Business Details
Trusted Fort Worth Family Law Attorneys
At Gardner, Smith & Vaughan, we combine decades of legal experience with a strategic approach to litigation and conflict resolution. Our team is dedicated to achieving favorable outcomes for clients navigating complex family law matters, including divorce, child custody, and prenuptial agreements. We prioritize thorough preparation and personalized advocacy, ensuring our clients' interests are protected in and out of the courtroom. Our philosophy centers on listening to client needs, meticulously preparing cases, and relentlessly advocating for their rights. With a focus on family law, we provide tailored solutions for individuals facing marital dissolution, custody disputes, and grandparents' rights challenges.Our attorneys are consistently recognized as the most prepared legal professionals in Fort Worth courtrooms, delivering results-driven representation. We maintain transparency throughout the legal process, offering clear guidance to help clients make informed decisions. Our commitment to excellence extends to every case, whether resolved through negotiation, mediation, or trial. As trusted Fort Worth family law practitioners, we balance legal expertise with compassionate support during life's most challenging moments. Our firm's reputation for winning outcomes is built on a foundation of integrity, skill, and client-centered service.
Services
Divorce
Child Custody
Custody Modifications
Grandparents Rights
Prenuptial Agreements
Details
- Year established: 2025
Highlights and features
- We have decades of combined experience in Fort Worth family law
- Our attorneys are consistently the most prepared in the courtroom
- We offer personalized legal strategies for complex family matters
- Our philosophy emphasizes client communication and case preparation
- We deliver results through negotiation, mediation, or trial advocacy
What people say
Most prepared lawyers
Personalized legal strategies
Effective courtroom representation
Compassionate client support
Successful case outcomes
Services
Divorce
Our experienced divorce attorneys guide clients through the legal process of marital dissolution in Texas. We handle complex asset division, spousal support negotiations, and contested divorce proceedings. With strategic courtroom preparation, we protect clients' financial interests and future well-being while maintaining professional representation throughout the process.
Child Custody
We represent clients in child custody matters including initial custody determinations and modification cases. Our attorneys advocate for arrangements that serve children's best interests while protecting parental rights. We help clients navigate custody evaluations, parenting plans, and visitation rights with comprehensive legal guidance.
Prenuptial Agreements
Our firm drafts and reviews prenuptial agreements to protect individual assets before marriage. We ensure agreements meet Texas legal requirements while addressing property division, spousal support, and inheritance rights. Our attorneys provide balanced counsel to create enforceable agreements that provide future security for both parties.
Grandparents Rights
We advocate for grandparents seeking visitation or custody rights in family law cases. Our attorneys handle complex family dynamics to establish legal visitation schedules or custody arrangements when children's best interests require grandparent involvement. We navigate Texas statutes to protect these important family relationships.
Custody Modifications
Our team handles custody modification cases when significant life changes require updating existing child custody orders. We represent clients seeking or opposing modifications related to relocation, parental fitness changes, or children's evolving needs. We work to create updated parenting plans that reflect current circumstances while maintaining stability for children.
People
Terry Gardner
Attorney
Terry Gardner brings extensive litigation experience to family law cases, focusing on strategic courtroom preparation and client advocacy.
Dwayne W. Smith
Attorney
Dwayne W. Smith specializes in complex divorce proceedings and asset division cases with a focus on protecting client financial interests.
Whitney L. Vaughan
Attorney
Whitney L. Vaughan represents clients in child custody matters and prenuptial agreement negotiations with personalized legal counsel.
Mary H. Smith
Attorney
Mary H. Smith focuses on family law mediation and alternative dispute resolution to achieve favorable outcomes outside the courtroom.
Kenneth L. McAlister
Attorney
Kenneth L. McAlister handles complex custody modification cases and represents clients in contested family law litigation.
Questions
Can you represent me in my divorce case?
Yes, our Fort Worth divorce attorneys provide experienced legal representation for marital dissolution cases, protecting your interests throughout the process.
