Trusted Legal Representation for Family, Criminal & Estate Law in Harris County
Bryan Fagan Law Firm has served Harris County families and businesses for 20+ years. We fight for your rights with experience, integrity, and results.
Trusted Legal Guidance
Serving Harris County Families and Businesses with Dedicated Legal Expertise
Bryan Fagan Law Firm has served Harris County families, businesses, and individuals for over 20 years, providing trusted legal counsel in family law, criminal defense, and estate planning. Our commitment to Harris County residents is reflected in our deep roots in this community and our extensive experience across all Harris County courts.
The Harris County region spans multiple jurisdictions with distinct demographics, economic centers, and court systems. Family courts handle cases involving custody arrangements across multiple school districts and neighborhoods. Criminal prosecutors handle significant case volumes, particularly in DWI and drug prosecutions. Probate courts manage estates of all sizes. Local legal knowledge and courthouse relationships are essential for effective representation.
As experienced Harris County attorneys, we understand the nuances of local practice and the specific challenges families face across Houston's diverse geography.
Key strengths:
- Representation across all Harris County courts and judges
- Complex family law and custody matters across multiple school districts
- DWI defense and felony representation in Harris County District Courts
- Free initial consultations available — call or submit the form below
Tailored Legal Solutions for Harris County Families and Businesses
While our Houston law firm has extensive experience in family law, we understand that no two cases are the same. Harris County families often face unique challenges involving relocation, high-net-worth asset division, business interests, and co-parenting across Harris County's vast geography, which is why we tailor our approach — whether through mediation, collaborative law, or litigation — to fit your specific circumstances. Regardless of the path your case requires, our team has the skills, knowledge, and tools to guide you from start to resolution, and we have extensive experience representing Houston residents in the Harris County Family District Courts, giving us valuable insight into the judges, opposing counsel, and procedures that can impact your case.
We offer comprehensive family law and estate planning services, including:
Family Law
Family Law in Harris County
In Harris County, there are thousands of divorce filings every single year. Harris County alone consistently ranks among the top counties in Texas for family law cases — and that number continues to rise alongside the city's growing population. Whether it's high-stakes asset division, custody battles, or spousal support disputes, Houston families need experienced representation. Harris County divorces follow Texas community property law: assets acquired during marriage are generally split 50/50, and debts are equally divided. Understanding this framework is crucial when dividing real estate, business interests, retirement accounts, and investment portfolios. Many Harris County clients have significant assets requiring sophisticated valuation and strategy. Custody decisions in Harris County prioritize the child's best interest, considering the child's wishes, each parent's capability, sibling relationships, living stability, and involvement history. Texas presumes 50/50 custody unless evidence shows one parent is unfit. School district choices (HISD, Katy ISD, and surrounding districts) often factor into custody arrangements in Harris County.
Learn more about family law in specific cities:
Divorce Timeline in Harris County
Uncontested divorces typically take 60-90 days; contested cases extend 6-12 months depending on court docket delays.
Harris County Court System
Four main Family District Courts (308th, 309th, 310th, 311th) plus Justice Courts handle family matters across Harris County.
DWI Defense in Harris County
Harris County prosecutes over 10,000 DWI cases annually. We challenge breathalyzer accuracy, police procedures, and witness credibility.
Drug & Felony Defense
Fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine cases require aggressive defense. We've secured dismissals and probation outcomes.
Criminal Defense
Criminal Defense in Harris County
Harris County's criminal justice system handles over 400,000 criminal cases annually, making it one of the nation's largest criminal courts. Whether facing misdemeanor charges in Houston Municipal Court or felony indictment in Harris County District Court, the stakes are enormous: jail time, felony conviction, employment loss, custody forfeiture, and permanent criminal record.
Our criminal defense attorneys have defended hundreds of clients across all Harris County courts. We understand prosecutorial strategies, judge tendencies, and effective defense tactics specific to Houston's criminal system. Many Harris County DWI cases result in dismissal or reduction to reckless driving through aggressive pre-trial litigation or trial defense. Drug possession charges can be reduced to probation or misdemeanor through Fourth Amendment challenges and skilled negotiation. Early aggressive defense is critical—we preserve evidence and file motions immediately after arrest.
Estate Planning
Estate Planning in Harris County
Harris County's diverse population—from energy industry executives to small business owners to multi-generational families—requires sophisticated estate planning to protect legacies, minimize taxes, and avoid probate delays. Texas estate planning involves wills, revocable living trusts, power of attorney, healthcare directives, and business succession planning.
