Collin County Family Law, Criminal Defense & Estate Planning Attorneys
Trusted Legal Guidance
Serving Collin County and the Surrounding Metroplex with Dedicated Legal Expertise
Call the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC at (469) 972-8473. We have served Collin County families and businesses for over 20 years, providing trusted legal counsel across family law, criminal defense, and estate planning. Our commitment to Collin County residents is reflected in our deep roots in this community and our extensive presence serving families from Plano to Frisco, McKinney to Wylie, and throughout the region.
The Collin County region spans rapidly growing communities—Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Prosper, Wylie, Celina, Lucas, Murphy, Fairview, and Princeton—with distinct demographics, economic centers, and court systems. Family courts handle complex custody arrangements across multiple school districts. Criminal prosecutors manage significant case volumes. Probate courts oversee estates of all sizes. Local legal knowledge and courthouse relationships are essential for effective representation.
Bryan Fagan Law Firm brings decades of combined experience serving Collin County courts and families. Whether you’re navigating a family dispute, facing criminal charges, or planning your legacy, we provide strategic guidance grounded in deep understanding of local laws, judges, and procedures.
Key Practice Areas Across Collin County:
- Family Law — Divorce, custody, child support, and spousal support across Collin County Family District Courts
- Criminal Defense — DWI, assault, drug charges, and felony defense in Collin County District Courts (3rd, 7th, 8th, 9th Judicial Districts)
- Estate Planning — Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and Medicaid planning for Collin County families and business owners
- Probate & Guardianship — Estate administration and court-supervised guardianship proceedings in Collin County Probate Court
Tailored Legal Solutions for Each Client's Unique Case in Collin County
While our Collin County law firm has extensive experience in family law, criminal defense, and estate planning, we understand that no two cases are identical. Collin County families often face unique challenges involving relocation across multiple school districts, high-net-worth asset division, business succession planning, and complex custody arrangements spanning the metroplex. Whether through mediation, collaborative law, or aggressive litigation, we tailor our approach to fit your specific circumstances.
Our team brings the skills, knowledge, and tools to guide you from start to resolution. We have extensive experience representing clients in Collin County Family District Courts, Criminal District Courts, and Probate Court, giving us valuable insight into local judges, opposing counsel, and procedures that can impact your case. Regardless of the path your case requires, we’re prepared to protect your interests and achieve the best possible outcome.
Whether you’re facing a high-conflict custody dispute in Plano, a DWI charge in Frisco, or estate planning needs in McKinney, our personalized approach ensures your case receives the attention and strategy it deserves. Schedule your free consultation today to discuss how we can help.
We offer comprehensive family law and estate planning services, including:
Family Law
Family Law in Collin County
Learn more about family law in specific cities:
Family Law in Collin County
Collin County courts handle high volumes of family law matters involving custody arrangements, property division, and support agreements across multiple school districts and diverse communities.
Custody & Support in Collin County
Child custody disputes often involve multiple Collin County school districts and complex family dynamics. We negotiate custody agreements that prioritize your child's best interests and your continued involvement.
Criminal Cases in Collin County
Collin County District Courts handle high volumes of criminal matters including DWI, assault, drug charges, and felonies. Experienced representation is critical to protect your constitutional rights.
DWI & Felony Defense
DWI arrests and felony charges carry severe penalties including license suspension, jail time, and permanent criminal records. We challenge evidence and explore every defense strategy available.
Criminal Defense
Criminal Defense in Collin County
Criminal charges in Collin County carry serious consequences—from jail time and fines to permanent criminal records affecting employment, housing, professional licenses, and family stability. Collin County District Courts (3rd, 7th, 8th, 9th Judicial Districts) handle significant volumes of criminal cases. Law enforcement and prosecution resources are extensive throughout the region. Effective criminal defense requires immediate action, aggressive investigation, and experienced advocacy.
DWI arrests, property crimes, assault charges, drug offenses, and felony cases constitute the majority of Collin County’s criminal docket. Many defendants face their first serious legal jeopardy and need experienced representation to understand their rights, explore defense strategies, and navigate the criminal justice process.
Bryan Fagan defends clients facing serious criminal charges in Collin County courts. We challenge evidence, file suppression motions when warranted, negotiate plea agreements strategically, and take cases to trial when necessary. Our criminal defense practice focuses on protecting constitutional rights and achieving the best possible outcome for our clients.
