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. 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.
- Q. In the state of MS who can press charges on an adult in regards to a minor? Ex: mother does have custody Gramaw does
- A: The question is a somewhat confusing. However, anybody of any age can report a crime at anytime regardless of custody designations is the answer I think you are looking for.
- Q. My best friend is being raped by her husband and needs to leave state with her two kids. She lives in Mississippi.
- A: This is a terrible situation. I am assuming the two children are also your friend's husband's children. There is no law prohibiting her travel out of state with her children. If Michigan is where she has friends or family, that is the logical destination for her on a temporary basis. If she intends to re-locate to Michigan, that is a different story and will require a more complicated and detailed answer concerning child custody jurisdiction. Also, you friend needs to call law enforcement in Mississippi immediately if she if being raped. If he is arrested and later convicted of a crime, your friend's custodial posture will be less complicated.
