Best Family Lawyer in Dallas
Raul Cruz Ramires
Family Lawyer
Raul Ramires, was born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and attended Mesquite High School his freshman and sophomore years ultimately graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas. For his undergraduate education, Raul attended the University of Texas at Dallas going on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs Magna Cum Laude (High Honors). Raul then attended law school at the South Texas College of Law Houston and earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree Cum Ladue (Honors).
After law school, Raul began and continues to practice Family, Civil, and Criminal law. Raul’s vast case experience, coupled with his thorough understanding and multi-dimensional approach to procedural rules and his ability to create unique case-by-case strategy, gives Raul an incredible insight on what it takes to win a case.
Chris Schmiedeke
Family Lawyer
I was born in Dallas and spent the majority of my life here. I moved to Denver in the middle of the first grade and moved back to Plano in the middle of the eleventh grade. I graduated from Plano Senior High in 1984 and then attended Richland College and the University of North Texas where a received a Bachelor of Business Administration. From there I attended the Texas Tech University School of Law and was licensed to practice law in May of 1993. Enough of the boring stuff. My real life revolves around my wife, Lisa, and two daughters, Anna and Olivia.
When we’re not carting them around to all their activities, we love to travel and see new places, usually in our travel trailer. In my spare time (when there is any) my real passion is racing bicycles. I race mountain bikes, road bikes and cyclocross. In addition to being fun, it is a great way to burn off stress.
Avia Rice Gauthier, MBA, JD
Family Lawyer
DFW attorney Avia Rice Gauthier advises clients on a range of matters relating to family law (divorce, fathers’ rights, custody & child support), estate planning (wills, trusts, probate & guardianship), and business law (contracts, business entity formation and personal injury (car wrecks, slip and fall). Avia has provided business and legal services for individuals, businesses, and non-profit associations in the North Texas area. Avia is licensed to practice law in the state of Texas, district and federal as well as serving as a certified mediator (family law). Avia also believes firmly in nurturing strong client relationships, engaging in consistent communication, and thinking outside of the box.
Avia has over 15 years of sales and marketing management experience in various fortune 500 companies in addition to being admitted to practicing law in the State of Texas.
While studying at Southern University Law Center, Avia served as a Lt. Governor in the American Bar Association, Christians at Law Community Service Chair, and as a Kaplan Student Representative. Additionally, Avia represented SULC in the National and Regional ABA and BLSA Negotiations competitions. While attending SULC, Avia was also the Nathan J. Folse Scholarship recipient.
Avia is also the owner of Empowered Parent Solutions, a whole brained and holistic approach to parenting based on data and science. Private coaching sessions are available.
Avia is an active member at ONE Community Church in Plano, TX. She remains active in the community by giving complimentary seminars and offering pro bono representation via the Dallas Bar Association. Avia, a resident of Frisco, Texas is married to Tony Gauthier, has twin boys and three bonus children. She enjoys community involvement, cheering for the Miami Heat & Miami Dolphins, mentoring, engaging in life-changing conversations, and traveling regularly.
Katie L. Lewis
Family Lawyer
Life experience inspired Katie Lewis to choose family law as a profession. As a child of divorced parents, Ms. Lewis experienced first-hand the powerful impact a good divorce attorney can have on a family. As a result, she strives to provide her clients with compassionate representation while not losing sight of achieving their desired outcomes, keeping in mind the overall effect of the process on the family relationship.
A native of the DFW Metroplex, Ms. Lewis graduated in 2002 from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, with a Business minor. While at A&M, Ms. Lewis was very active in many activities such as in Pi Beta Phi Sorority, Aggie Pre-Law Society, Fish Camp Counselor, and Muster volunteer. A 2005 graduate of Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, now Texas A&M School of Law, with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, Ms. Lewis was recognized for her litigation skills as a member of the Mock Trial Team. In 2023, Ms. Lewis received the honor of being named one of the top 50 Women Attorneys in the state of Texas in all areas of the law as well as one of the top 100 attorneys in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Ms. Lewis has been named to the list of Texas Super Lawyers in 2013 – 2023; a peer-voted honor given to only about 5% of the lawyers in the state of Texas. Ms. Lewis has been honored with selection for membership in the Annette Stewart Inns of Court, an organization dedicated to ethics and professionalism in the legal profession. Additionally, Ms. Lewis mentors aspiring lawyers by presenting at Texas A&M School of Law. In January 2018, Ms. Lewis was selected to be named as among the Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 in Dallas as named by D Magazine.
Ms. Lewis lives in Irving, Texas, where she enjoys spending time with her nieces and traveling to at least one new country per year.
R. KEITH SPENCER
Family Lawyer
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 County for over 30 years. He is a qualified mediator authorized to assist in the resolution of family law matters involving children. The founder of the AV rated Fort Worth firm of Spencer, Greene, Cox & Warren, and Keith joined Bailey & Galyen in 2002.
Keith is licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas, as well as the Fifth and Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. An experienced trial lawyer, he has tried numerous cases in state and federal state courts and state criminal proceedings. He is also experienced in the prosecution of appeals and the defense of Child Protective Services investigations.