Harris County has significant wealth concentrated in real estate, business interests, and investment portfolios. The median home value in many Houston neighborhoods exceeds $400,000. Business ownership is prevalent across the technology, healthcare, energy, and finance sectors. Smart estate planning protects these assets, minimizes taxes, and ensures smooth transitions to heirs. Bryan Fagan provides comprehensive estate planning including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, Medicaid planning, and business succession strategies. We help Harris County families avoid probate, protect assets, and preserve their legacy for future generations.
Wills & Trusts
Trusts allow you to avoid public probate, reduce administrative costs, and maintain privacy. Especially valuable for Harris County clients with significant assets.
Business Succession Planning
Business owners need asset protection structures and succession plans. We establish LLCs, S-corps, and trusts protecting assets from creditors.
Probate Administration
We guide executors through Harris County Probate Court compliance, asset management, and fiduciary duties.
Guardianship Proceedings
Guardianship appointments require Harris County District Court approval and physician evaluation. We handle the entire process.
Probate & Guardianship
Probate and Guardianship in Harris County
Harris County probate administration and guardianship proceedings require courthouse expertise and procedural precision. Whether you're an executor managing a loved one's estate or pursuing guardianship for an incapacitated relative, Harris County Probate Court has specific requirements and timelines.
Probate courts in Harris County handle estate administration, guardianship proceedings, and asset distribution. Independent administration (minimal court involvement) is fastest if there's no will contest; formal probate involves more court oversight. Harris County probate typically takes 8–12 months; complex estates with disputes can extend 12–24 months. Our attorneys guide executors through inventory, appraisal, creditor notification, tax filing, and asset distribution, protecting executor liability and ensuring smooth administration.
Our Practice Areas
Comprehensive Legal Solutions for Every Life Challenge
Whether you’re facing a family dispute, criminal charges, or planning your estate, our experienced attorneys are here to guide you through every step.
Family Law
Trusted guidance helps families navigate divorce, custody, and support matters.
Criminal Law
Strategic defense protects your future, rights, and freedom from prosecution.
Estate Planning
Thoughtful estate planning protects assets, loved ones, wishes, and legacies.
Probate
Skilled probate counsel settles estates, resolves disputes, and preserves meaningful family legacies.
Guardianship
Experienced advocates bring clarity, care, and protection to guardianship decisions.
Adoption
Thoughtful legal guidance supports families throughout every unique path toward a successful adoption.
Personal Injury
Skilled advocates fight for medical care, compensation, and post-collision justice.
Meet Our Team
Meet Our Experienced Attorneys
Whether you’re facing a family dispute, criminal charges, or planning your estate, our experienced attorneys are here to guide you through every step.
Bryan Joseph Fagan
Bryan Fagan is the Owner and Managing Attorney of the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC — one of Texas’s most recognized family law firms, with offices across Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Humble, Richmond, and beyond. A certified member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and a member of the Houston Bar Association’s Family Law Sector, Bryan has spent his career building a firm that delivers high-end family law representation to Texas families across every major market in the state. Born and raised in Atascocita in Northeast Houston, Bryan comes from a close-knit family of four siblings, including two adopted brothers. His father was an engineer and his mother was a teacher. He is the first — and only — attorney in his family.
Kimberly P. Washington
Kimberly P. Washington is the Senior Managing Attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, working directly within a firm built by Texas family law attorney Bryan Fagan. She leads a structured, strategy-driven legal representation.
With over a decade of family law experience, Kimberly plays a central role in overseeing complex divorce and custody cases — helping ensure that every case aligns with the firm’s core approach: clear strategy, strong advocacy, and better long-term outcomes for families.
Courtney Berry
Courtney Berry is the Supervising Attorney of Operations at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan —
overseeing estate planning, probate, and guardianship legal operations across the firm’s Houston
practice. Her role places her at the center of the firm’s quality control and operational excellence,
ensuring that every client matter meets the standards Bryan Fagan has built his organization around.
Beyond her oversight role, Courtney handles estate planning, probate, and guardianship matters
directly — bringing senior-level attention and operational precision to clients who need estate and
Probate work done right the first time.