Do grandparents have legal visitation rights?
Texas law allows grandparents to seek visitation rights under specific circumstances through court petitions handled by our family law team.
How does asset division work in Texas divorces?
Texas follows community property principles. Our attorneys protect your assets during division negotiations and courtroom proceedings.
Can you help with child custody modifications?
Yes, we handle custody modification cases when significant life changes require updating existing court orders to reflect new circumstances.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept major credit cards and offer flexible payment arrangements for legal services. Contact our office for specific billing details.
Do you offer free consultations?
We provide initial case evaluations to discuss your family law matter and determine the best legal strategy for your situation.
Reviews (7)
Nick Maddox
Dec 01, 2021
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Critical:Professionalism
Mrs.Vaughn will improperly represent you; without getting into detail on my case she wise awful. Will behave fraudulently and demand thousands, in my case over $2000 for Legitimately 1 email and 1 10 minute visit. She will ignore your emails and calls. Please, do not waste your time here.
Mrs.Vaughn will improperly represent you; without getting into detail on my case she wise awful. Will behave fraudulently and demand thousands, in my case over $2000 for Legitimately 1 email and 1 10 minute visit. She will ignore your emails and calls. Please, do not waste your time here.
Rae Bumpas
Aug 17, 2021
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When we first met Whitney, we were hopeless and defeated. We knew our situation was difficult but she took us on as clients without hesitation. The last 8 months have been extremely difficult for us but with her copious amount of compassion and perseverance, we were victorious! Whitney is attentive, intelligent, energetic, and honest. She is an absolute beautiful person and we can not recommend her enough!
Rob Wilson
Jan 10, 2020
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I hired the Tom Hill Law Firm for my divorce, and I'd like to take this opportunity to give them my highest possible recommendation. The Hill Law Firm is one of the most experienced family law practices in the DFW area. Mr. Hill knows precisely how the laws and court system works, and builds a solid case based on his knowledge and experience. He was open to my suggestions if they contributed, but would not waste his time or my money if my suggestions were inadmissible or inconsequential in court.
Mr. Hill developed a very solid understanding of my financial situation, and used that knowledge to
Mr. Hill developed a very solid understanding of my financial situation, and used that knowledge to
Terence McCarthy
Dec 23, 2019
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Tom Hill is an outstanding attorney. As one of his professioanl colleagues put it "He won't pick a fight if the case can be settled, but he can go toe to toe with any atttorney in town if he has to, and will come out on top." His legal assistant Lydia is a huge asset- great at communicating. They are also very mindful of not spending your money unnecessarily. Highest recommendation possible!
Tracy Dobbins
Oct 14, 2019
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Mr. Tom Hill was the best choice I could have made for my divorce representation. His experience, approach and demeanor were so helpful and comforting during this very difficult time. He and Lydia were very attentive and helpful throughout the entire process. He took the time to understand my situation and I was very happy with the outcome.
Jeffrey Moten
Sep 20, 2019
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Tom Hill began representing me in 2010 in what would become a very nasty and contentious divorce. While I was the petitioner, I severely under estimated how frustrating the experience would be. Sadly, my issue have continued with a series of sporadic motions and orders over the last nine years, most recently culminating in another modification of our decree a month or so ago. During the entirety of this experience, I have known Tom Hill to be nothing but fair, of exemplary legal skill and someone I have trusted and continue to trust implicitly. All the while, almost 10 years now, Tom has acted
Kerri Martin
Oct 17, 2017
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After reviewing my case, another attorney in Fort Worth looked at me and said he couldn't believe how poorly represented I was by Mr. Dusty Hill. This was not an attorney seeking my business, he was simply a colleague of one of my dearest friends giving me an opinion on Mr. Dusty Hill's representation of my case. In my opinion, Mr. Dusty Hill was self-serving, looking out for his reputation among attorneys, judges, and others in the court system over the best interest of his client. Mr. Dusty Hill also displayed emotional immaturity, lack of self-confidence, and incompetence. If you are looking
