Place Your Future In The Hands Of A Trusted, Caring Family Law Matters Firm

Family law matters can have a profound effect on your future. From divorce to custody disputes to property division, the outcome of your case can affect everything from your personal financial well-being to your parental rights.

Clients of Pruitt Law Group, PLLC, can rest assured they have a team led by a top attorney protecting their future. Frisco attorney Kathryn Lanigan Pruitt has more than 27 years of experience handling complex divorces, high-conflict custody disputes and other sensitive family law matters. She has been Board Certified in Family Law Matters by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2009, a distinction held by fewer than 1% of attorneys in Texas.

A Versatile Family Law Matters Practice

The team at Pruitt Law Group, PLLC, is prepared to handle any family law matters problem in Texas, including:

• Divorce: A skilled divorce lawyer can guide you through all aspects of the dissolution of your marriage, including important financial matters such as spousal maintenance and the division of marital assets. Kathryn has the experience to handle the most complex divorces, including those involving the division of business assets.
• Possession and conservatorship: Commonly referred to as custody and visitation, the outcome of these matters will play a significant role in your parent-child relationship moving forward.
• Parentage: Also known as paternity, parentage is the process of assigning legal parental status to a father.
• Fathers’ rights: Every parent should play a meaningful role in their child’s life. Kathryn stands up for fathers who feel they are being shut out.
• Modifications: If your legal orders no longer suffice, Kathryn can help you seek a modification. She also handles enforcement orders.
• Prenuptial agreements: With well-crafted documents in place, you can enter into marriage free from nagging legal and financial concerns.

Legal Representation For Contested And Uncontested Divorce

Anger, frustration or a desire for retribution sometimes stand in the way of a sensible, cost-effective resolution in a divorce case. Attorney Kathryn Lanigan Pruitt applies a mix of knowledge, tenacity and compassion to assist her clients in overcoming these obstacles to reach a successful resolution. Kathryn offers her clients sound guidance in navigating the turbulence of the divorce process and urges them to keep their end goals in mind and to promote those goals through every interaction and decision in the case.

As one former opposing counsel states, “Kathryn possesses the unique skills of a zealous advocate both inside and outside of the courtroom. She is a pleasure to work alongside and across from in a case.”

Representing clients in family courts throughout Denton, Collin and Dallas counties, Kathryn uses her comprehensive knowledge of Texas family law matters to put her clients in the best possible position to begin their post-divorce life. She emphasizes clear communication throughout so that clients have a full understanding of the law as it applies to child custody and support, property characterization, property division, spousal maintenance, business interests and other issues.

A Staunch Advocate Who Will Protect Your Rights

Kathryn has practiced law for more than 27 years and has focused on family law matters since 2004. She believes that author Stephen Covey got it right when he said, “Begin with the end in mind.” Kathryn applies her knowledge and experience to help her clients evaluate their property and family situation and determine what a successful end to their case might look like. Then, she works with them to develop a step-by-step legal roadmap to maximize the potential of reaching their goals.

Some cases will have a more complex plan than others, but whether simple or complex, Kathryn has the skill and experience to guide her clients along the way. She is adept at navigating the intricacies of the characterization and division of complex marital property, as well as advising a parent on how to co-parent the children through the transition to separate households.

Kathryn is committed to taking a very hands-on approach to her clients’ cases from start to finish. She works directly with her clients to set realistic goals and develop a plan to move their case forward. Her in-depth knowledge of her clients’ individual situations and the applicable laws assists her in representing their interests and maximizing their results. She feels that her personalized approach makes it easier for her clients to discuss goals, ask questions and reach out for support.

Knowing that you have a lawyer who is truly invested in your long-term future at such a difficult time is immensely reassuring. To schedule a consultation about your particular needs and concerns, contact the Frisco office online or by telephone at 469-888-8829.

