Dallas, TX · Dallas County

Dallas's Trusted Family Law Attorneys

Name: Law Office of Bryan Fagan PLLC
Price range: $$$

Serving Dallas and North Texas families with experienced legal counsel in divorce, custody, estate planning, and complex family law matters.

Dallas, TX · Dallas County

Dallas's Trusted Family Law Attorneys

Serving Dallas and North Texas families with experienced legal counsel in divorce, custody, estate planning, and complex family law matters.

5.0 Stars

Google Rating

Since 2012

Serving Texas

Thousands

Families Helped

14 Offices

Across Texas

70+

Legal Professionals

5.0 Stars

Google Rating

70+

Legal Professionals

Thousands

Families Helped

22 Offices

Across Texas

Since 2012

Serving Texas

5.0 Stars

Google Rating

70+

Legal Professionals

Thousands

Families Helped

22 Offices

Across Texas

Since 2012

Serving Texas

About Our Dallas Office

A Law Firm Built for North Texas Families

Dallas is Texas’s second-largest city — and one of its most competitive legal markets. The Law Office of Bryan Fagan’s Dallas office brings a deep, experienced team to a city where families need more than a generalist. Our Hillcrest Road location, situated in the Preston Hollow and North Dallas corridor, serves the families of Dallas, Plano, Frisco, Richardson, and across the greater DFW Metroplex with a team that includes some of the firm’s most accomplished litigators.

The Dallas team’s combined experience spans decades. Deborah Coleman brings 30 years of family law preparation and advocacy as the office’s supervising attorney. Jessica Lesser is board-certified in family law and brings the additional perspective of having navigated a divorce personally — which permanently changed how she advocates for clients doing the same. Melvin Thathiah is a senior litigation attorney known for honesty, passion, and genuine support for Dallas families in contested matters. Diana Weitzel holds both a JD and an MBA — and applies that dual perspective to resolve even the most complex North Texas family and business cases.

At our Dallas office, the standard is what it is at every Bryan Fagan location: you meet with an attorney first. In a city where high-volume legal mills are common, that commitment to personal accountability is exactly what sets us apart.

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ABOUT OUR Dallas OFFICE

A Law Firm Built for North Texas Families

Get Legal Help Today

Our Dallas attorneys are ready to review your situation and outline your options — clearly and without pressure.

Legal Services in Dallas, TX

Comprehensive representation for individuals and families at every stage of life.

Family Law & Divorce

From contested high-asset divorces to straightforward uncontested agreements, our Dallas family law attorneys guide you through every step — protecting your assets, your children, and your future in Dallas County courts.

Child Custody & Support

We help Dallas parents build custody arrangements that put children first — while fighting to protect your parental rights and time with your kids. Our attorneys know Dallas County courts and how local judges approach possession schedules.

Estate Planning & Probate

Protect your family's future with a clear estate plan. Wills, trusts, probate administration, and guardianship — handled with care by attorneys who understand what Dallas families have built.

Criminal Defense

Facing a charge in Dallas County? Our Dallas criminal defense attorneys provide aggressive representation from the moment you call — protecting your record, your reputation, and your future in North Texas.

Personal Injury

Car accidents, workplace injuries, wrongful death — when someone else's negligence changes your life, our Dallas attorneys pursue every available remedy to hold them accountable.

Guardianship & Adoption

Whether you're establishing legal guardianship for a loved one or growing your family through adoption, our Dallas team handles these sensitive matters with professionalism and genuine care.

Family Law & Divorce

Child Custody & Support

Estate Planning & Probate

Protect your family's future with a clear estate plan. Wills, trusts, probate administration, and guardianship — handled with care by attorneys who understand what Dallas families have built.

Criminal Defense

Personal Injury

Car accidents, workplace injuries, wrongful death — when someone else's negligence changes your life, our Dallas attorneys pursue every available remedy to hold them accountable.

Guardianship & Adoption

Whether you're establishing legal guardianship for a loved one or growing your family through adoption, our Dallas team handles these sensitive matters with professionalism and genuine care.