Keith is trained in “collaborative law” and is a long standing member of the Tarrant County Bar Association, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Tarrant County Family Bar Association.
Jennifer Stanton Hargrave
Family Lawyer
Our founding attorney, Jennifer Stanton Hargrave, has completed the rigorous requirements to become Board Certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. In addition, she is a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, the Dallas Bar Family Law Section and Collaborative Divorce Texas. U.S. News & World Report has included her in their ranking of Best Lawyers since 2012 (2012-2020), and Texas Super Lawyers has included her in their ranking for eight years running, naming her one of the Top 50 Women Attorneys in Texas(2014). She also is AV Preeminent peer-review rated* through Martindale-Hubbell, is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and has been a Fellow in the Texas Bar Foundation since 2017. She has been recognized on the D Magazine listing as Best Lawyers in Dallas and, as she began her career in family law, she was repeatedly included as a Texas Rising Star in Texas Monthly Magazine. Jennifer Hargrave is widely respected by her peers, as well as her former clients.
Ms. Hargrave is an experienced attorney who focuses her practice exclusively on family law, and provides representation to clients throughout the greater Dallas metropolitan area who are either contemplating or going through a divorce. Ms. Hargrave is especially skilled at helping clients construct creative settlement agreements. In a high-conflict, lengthy, antagonistic battle, she knows that the entire family suffers. Based on her background in collaborative divorce, Ms. Hargrave encourages her clients to approach their divorce using non-adversarial techniques to minimize conflict as much as possible, diminishing the destructive effect on the family.
Kelly McClure
Family Lawyer
As an experienced family law attorney with a career spanning more than 25 years, I have a deep-rooted passion for protecting the relationships, finances, homes, and businesses of the families I represent. I believe in helping people navigate through what is unarguably one of the most difficult chapters of their lives as seamlessly and successfully as possible while ensuring a solution that is tailored to meet the needs of each individual client.
Education
St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D.
Fairfield University, B.S. Political Science
Oxford University Law Program
Stephen Clark
Family Lawyer
Mr. Clark provides outstanding legal services in the areas of family law and personal injury matters, and he makes himself available to take your calls and answer client questions seven days a week. The firm represents individuals living in Dallas, Collin, Denton, Tarrant, Rockwall, Kaufman, and Ellis Counties. Mr. Clark is also licensed to practice in the Northern District of Texas’ United States District Court. Whether you are going through a divorce, settling a business matter, or fighting for compensation following a major injury, you can rest assured that as a client of Clark Law Group, your legal team will thoroughly investigate each case and fight for a favorable outcome on your behalf.
Prior to his graduation from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2011, Mr. Clark attended the London School of Economics International Law and Texas Tech University to better understand what businesses need legally. His education gave him the experience he needed to help his clients make the right strategic decisions and plans for a solid future.
Family lawyers specialize in legal matters related to family relationships. They handle a wide range of issues that arise within families, such as divorce, child custody, and property division. Here’s an overview of how they can help:
1. Divorce and Separation
- Legal Advice and Representation: Family lawyers guide clients through the process of separation or divorce, including navigating legal procedures, filling out forms, and representing them in court.
- Division of Assets: They help with the equitable distribution of property, assets, and debts between spouses.
- Spousal Support: Family lawyers assist in determining or negotiating alimony or spousal support, ensuring fair financial arrangements.
2. Child Custody and Support
- Custody Arrangements: They help parents establish custody and visitation agreements that serve the best interests of the child.
- Child Support: Family lawyers work on determining fair child support payments, ensuring the financial needs of the child are met.
3. Adoption and Guardianship
- Adoption Process: They handle the legal aspects of adoption, including paperwork, background checks, and court proceedings.
- Guardianship: Family lawyers assist in setting up legal guardianship arrangements, where a non-parent is granted rights to care for a child.
4. Domestic Violence and Protection Orders
- Protection Orders: They help victims of domestic abuse secure restraining orders and protective orders against abusers.
- Legal Support: Family lawyers provide guidance and representation in cases involving domestic violence or abuse, protecting the safety and rights of victims.
5. Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
- Drafting Agreements: They prepare legal documents outlining how assets will be divided in case of divorce or separation.
- Enforcing Agreements: Family lawyers ensure that these agreements are legally sound and enforceable.
6. Mediation and Conflict Resolution
- Alternative Dispute Resolution: Family lawyers can act as mediators, helping couples resolve disputes outside of court in a more amicable manner.
- Negotiation: They negotiate on behalf of their clients to achieve fair settlements without lengthy legal battles.
7. Legal Advice on Family Law Issues
- Family lawyers provide consultations and advice on any legal matters affecting family relationships, such as paternity cases, grandparents’ rights, or issues related to cohabitation agreements.
In summary, family lawyers play a crucial role in managing and resolving family-related legal disputes, ensuring that the rights of all parties are respected and that legal outcomes align with the best interests of everyone involved.