Protect Your Family’s Best Interests
Going through a divorce is never a pleasant experience. Even when facing an amicable separation with your spouse, the disruption of stability in a family can have a significant impact on everyone involved, including children. When your family faces obstacles, it is important to retain an attorney who understands every aspect of divorce proceedings in the state of Texas. This allows you to minimize the harmful effects a separation can have on your family.
Help During Your Time of Need
At The Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt in Arlington, TX, Donna and her team are devoted to providing the communities of Southlake, Westover Hills, and the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area with the finest legal representation. Cases involving families can be extremely difficult in terms of complexity and emotional turmoil. If you and your spouse can not work it out, you need a lawyer who can protect your best interests and those of your children.
To schedule a consultation with a divorce lawyer at our Arlington, TX, law office, contact us online, or call:
(817) 572-9900
"Kind, Caring, Honest, and Professional"
5-Star Reviews
Noel Cookman
2020
"Do you recommend Donna Smiedt?" OF COURSE I DO. She is one of the smartest lawyers I've ever known and she uses all of that intelligence to help her clients, first and foremost. That's what I call Relevant Competence - talent that matters because it is used to help real people with real challenges. She knows how to get people "across the finish line." And, she is highly regarded in the world of law and the courts. That's critical. You can't go wrong by hiring Donna Smiedt.
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Lindsey Hogue
2020
I’ve hired Donna and her team for multiple child custody cases. She’s been nothing but kind, caring, honest, and professional during these extremely emotional and stressful times in my life. She always makes me feel like I’m her only client, and puts me at ease with her abilities and knowledge of the law. She’s won every case for me and I don’t know what I would have done without her and excellent team of paralegals and attorneys. She definitely gets the job done and more!! I highly recommend her for any family law issues.
View On GoogleThe Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt
The Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt is the premier destination for clients who need representation during a divorce, adoption, or other family law matters. Donna J. Smiedt has been in practice since 1986 and is a Board Certified Family Law Attorney – Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
To speak to an attorney at our award-winning law firm, request a consultation online or call us at:
(817) 572-9900
Meet Our Team of Lawyers
Donna J. Smiedt
Born in South Africa, Donna Smiedt moved to the United States when she was 14 years old. She graduated high school the following year, and by the time she was 19, she had earned an undergraduate degree from SMU. She graduated from the SMU School of Law at 22 as one of the school's youngest graduates.
Donna Smiedt has practiced law since 1986 and has been a Board Certified Family Law Attorney by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1991. She focuses her practice on complex litigation, including adoption, child support, divorce, paternity, post-divorce modifications, and property division.
Donna Smiedt is sworn to practice before the United States Supreme Court and is licensed to practice in Texas State Court and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. She is also is a member of professional associations including:
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialist
- The College of the State Bar of Texas
- Arlington Bar Association
- Arlington Professional and Businesswomen's Club
- Tarrant County Family Bar Association
- Tarrant County Bar Association
Montana M. Franklin
Montana M. Franklin is an associate attorney with The Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt. Originally from Fort Myers, Florida, Montana has lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex for 11 years. She graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology. Montana attended law school at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and graduated with her juris doctor in May of 2022. While in law school, she was a student associate in the VanSickle Family Law Clinic and was a member of SMU Women in Law. Montana passed the Texas Uniform Bar Exam with a score high enough to be licensed in any UBE jurisdiction.
Prestigious Affiliations
Legal Options Tailored to Your Individual Needs
Our team can be your advocate in court or provide collaborative divorce and mediation services. No matter what your situation is with your spouse, our team of divorce lawyers understands what you are going through and will do everything in their power to ensure a positive outcome for you and your family.
To schedule a consultation with a divorce lawyer at our Arlington, TX, law office, serving Southlake, Westover Hills, and nearby areas, contact us online or call:
(817) 572-9900
"Excellent Representation and Results"
Lee Fedornak
2020
If you have to file for a divorce, PLEASE do NOT go into that unchartered legal arena without Donna's guidance. She is the consummate knowledeable divorce professional! If you are crushingly miserable in your daily life with your spouse, & true happiness is beyond attainable, be brave enough to save yourself. If you step into the Divorce ring, you need the very best to help you from a divorce attorney...
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Ed McKiernan
2020
We hired Donna Smiedt to handle a very contentious child custody case in 2010. From the day we signed on to have Donna represent us we have received excellent representation and results. Donna has represented us well and listened to all of our needs and requests. Donna was professional and reassured us that our case would be taken care of. My wife and I can not say enough good things about Donna and her personal attention to a stressful matter...
View Full Review On GoogleDo I Need to Hire a Divorce Lawyer?
A divorce can stem from a number of issues. In the worst cases, a spouse is abused, intentionally abandoned, or is the victim of adultery. Perhaps you and your spouse simply have come to terms with the fact that you face irreconcilable differences. Regardless of the how and why behind your separation, an attorney from The Family Law Firm of Donna J Smiedt can help you navigate the complicated process of a divorce in Texas.
Hold Your Spouse Accountable
Texas is a no-fault state, which means that you do not need a specific reason for dissolving a marriage. However, if one spouse is at fault for the end of a marriage, the courts may take this fault into consideration when determining child custody, spousal support, and property division. A divorce lawyer can help you determine beneficial decisions that can result in the best possible outcome for the well-being of you and your children.