Why Dallas County Chooses Bryan Fagan

There are other law firms in Dallas. Here’s why families choose ours.

You Meet an Attorney First

Not a paralegal. Not a case manager. Your first meeting is with the attorney who will handle your case — every time, at every Bryan Fagan location.

Deeply Local

Our Dallas attorneys know Dallas County courts, North Texas judges, and the specific procedures that shape outcomes in this market. Local depth matters.

Strategic, Not Reactive

We build a legal strategy around your goals from the first meeting. You will always know where your case stands, what is coming next, and why.

Family-Centered Practice

Family law cases are personal — and we treat them that way. Every Dallas client receives the individual attention and genuine investment their situation demands.

Always Available

24/7 availability means you are never left without answers when something urgent arises. Dallas legal matters do not follow a 9-to-5 schedule — and neither do we.

You Meet an Attorney First

Not a paralegal. Not a case manager. Your first meeting is with the attorney who will handle your case — every time, at every Bryan Fagan location.

Deeply Local

Our Dallas attorneys know Dallas County courts, North Texas judges, and the specific procedures that shape outcomes in this market. Local depth matters.

Strategic, Not Reactive

We build a legal strategy around your goals from the first meeting. You will always know where your case stands, what is coming next, and why.

Family-Centered Practice

Family law cases are personal — and we treat them that way. Every Dallas client receives the individual attention and genuine investment their situation demands.

Always Available

24/7 availability means you are never left without answers when something urgent arises. Dallas legal matters do not follow a 9-to-5 schedule — and neither do we.

Comprehensive representation for individuals and families at every stage of life.

Family Law & Divorce

Child Custody & Support

Estate Planning & Probate

Protect your family's future with a clear estate plan. Wills, trusts, probate administration, and guardianship — handled with care by attorneys who understand what Dallas families have built.

Criminal Defense

Personal Injury

Car accidents, workplace injuries, wrongful death — when someone else's negligence changes your life, our Dallas attorneys pursue every available remedy to hold them accountable.

Guardianship & Adoption

Whether you're establishing legal guardianship for a loved one or growing your family through adoption, our Dallas team handles these sensitive matters with professionalism and genuine care.

There are other law firms in Dallas. Here’s why families choose ours.

You Meet an Attorney First

Not a paralegal. Not a case manager. Your first meeting is with the attorney who will handle your case — every time, at every Bryan Fagan location.

Deeply Local

Our Dallas attorneys know Dallas County courts, North Texas judges, and the specific procedures that shape outcomes in this market. Local depth matters.

Strategic, Not Reactive

We build a legal strategy around your goals from the first meeting. You will always know where your case stands, what is coming next, and why.

Family-Centered Practice

Family law cases are personal — and we treat them that way. Every Dallas client receives the individual attention and genuine investment their situation demands.

Always Available

24/7 availability means you are never left without answers when something urgent arises. Dallas legal matters do not follow a 9-to-5 schedule — and neither do we.

People Associated With the Dallas Office

Experienced. Local. Ready to help your family.

Deborah Coleman

Attorney

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

Attorney

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

Divorce Trial Attorney

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

Family Law Attorney

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

Family Law Trial Attorney

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

Family Law Attorney

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

Attorney

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.

Our Office · A Dallas Landmark

North Texas Legal Counsel You Can Count On

Our Hillcrest Road office is Bryan Fagan’s North Texas headquarters — a team-based location built to handle the full range of family law and estate matters that Dallas-area families bring to us. Located in the Preston Hollow and Hillcrest corridor, the office is accessible to families across North Dallas, Plano, Frisco, Richardson, and the greater DFW Metroplex without requiring a trip downtown.

Dallas families often bring legal situations that combine financial complexity with high stakes: divorces involving executive compensation, stock awards, business ownership stakes, or real estate portfolios that require careful valuation and strategic division. Our Dallas team includes attorneys with the depth and litigation experience to handle exactly these situations — and they have been doing it for years.