When Business Assets Are Divided In A Divorce

In high net worth divorce cases, the property division portion of the case is often complex, but becomes even more complex when business assets are at stake. If you face divorce in Texas and you or your spouse own an interest in a business, the outcome of your property division proceedings will play a significant role in your financial future and the future of the business. Key concerns in divorces involving business owners include:

• Keeping the business operational during and after the divorce
• Whether the business interest will be characterized as community or separate property
• Valuing the business interest, including determining the proper valuation method and considering business/commercial goodwill vs. professional/personal goodwill

Attorney Kathryn Lanigan Pruitt has more than 17 years of experience handling complex, high-asset property division in divorce cases. She has longstanding relationships with qualified and experienced business appraisal experts who know how to accurately assess and value business assets to assist her in protecting the financial interests of her clients.

Explore Your Options

Oftentimes the best option for dividing a business in a divorce is for one spouse to buy out the other. If one spouse was the primary decision maker for the business during the marriage, it makes sense for that spouse to remain with the business after the divorce.

It’s relatively rare and generally not recommended for both spouses to remain business partners after divorce, but this is another option, especially if the divorce was amicable and it serves both spouses’ financial interests to move forward as co-owners.

Both spouses may also decide to sell the business to a third party upon divorce. There are a number of options. The attorneys at Pruitt Law Group, PLLC, aided by experienced and qualified business appraisal experts, will work with you closely to help you understand the various ramifications and how they will affect your long-term financial interests.

Discuss Your Legal Needs With An Experienced Lawyer

Whether you or your spouse owns an interest in a business, you deserve a fair outcome in property division proceedings. To speak with an experienced divorce attorney who can protect those interests, contact Pruitt Law Group, PLLC, online or by telephone at 469-888-8829.

Skilled Assistance With Child Custody And Support Issues

When the relationship between two parents is ending, a parent may be worried about how the end of that relationship will impact their day-to-day contact and involvement with their child.

How Will Decisions About Custody Be Made?

Under Texas Family Code Section 153.002, the best interest of the child is the court’s primary consideration in deciding issues of conservatorship and possession of and access to a child. The Texas Supreme Court has identified some factors a court can consider when deciding what is in the child’s best interest. These factors fall within three broad categories: (1) caring for the child, (2) maintaining family relationships, and (3) parental fitness.

Determining how the facts of your case align with the best interest factors the court will be weighing is where the advice of an experienced family law matters attorney is crucial to the success of your case. To prepare for your consultation to discuss your custody case, you should be ready to discuss the following:

• The physical and emotional needs of your child
• Whether either parent poses a physical or emotional danger
• The stability of each parent’s home
• Each parent’s plans for the child
• The amount of cooperation between parents
• The parenting skills of each parent
• The child’s primary caregiver before the relationship ended
• The child’s preference
• Where the parents reside in relation to each other
• The interest of keeping siblings together
• Whether each parent would promote the relationship between the child and the other parent
• The fitness of each parent (For example, is there drug or alcohol abuse or has the child been exposed to sexual conduct by a parent?)

Some factors that the court is not permitted to consider in making decisions regarding conservatorship and possession of and access to a child are a parent’s marital status, gender, race or religion (with the exception of illegal, immoral or harmful religious beliefs).

The foregoing does not constitute legal advice. Each custody case depends upon the particular facts of that case. For a confidential evaluation of your child custody matter, please call Kathryn at 469-888-8829 or fill out the form to schedule a consultation.

Determining Child Support In Texas

Generally speaking, child support is payable for a child until the child reaches 18 years of age or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. Exceptions to this rule include events that remove the disabilities of minority, such as marriage, enlistment in the armed forces, death of the child, or court order removing the disabilities of minority. In addition, child support may be ordered beyond a child’s 18 birthday if the child requires substantial care and supervision because of a physical or mental disability.

Child support is typically paid monthly by the noncustodial parent to the custodial parent through the state child support disbursement unit. In most cases, the amount of child support to be paid is based on guidelines set forth in the Texas Family Code that consider the income of the non-custodial parent after deductions for social security taxes, federal income tax, state income tax (if applicable), union dues, and the amount of the monthly health and dental insurance premium to insure the parties’ child. In certain circumstances, the court may order monthly child support payments above the amount established by the guidelines.

