William R. Wright
Heidelberg Patterson Welch Wright PLLC
William is an experienced and accomplished Attorney at Heidelberg Patterson Welch Wright, PLLC. His practice Is dedicated to Family Law, including Divorce, Child Custody, Property Division, Adoption, Marital Contracts, Jurisdiction and International Child Abduction. William also mediates Family Law cases.
William received a B.B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a Lieutenant in the United States Army with the 1st Infantry Division from 1970 to 1972. William earned his J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1974.
William is admitted to practice in Mississippi, the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, and U.S. District Courts for Southern & Northern Districts of Mississippi. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Mississippi Bar, and the Capital Area Bar Association. William is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and a Diplomate in the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, an organization limited to 100 attorneys in America.
William has been recognized with a multitude of awards. He has been honored as one of the Best Lawyers in America in Family Law, Top 50 Lawyers in Mississippi, Super Lawyers in Family Law, and Top 50 Lawyers in Mississippi. Additionally, he was named one of the 100 Top Lawyers in America by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
William was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. He is dedicated to community service, having served on the Board of Directors of YMCA of Metropolitan Jackson, Downtown YMCA, USM Foundation, The Shepherd's Staff Counseling Center, Neighborhood Christian Center, and the Covenant Presbyterian Preschool. He is married to DeAnn Hall Wright and they have two daughters, Julia and Anna. The Wrights attend First Presbyterian Church in Jackson.
- Divorce
- Contested Divorce, Military Divorce, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Spousal Support & Alimony, Uncontested Divorce
- Family Law
- Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
- Hague Convention
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Mississippi
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- 5th Circuit
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- U.S. District Court for Northern Districts of Mississippi
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- U.S. District Court for Southern Districts of Mississippi
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- U.S. Supreme Court
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- English
- Partner
- Heidelberg Patterson Welch Wright
- - Current
- President, Attorney
- Wright, Gregg & Proctor, PA
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- The University of Mississippi School of Law
- J.D. | Law
- Honors: Law Journal: Business Manager, Mississippi Law Journal, 1973 - 1974
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- University of Southern Mississippi
- MBA
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- University of Southern Mississippi
- B.B.A. | Business Administration
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- Best Lawyers in America, Family Law
- Best Lawyers in America
- 2001-Present, Lawyer of the Year in 2013 and 2018
- Top 50 Lawyers in Mississipi
- Mid-South SuperLawyers
- 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
- SuperLawyer in Family Law
- Mid South SuperLawyers
- 2007-2011
- Top 50 Lawyers in Mississippi
- Mississippi Business Journal
- 2010
- Professionalism Award
- Capital Area Bar Association
- 2015
- American College of Family Trial Lawyers
- Member
- - Current
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- International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Member
- - Current
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- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Fellow
- - Current
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- American Bar Association - Family Law Section
- Member
- - Current
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- Leadership Jackson
- Member
- - Current
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- Mississippi Bar Foundation
- Trustee
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- Family Law Section, Mississippi Bar
- Chair
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- Family Law Section, Mississippi Bar
- Chair
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- Random Tax Tips for Family Lawyers
- The Mississippi Lawyer
- My Friend, the Judge
- The Matrimonial Strategist (LJN)
- Love Affairs and Long-Arm Statutes
- The Matrimonial Strategist (LJN)
- Who is 'Any Person' Anyway? The Reach of the Federal Wiretapping Act Inside the Home
- The Matrimonial Strategist (LJN)
- Court Declares the Wisdom of the Plan Documents Rule
- The Matrimonial Strategist (LJN)
- Q. Can I be charged with kidnapping or any other crime in Pennsylvania for bringing my son home if his home state is MS
- A: I am not aware of all of the facts, and since I am not your attorney, I hesitate to give you advice on that question. I will say, hypothetically, that if there is no court order, I don't see how you could be charged with kidnapping. Again, I don't know all of the facts, and I am not your attorney.
However, I can predict that if you do that, mom will embellish the facts in her favor and file a writ of habeas corpus in Pennsylvania which will result in your having to retain counsel there. Also, while it may be bias against men, you are going to lose ground with the courts if you take the child without her consent. Your best bet is to file a custody proceeding in Mississippi for the ... Read More
- Q. My wife took our 1 yr old son to PA from MS because I wanted a divorce what would happen if I went and took him back
- A: You are correct. Since there is no order in place, either parent may take the child wherever he or she wants. However, it is a bad idea for you to go to Pennsylvania and take the child back to Mississippi against your wife's will. There very well could be a physical confrontation that could result a domestic violence charge, whether justified or not. Also, a confrontation could traumatize your son. It is important to know that he child's home state is Mississippi if he has not been away from Mississippi more than six months. If you want help from the court, you need to retain counsel and file a custody action in the chancery court of the county where you and your wife lived with the ... Read More
- Q. My husband’s kids mother is willing to sign her rights over to him does that still require a lawyer to do so?
- A: A lawyer is not required to be retained for a parent to terminate her parental rights. Likewise, your husband could perform his own vasectomy without a doctor if he chose to do so. But he wouldn't do that, of course. Believe it or not, a parental termination case is just as serious as a vasectomy. You don't want failure. If your husband wants to make sure the mother's parental termination is done correctly without fear having it set aside, he absolutely must retain an attorney who has handled termination cases in the past. The chancery clerk's office in your county can help identify local lawyers who handle Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) cases.