Glenda Clausell
Glenda Clausell is a Supervising Attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan’s Houston Corporate headquarters, overseeing legal quality, client outcomes, and attorney operations across one of Texas’s largest family law firms. Licensed since 2008, Glenda brings 16+ years of legal experience and a firm-wide perspective to both her supervisory role and her individual client work.
Her position at the center of the firm’s operational structure means that clients working with Glenda benefit from both her personal legal experience and her oversight-level understanding of how every part of Bryan Fagan’s legal system functions.
Carrie Marquis
Carrie Marquis is a senior Houston divorce and family law attorney with more than 30 years of experience handling child custody modifications, enforcement actions, and complex property matters. With a background in accounting and finance, she brings a strategic and practical approach to resolving issues that arise after a family law order is already in place. Carrie works closely with clients to identify what needs to change, develop a path forward, and pursue outcomes that better reflect their current circumstances.
Carl J. Ritter
Carl J. Ritter is a family law attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, bringing one of the deepest legal resumes on the team to contested divorce, custody, and probate cases in Houston. With service in the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps and 10 years with the Texas Attorney General’s office, Carl has spent his career inside the legal system — from military tribunals to state court litigation.
With 35+ years of combined legal experience, Carl handles the cases that demand courtroom confidence, procedural precision, and a proven track record. His clients are families who need an attorney who has already handled thousands of cases like theirs.
Peter Sayadzad
Peter Sayadzad is a family law attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, representing Houston families in divorce, custody, and family legal matters with clear communication, honest guidance, and steady advocacy. Licensed in Texas since 2018, Peter brings a focused, client-centered approach to every case he handles.
Peter serves clients throughout Northwest Harris County — including Cypress, Spring, and The Woodlands area — from the firm’s Cypress Creek Parkway location. His commitment to honest, straightforward communication sets him apart in a field where clients often feel left in the dark.
Brittney Archie
Brittney Archie is a family law attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, focused on child custody and family law matters for Houston families. Licensed in both Texas and Arkansas, Brittney brings dedicated advocacy to parents who need their rights protected and their children’s futures secured.
Her practice centers on helping parents navigate one of the most consequential legal processes they will ever face — custody disputes — with clarity, structure, and unwavering commitment to their outcome. Working within Bryan Fagan’s system, Brittney ensures that every step of your custody case is handled correctly.
Kennisha Norman
Kennisha Norman is a family law attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, serving clients from the firm’s Houston office. With nearly two decades of legal experience, Kennisha brings a compassionate, client-centered approach to helping individuals and families resolve complex legal matters.
Prior to joining the firm, Kennisha operated her own practice, The Dabney-Norman Law Firm, for 18 years, focusing on family law and estate planning. That depth of independent practice means she brings real-world case management, negotiation experience, and deep knowledge of Harris County courts to every client she serves.
Kennisha is also a certified special education teacher — a credential that speaks to her lifelong commitment to advocacy, education, and service to others.
Delphine Maddox
Delphine Maddox is a family law attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, serving clients from the firm’s Houston office. Delphine is dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate challenging legal situations with compassion, determination, and a genuine commitment to ensuring every client feels heard and represented.
From her very first internship in a juvenile court to her work in child welfare and private family law practice, Delphine has been drawn to cases where having the right advocate in your corner makes a real difference. She believes effective legal representation requires not only knowledge of the law — but empathy, clear communication, and a deep understanding of what clients are going through during the hardest moments of their lives.
Why Clients Choose Us
Why Harris County Residents Choose Bryan Fagan Law Firm
Hundreds of Successful Cases Content
Direct Attorney Involvement
Aggressive Advocacy
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EXPLORE THE GREATER REGION
Legal Services for Harris County and Nearby Communities
This page provides legal-service information and local resources for this community. For broader regional guidance, verified courthouse and map information, nearby office options, and links to family law, criminal law, estate planning, probate, and other legal topics, visit our main regional overview page.
Harris County Civil Courthouse
Hours
8 :00 AM – 4:30 PM
Phone
+713-274-8600
Address
201 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77002
- View Courthouse
Harris County Criminal Justice Center
Hours
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Phone
+713-274-8680
Address
1201 Franklin St., Houston, TX 77002
- View Courthouse
Harris County Family Law Center
Hours
8 :00 AM – 4:30 PM
Phone
+1 713 755 7300
Address
201 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77002
- View Courthouse
Your Legal Questions Answered
FAQs About Our Harris County Legal Services
Find answers to common questions across our three practice areas.