Criminal Defense Services in Collin County:
- DWI and DUI Defense — Challenging breathalyzer results, traffic stops, field sobriety tests, and illegal searches
- Assault and Domestic Violence — Defending against simple assault, aggravated assault, and family violence allegations
- Drug Charges — Drug possession, distribution, and manufacturing defense across federal and state courts
- Felony Defense — Property crimes, theft, fraud, homicide, and serious felony representation
- Probation Violations — Protecting your rights in probation modification and revocation proceedings
- Sex Crime Defense — Defending against sexual assault and other sensitive charges with skill and discretion
When you’re facing criminal charges, time is critical. Constitutional rights can be violated during arrest and questioning. Evidence must be challenged. We provide vigorous defense from arrest through trial, protecting your freedom and future.
Nearby Cities We Serve for Criminal Defense:
Estate Planning
Estate Planning in Collin County
Estate planning is not just for the wealthy. Whether you own a home in Plano, a business in Frisco, retirement accounts in McKinney, or investment property throughout Collin County, proper estate planning ensures your assets are protected, your family is provided for, and your wishes are honored. Without a comprehensive plan, Texas law may distribute your estate differently than you intended.
Collin County has significant wealth concentrated in real estate, business interests, and investment portfolios. Many residents own multiple properties, operate family businesses, or hold substantial retirement and investment accounts. Professional households in Plano, Frisco, and McKinney face unique planning challenges involving business succession, asset protection, tax optimization, and Medicaid planning for aging parents. Technology professionals and business owners need sophisticated strategies to protect equity, intellectual property, and succession plans.
A will is a starting point, but an incomplete plan. Revocable living trusts help avoid probate, maintain privacy, and allow management during incapacity. Powers of attorney designate trusted individuals to manage finances and healthcare decisions if you become incapacitated. Healthcare directives ensure medical decisions align with your values. Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance ensure proper asset distribution.
Estate Planning Services for Collin County:
- Wills and Trusts — Personalized documents reflecting your wishes for asset distribution and guardianship
- Powers of Attorney — Financial and healthcare authority designations for incapacity planning
- Business Succession — Planning for family business continuity, buy-sell agreements, and valuation strategies
- Asset Protection — Strategies to shield personal assets from liability and preserve family wealth
- Medicaid Planning — Elder law and long-term care planning for aging parents and family members
- Probate Avoidance — Structures and strategies to minimize probate delays, costs, and loss of privacy
- Retirement Planning — Optimization of retirement account beneficiaries and tax-efficient distributions
Whether you’re a business owner, professional, retiree, or parent protecting your family, we create comprehensive estate plans tailored to your goals and circumstances. Schedule a consultation to begin planning your legacy.
Nearby Cities We Serve for Estate planning:
Property & Assets in Collin County
Collin County families accumulate significant assets through real estate, businesses, and investments. Comprehensive estate planning protects these assets and ensures smooth transfer to heirs.
Probate & Legacy Planning
Proper estate planning in Collin County avoids probate delays, minimizes taxes, and preserves your legacy for future generations. We create wills, trusts, and powers of attorney tailored to your family's needs.
Probate in Collin County
Collin County Probate Court handles estate administration, asset distribution, and creditor claims. Professional guidance ensures compliance with Texas law and proper protection of family interests.
Guardianship Proceedings
Guardianship cases require court approval and ongoing administration for minor or incapacitated family members. We manage the legal process and asset management responsibilities to protect vulnerable individuals.
Probate & Guardianship
Probate and Guardianship in Collin County
Probate courts in Collin County handle estates of all sizes. Guardianship proceedings protect minors and incapacitated adults. These are technical, court-supervised processes requiring precise compliance with Texas law and specific Collin County court procedures. Professional guidance ensures proper administration and protects families during difficult transitions.
When a family member passes away, probate administration involves inventorying assets, notifying creditors, paying taxes and debts, and distributing remaining property to heirs. The Collin County Probate Court oversees this process to ensure compliance and protect beneficiaries. Depending on the estate’s complexity and whether a valid will exists, probate can take months or years.
Guardianship proceedings establish legal authority to care for minors or incapacitated adults. These court-supervised arrangements require periodic accountings, asset management, and ongoing court involvement. Whether establishing guardianship for an aging parent, disabled child, or vulnerable family member, the process demands careful attention to legal requirements and court procedures.