Our Office · A Dallas Landmark

North Texas Legal Counsel You Can Count On

Proudly Serving Dallas County & Beyond

Our Dallas attorneys represent clients throughout Dallas County and across the greater DFW Metroplex.

Dallas County

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Surrounding Areas

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Real questions from Dallas and North Texas families — answered honestly.

Our Dallas attorneys represent clients throughout Dallas County and across the greater DFW Metroplex.

Dallas County

Coming Soon...

Surrounding Areas

Coming Soon...

Real questions from Dallas and North Texas families — answered honestly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Real questions from Dallas and North Texas families — answered honestly.

Costs & Fees

Attorney fees in Dallas vary based on the complexity of your case and whether it is contested or uncontested. Cases involving business assets, executive compensation, stock portfolios, or high-conflict custody require more legal work and time than straightforward matters. At our Hillcrest office, we offer free initial consultations so you understand your situation and realistic costs before committing. Call 469-972-8473 to speak with one of our Dallas attorneys at no cost or obligation.

Divorce & Property

Not automatically — but retirement contributions made during the marriage are generally classified as community property in Texas. Pre-marital contributions may be protected as separate property if properly traced and documented. Dividing a 401k, 403(b), or pension without triggering taxes requires a QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) that must be approved by both the court and the retirement plan administrator. For Dallas families with substantial retirement assets — particularly those in the corporate or executive sector — this is a critical part of the divorce process. Our attorneys handle it regularly.

Moving out of the marital home can be interpreted by Dallas County courts as voluntarily surrendering your interest in that property — and it often establishes a residential pattern that affects custody determinations. If the children remain in the home after you leave, courts may treat that arrangement as the baseline for custody going forward. For North Texas families with significant real estate holdings, leaving the home early can have major financial consequences. Talk to one of our Dallas attorneys before you make any housing decisions during a divorce.

Acting on assumptions instead of legal advice. Dallas clients frequently come to our office after they have already moved out, withdrawn from a joint account, signed a temporary agreement, or told their co-parent something that later becomes a concession in court. The earlier in the process you speak with an attorney, the more options you have. Early legal counsel is almost always significantly less expensive than trying to undo mistakes that are already on the record. Call 469-972-8473 for a free first consultation.

Custody & Child Support

Texas law does not favor either parent based on gender — courts apply a best-interest-of-the-child standard in every case. In practice, 50/50 possession schedules are increasingly granted in Dallas County when both parents are stably involved, capable of cooperation, and focused on the children’s needs. The Standard Possession Order provides non-primary parents the first, third, and fifth weekends, Thursday evenings, and extended summer time. Our Dallas attorneys regularly advocate for fathers seeking equal possession and have a strong track record in North Texas courts.

Texas provides robust enforcement tools for delinquent child support, including income withholding from the paying parent’s employer, bank account seizure, suspension of driver’s and professional licenses, and incarceration for willful non-payment. If your co-parent is behind on court-ordered support, our Dallas attorneys can file an enforcement action in Dallas County family courts and pursue the most effective remedy. Retroactive collection with interest may also be available depending on how long the arrears have been accumulating. Call 469-972-8473 to discuss your options.

Texas uses a percentage-of-net-income formula to calculate child support. For one child, the guideline is 20% of net monthly resources — approximately $1,000 per month at a $5,000 gross income level after standard deductions. For two children it is 25%, three children 30%, four children 35%, and five or more children 40%. Courts may deviate from the guideline for special circumstances. Our Dallas attorneys can provide a specific calculation based on your income, applicable deductions, and custody arrangement.

Texas raised the net resource ceiling for child support calculations in 2026, meaning higher-income parents may have greater support obligations than they did under the prior formula. For Dallas families — where executive salaries, stock compensation, and business income are common — this update can have a meaningful impact on support amounts. If you have an existing order set before 2026 and your income has changed or exceeds the prior cap, a modification may be appropriate. Our Dallas attorneys are current on all 2026 legislative changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Real questions from Dallas and North Texas families — answered honestly.