The foregoing does not constitute legal advice. Each child support case depends upon the particular facts of that case. To determine how the Texas child support guidelines apply to your case and to determine whether you may be eligible to pay or receive above-guideline child support, please contact Pruitt Law Group, PLLC, and schedule a confidential consultation.

Talk To A Highly Experienced Lawyer About Your Unique Situation

When you work with family law matters attorney Kathryn Pruitt and her team at Pruitt Law Group, PLLC, your child custody and support case is in caring, skilled hands. Kathryn has been a lawyer for more than 27 years and has devoted herself fully to family law matters since 2004. Kathryn and the lawyers working with her are committed to helping clients negotiate a workable solution to their custody and child support matters whenever possible. She believes that the parents are often in a better position than the judge to determine what is in their child’s best interest and what will be mutually beneficial.

Of course, not all custody and child support disputes can be settled outside of court. If you and your child’s other parent cannot reach an agreement through negotiation or mediation, Kathryn and her team are accomplished litigators who will zealously advocate for your rights and your child’s rights in court.

Whether you plan to pay child support or receive it, Kathryn and the lawyers on her team are passionate about protecting their clients’ rights. Call 469-888-8829 to schedule a consultation. She is conveniently located in Frisco and works with clients in Plano, Frisco, Prosper, Little Elm, Lewisville, Denton, McKinney, Allen, Dallas and throughout the Metroplex.

Modification & Enforcement Of Orders

Making Changes To Existing Orders

As the parties move forward with their lives following the conclusion of a divorce or child custody lawsuit, a material and substantial change may occur for a party or a child. When a material and substantial change makes a term in your existing custody or child support orders unworkable, it is necessary to petition the court for a modification. A petition for modification may seek a modification of conservatorship (including the right to establish the primary residence of the child and the geographic area of such residence), possession of and access to the child, child support or spousal support.

Examples of common issues that may support a modification include relocation, change in employment status, disability, and changes in a child’s schedule that occur as a child approaches adulthood.

Having seasoned, compassionate counsel to advise you during life changes may prove invaluable to maintaining your relationship with your child. As one former client stated, “My family issues continued over several years. As new issues arose, Kathryn was available to pick up where we had left off. The continuity of her service was tremendously valuable.”

Enforcing Existing Court Orders

If a party violates the terms of a divorce or custody decree, an enforcement case may be in order.

If your former spouse has failed to give you property or pay an amount he or she was ordered to pay under the decree (including but not limited to a property division equalization payment, spousal maintenance or contractual alimony), you should consult with an experienced family law mattersyer as soon as possible. In the case of property division matters, there are time limitations in the Texas Family Code that will bar your claims if you wait too long.

Enforcement matters may also relate to parenting plan provisions, such as one parent’s failure to surrender the child to the other parent at the end of a possession period, failure to pay child support, failure to provide health insurance as ordered, failure to reimburse uninsured medical expenses, and other matters.

If the other party has violated your divorce or custody orders, it is important to seek experienced family law matters counsel as quickly as possible, as the Texas Family Code imposes deadlines on prosecuting such cases. Kathryn and her team have substantial experience in prosecuting and defending enforcement cases. If the other party is violating your court orders, or they have accused you of violating your court orders, contact Pruitt Law Group, PLLC, to schedule a consultation. An experienced attorney will review the facts of your case, provide a candid assessment and recommend the best course of action.

To schedule a consultation with Kathryn or a member of her team in her Frisco office or via Zoom video conference, please send an email or call 469-888-8829.

When disputes arise, the team at Pruitt Law Group, PLLC, explores amicable solutions whenever possible. While her team is trained to prepare for courtroom litigation where warranted, Kathryn believes courtroom battles are best reserved for when it is the only way to protect her clients’ rights and the best interests of their children.

Speak With An Attorney Who Cares And Can Help

To arrange a confidential consultation with an experienced family law matters attorney in Frisco, contact Pruitt Law Group, PLLC, today by telephone at 469-888-8829 or online by filling out a brief contact form.