Probate & Guardianship Services in Collin County:
- Probate Administration — Estate inventory, creditor notices, tax returns, asset distribution, and final accounting
- Guardianship Establishment — Court-approved guardianship arrangements for minors and incapacitated adults
- Guardianship Accounting — Annual accounting requirements and asset management for existing guardianships
- Estate Settlement — Negotiating disputes between heirs, resolving claims, and expediting distributions
- Probate Litigation — Contesting wills, challenging guardianships, or resolving estate disputes in court
- Simplified Probate — Using streamlined procedures for small estates to reduce costs and timeline
- Trust Administration — Managing revocable trusts and ensuring proper asset distribution without probate
Bryan Fagan guides families through probate administration, guardianship proceedings, and estate settlement across Collin County courts. We handle the technical requirements and court filings so families can focus on healing and transition.
Nearby Cities We Serve for Probate & Guardianship:
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.
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.
Deborah Coleman
29+ years of litigation experience across family law and criminal defense to Dallas County families who need a seasoned courtroom advocate. Licensed since 1995, Deborah has spent three decades in Dallas courtrooms — building the kind of experience that only comes from trying cases year after year.
Her dual expertise in family law and criminal defense gives Deborah a strategic perspective that pure family law attorneys lack. When your divorce involves criminal allegations, protective orders with criminal dimensions, or opposing counsel using aggressive tactics, Deborah’s background is a significant advantage.
Jessica Lesser
Jessica Lesser is the attorney Bryan Fagan routes his most complex high-asset Dallas divorce cases to
to. With 25+ years of litigation experience, a Texas Tech University School of Law degree, and earned Cum
Laude, and Board Certification in Family Law, Jessica brings a level of credentials and case depth that is
exceptional in North Texas family law.
Her practice centers on high-asset divorce, complex property division, and business valuation in
divorce proceedings — the cases where financial complexity, significant assets, and trial-ready
advocacy intersect. Clients who choose Jessica Lesser are choosing the highest level of certified family
law expertise the firm offers.
Melvin Thathiah
Melvin Thathiah is a Dallas divorce and family law trial attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, bringing 20 years of litigation experience to contested divorce and custody cases in Dallas County. Licensed since 2005, Melvin focuses on the cases that go the distance — clients who need full courtroom representation, not just a settlement negotiator.
When a Dallas divorce becomes contested, when custody requires a judge’s decision, or when opposing counsel is prepared to fight, Melvin’s 20-year litigation background and trial-focused approach make the difference.
Diana Weitzel
Diana Weitzel is a Dallas divorce and family law attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, combining 17+ years of legal experience, a Texas Wesleyan law degree, and an Executive MBA from TCU for an approach to family law that is analytically rigorous and business-minded. For clients whose divorces involve business interests, complex financials, or significant assets, Diana’s MBA background translates directly into a strategic advantage.
Licensed since 2007, Diana represents Dallas and North Texas families through divorce, custody, property division, and family law matters with both legal depth and business analytical skill that most family law attorneys simply lack.
Eric Engel
Eric Engel is a Dallas family law trial attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan with a litigation resume that sets him apart: 20+ years of practice, 30+ contested trials, over 1,000 contested motions, appellate court experience, and a 20-year history of operating his own law firm before joining Bryan Fagan’s team. When a case requires a battle-tested litigator, Eric Engel is that attorney.
His trial volume is exceptional — 30+ contested trials means Eric has been in front of Dallas County judges through the full range of family law matters. Clients who choose Eric are choosing someone who has already done this at the highest levels, repeatedly.
Robert A. Thornton
Robert Thornton is a Dallas family law attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, representing Dallas County clients in divorce, custody, and family legal matters with 20+ years of litigation experience and dedicated personal advocacy.
Working within Bryan Fagan’s structured legal system, Robert brings senior litigation experience to Dallas families navigating some of the most consequential legal decisions of their lives.
Megan Nordyke
Megan Nordyke is a Dallas family law attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC. With more than a decade of experience in legal aid and family law, Megan helps individuals and families navigate challenging circumstances with compassion, advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to justice.
Megan focuses on complex family law matters involving domestic and intimate partner violence, coercive control, child abuse and neglect, DFPS/CPS cases, adoption, non-parent custody, and the division of marital assets and liabilities. Her ten years of public service as a legal aid attorney give her extensive experience advocating for vulnerable individuals and families.
Why Clients Choose Us
Why Collin County Residents Choose Bryan Fagan Law Firm
Strategic Advocacy
Compassionate Guidance
Local Expertise
Need More Family Law Guidance Near Collin County
EXPLORE THE GREATER REGION
Legal Services for Collin 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.
Serving Dallas & Surrounding Areas
Your Legal Questions Answered
FAQs About Our Collin County Legal Services
Find answers to common questions across our three practice areas.