Costs & Fees

How much does a family law attorney cost in Dallas, TX?

Divorce & Property

Does my spouse automatically get half of my 401k in a Texas divorce?

Why do Dallas divorce attorneys say leaving the house before your divorce is finalized is a mistake?

What is the #1 mistake Dallas residents make during a divorce?

Custody & Child Support

Do fathers get 50/50 custody in Texas? What Dallas dads need to know.

Texas law does not favor either parent based on gender — courts apply a best-interest-of-the-child standard in every case. In practice, 50/50 possession schedules are increasingly granted in Dallas County when both parents are stably involved, capable of cooperation, and focused on the children's needs. The Standard Possession Order provides non-primary parents the first, third, and fifth weekends, Thursday evenings, and extended summer time. Our Dallas attorneys regularly advocate for fathers seeking equal possession and have a strong track record in North Texas courts.

What is the deadbeat dad law in Texas — and can a Dallas attorney help me enforce it?

Texas provides robust enforcement tools for delinquent child support, including income withholding from the paying parent's employer, bank account seizure, suspension of driver's and professional licenses, and incarceration for willful non-payment. If your co-parent is behind on court-ordered support, our Dallas attorneys can file an enforcement action in Dallas County family courts and pursue the most effective remedy. Retroactive collection with interest may also be available depending on how long the arrears have been accumulating. Call 469-972-8473 to discuss your options.

How much child support will I pay in Texas if I make $5,000 a month?

What changed with Texas child support law in 2026 — and how does it affect Dallas families?

Dallas Community Resources

We serve the whole person — not just the legal matter. Here are resources to help you navigate life in Dallas during and after a legal matter.

Plan Your Visit

Everything you need to know before coming to our office — parking, directions, what to expect when you arrive.

Transportation in Dallas

Guidance for reaching Dallas Office for divorce and custody appointments, including local routes, parking options, and traffic tips.

Moving to Dallas

Discover Dallas neighborhoods, temporary housing options, and reputable moving services to simplify relocation during or after divorce.

Government Resources in Dallas

Access key Dallas services such as post offices, DMV locations, Social Security offices, and local utility providers.

Educational Opportunities in Dallas

Information on schools, academic programs, and educational support in the Dallas area to help children adjust during family transitions.

Frequently Asked Questions in Dallas

Clear answers to common questions about family and divorce law, focused on Dallas-specific procedures and local courts.

Dallas County Courts Serving Dallas, TX

Find Dallas County courts for divorce, custody, and child support in Dallas.

Support for a Fresh Start

Houston support groups, co-parenting resources, counseling, and meetups for divorced parents.

We serve the whole person — not just the legal matter. Here are resources to help you navigate life in Dallas during and after a legal matter.

Plan Your Visit

Everything you need to know before coming to our office — parking, directions, what to expect when you arrive.

Transportation in Dallas

Guidance for reaching Dallas Office for divorce and custody appointments, including local routes, parking options, and traffic tips.

Medical Resources in Dallas

Locate hospitals, family clinics, and urgent care centers near Dallas Office, along with trusted resources for domestic violence and mental health support.

Moving to Dallas

Discover Dallas neighborhoods, temporary housing options, and reputable moving services to simplify relocation during or after divorce.

Government Resources in Dallas

Access key Dallas services such as post offices, DMV locations, Social Security offices, and local utility providers.

Educational Opportunities in Dallas

Information on schools, academic programs, and educational support in the Dallas area to help children adjust during family transitions.

Your Family Deserves Experienced Counsel.

We serve the whole person — not just the legal matter. Here are resources to help you navigate life in Whether you’re facing a divorce, protecting your children, navigating a complex North Texas family matter, or planning your estate — our Dallas attorneys are here, on Hillcrest Road, ready to fight for you. Don’t wait. during and after a legal matter.

Your Family Deserves Experienced Counsel.

Whether you’re facing a divorce, protecting your children, navigating a complex North Texas family matter, or planning your estate — our Dallas attorneys are here, on Hillcrest Road, ready to fight for you. Don’t wait.