Protect Your Assets
Marital property in Texas is subject to just and right division. This means that signs of fault or unequal earning power can influence how property is divided by the court. In high-asset divorces, the division of marital property can add many complicated layers to an already complex process. Our team of compassionate lawyers can help protect your assets and interests so you can plan for a better future.
Minimize Costs and Anxiety with Collaborative Law
If you and your spouse have come to the conclusion that your marriage is over, but there is little animosity between parties, you may be able to take advantage of a collaborative divorce. A divorce lawyer from The Family Law Firm of Donna J Smiedt in Arlington can help determine if you qualify for the collaborative process.
Divorce through mediation, or negotiation between spouses and their attorneys, offers a number of advantages over traditional divorce, including lower costs and a shorter timetable for a final outcome. Several factors make this a viable option:
Agreement to Divorce
Mediation is only a viable option if you and your spouse are in agreement that your marriage is over. Our legal team is happy to help couples who are on the same page and willing to work with each other. Avoid the drawn-out process of a traditional legal separation with collaborative law.No History of Domestic Violence
It is almost unheard of for mediators to take a case when there is a history of domestic abuse. When there is a history of violence in a relationship, it can be nearly impossible to determine if the victim is agreeing to a settlement out of fear or intimidation from the abuser.
Transparent Finances
Both you and your spouse must be willing to provide all relevant information in regard to assets and debts. Bank accounts, retirement savings, pensions, stocks, and credit card balances will need to be shared with the spouse as well as the divorce mediator for the collaborative process to work.
Agreement on Custody Terms
Custody can be the most challenging part of the mediation process. Mediation can be a constructive approach to a separation, where you can work with your spouse to decide the details of child support and custody, but difficulties can quickly arise if parents are not willing to compromise.
A Brighter Future Is Possible
If you are facing a divorce in Southlake, Westover Hills, the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area, or beyond, a compassionate lawyer from The Family Law Firm of Donna J Smiedt in Arlington can ensure you receive a favorable resolution to your legal matters. Our divorce attorneys specialize in a number of practice areas including child custody, spousal support, and collaborative law. Our law firm is well-known in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex thanks to our reputation for success.
To schedule a consultation at our Arlington, TX, law office, contact us online or call:
(817) 572-9900
"Amazing to Work With"
Lisa Jennings
2020
Donna and her team are amazing to work with. I felt she knew exactly what I was going through and very compassionate!
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Andy Carl Valentin
2019
Donna is awesome! Helpful, insightful and very patient when someone babbles on... I should know. I'm a babbler.
If you're looking for representation, help or advice, look no further.
Featured in Arlington Today
Featured In Arlington Today
Special Areas of Focus
High-Asset Divorce
Any number of factors can contribute to the complexity of high-asset divorce cases. High-value couples may hold significant family businesses, real estate holdings, investment portfolios, and insurance policies, all of which need to be taken into account when determining property division. Our lawyers have a sterling reputation throughout the greater Dallas and Fort Worth areas for representing clients in complex and high-asset cases and can help ensure your future is protected.
Child Custody
Every parent wants what is best for their children, and so it should come as no surprise that determining custody can be one of the most difficult parts of the divorce process. As circumstances change, the needs of your child may also change, and you may require the assistance of one of our child custody lawyers. Our team can help with any kind of custody matter including initial determination of custody, interstate custody arrangements, remediating a previous agreement, and grandparent custody cases.
Child Support
Your child deserves every opportunity to succeed, and child support payments can help give your child the resources they need to thrive. Child support payments are paid by the non-custodial parent to the parent with custody and are intended to cover expenses that benefit and care for the child or children. Our Arlington attorneys can help you determine practical child support payments to ensure your children can receive the resources they need to achieve the future they deserve.
"I Would Never Consider Going to Any Other Attorney
for Any Type of Family Law Issues"
Catherine Clifton
2019
Donna is an amazing, very talented family law attorney that I recommend highly. She helped me immensely during a very difficult time of my life during my divorce. She works tirelessly to ensure her clients are well represented, covers all contingencies, (even those you don’t think off), and the bottom line is she WINS the best outcome for your family.
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Valerie Moore
2019
Donna was my attorney during a very difficult divorce. She is very supportive, professional, ethical and well-respected by her clients, the judges and DFW legal community. Her staff is fantastic. In addition to divorces, Donna has provided professional services in other family law issues I have faced as well will preparation. The services she and her staff have provided to me, my husband and children span a time frame of almost 20 years. I would never consider going to any other attorney for any type of family law issues. Her knowledge in family law cannot be found anywhere else and I highly recommend her.
View On GoogleOur Complete Services
- Adoption
- Child Custody
- Child Support
- Child Protective Services Litigation
- Collaborative Divorce
- Custody Modifications
- Family Law
- Grandparent Rights
- High-Asset Divorce
- Interstate Child Custody
- Mediation
- Paternity Law
- Pre-Marital Agreements
- Pre-Marital Mediation
- Post-Nuptial Agreements
- Property Division
- Spousal Support
- Termination of Parental Rights
- Traditional Divorce
- Visitation Rights
