lead attorney in thousands of criminal cases ranging from DWI and family violence to first-degree and “super first”-degree felony charges. I always put my clients first, so you can count on me to treat you with respect and fight hard to get you the best results possible. I’m...

I am a former prosecutor with extensive litigation experience in three states: Arizona, Texas, and Washington. After 18 years of litigating high level felony cases, I left government work to go into private practice to provide members of the community with aggressive legal advocacy in the areas of criminal and family law. I have successfully litigated thousands of cases across three states involving DWI, Family Violence, Sex Crimes, Drug Possession and Drug Trafficking as well as Homicide. Throughout my lengthy career I have strived to be fair to all involved while fighting for justice. I am a Virginia native who...

Janis Alexander Cross has practiced law in Texas since 1979. Her practice is primarily in the Texas Panhandle, but she also routinely goes to court in the South Plains (Lubbock & surrounding area) and to Childress and Wichita Falls. Her practice primarily involves family law, such as divorce, child custody, child support, and adoptions She also practices in the areas of estate planning and probate. Janis handles criminal law, including felonies and misdemeanors, as well as traffic tickets. Additionally, Janis handles business organizations (such as forming LLCs) and general civil litigation. ...

Our teams start with a deep understanding of our clients’ business objectives. We share knowledge across practices and regions. We help our clients not only mitigate risk, but also discover opportunity. And each success begins with the same simple question…

How can we help you?

By pooling our energy, talents and resources, we are able to achieve the highest order of excellence in the practice and profession of the law. Through such practice we are able to give back to our communities, and in all things to govern ourselves as members of a free democratic society with responsibilities both to our profession...

I grew up in Anson, Texas, not far from Abilene. I was raised on a ranch out in the country, and it helped shape my early life. I graduated Valedictorian of my high school in 1995, and went to Texas A&M University where I graduated in 1999 in the top 10% of my class with a B.B.A. in Accounting. After graduation with honors (Magna Cum Laude) from A&M, I went straight to law school at Texas Tech University School of Law on a full scholarship. I graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude) from...

Rudy Moreno was born in Edinburg, Texas. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas - Pan American in 2005, he received his J.D. from The University of Massachusetts School of Law - Dartmouth in 2009. Mr. Moreno began his legal career with a civil litigation law firm, representing individuals and corporations who were seeking justice through our court system. Mr. Moreno believed that in starting his own practice, he could be more effective in helping people and small businesses deal with a variety of legal issues. Since opening his own office,...