Ben Wheeler Family Lawyers

At Christiansen Law Firm, we work hard to help clients reach a positive resolution in their case. Our family law, immigration, and probate attorneys take a genuine interest in your legal issues and we pride ourselves on the personalized service we provide. You will find everyone in our office to be friendly, approachable and ready to help. Contact our law firm online or call 281-579-2800 to schedule an initial consultation.

Owner Daniel A. Ruiz served over 6 years on active duty in the US Army as an infantry soldier, including service in the Army's elite special operations unit, the 75th Ranger Regiment. After active duty, Daniel served over 3 years in the Texas Army National Guard while completing his undergraduate degree in business administration and finance at UT-Pan American. Daniel attended law school from 2004-2007 at the University of Texas Tech School of Law where he served on the Editorial Board of the popular Texas Bank Lawyer journal and as president of the law school's Corporate & Bankruptcy Law...

Board Certified, Civil Trial Law and Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Ed Walsh has practiced law in Williamson County, Texas for over forty years.

He was elected District Attorney of Williamson County in 1976 and was re-elected in 1980 and 1984. During his tenure as District Attorney, he was twice selected as “Prosecutor of the Year” for the State of Texas.

Mr. Walsh has been in private practice in Round Rock Texas since 1986. He holds a Martindale-Hubbell peer-review rating of AV, the highest possible rating.

Mr. Walsh practices family, criminal defense and civil litigation. He has been board...

Liana was born and raised in the Houston area. She graduated from Drexel University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration before attending New York University School of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctorate degree. Prior to joining Hunt Law firm, Liana was a family law attorney with Texas Riogrande Legal Aid. She has a passion for utilizing her skills inside and outside the courtroom to help her clients and their families achieve justice. Liana has experience in many facets of Family Law including divorce, child custody, child support, property division, visitation enforcement, spousal support (alimony) and...

Jonathan D. Sykes is a licensed solo practitioner in northwest Houston since 1997; following a 16 year career as Vice President of Pilot Petroleum, and manager in the environmental and real estate industries. He is a past President of the Houston Northwest Bar Association, and currently admitted to file consumer bankruptcies in 3 Texas Regions (Southern, Northern, and Eastern). Specialties include Consumer Bankruptcy, Family Law, Real Estate, Small Business, and Probate. He also has mediated cases for other attorneys with over 80% settled. Education includes a Master of Business Administration from Houston Baptist University in 1989, and...

Jay D. Smith has been practicing law since 2004. After graduating from Oklahoma State University in 2001, he attended Baylor University School of Law and graduated in 2004. He was awarded "best legal brief" in the Dawson & Sodd Moot Court Competition, and received recognition for being one of the top 10 speakers. After practicing in Dallas and Austin, Jay opened up his own firm in 2009. Jay Smith devoted this firm to helping families resolve their divorce cases. He owns firms in both Round Rock, Texas and Austin, Texas.

My goal is to provide high quality, ethical, and personalized legal representation to all my clients with the object of obtaining the best possible result for each and every one of my clients at a reasonable cost. The legal system can be bewildering when you do not deal with it regularly. I have been dealing with it since I was first licensed to practice law in Texas in November 1984. I can help you with your family law problem (divorce, child custody, child support, child visitation, etc.) or criminal law problem (whether you are charged with a felony,...

After graduating from Howard University School of Law in 2019, James Hidalgo continued to pursue his passion for public interest and social justice work. As a Tenants' rights attorney with the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), James provides free legal assistance to low-income New Yorkers who are at risk of eviction. While at Howard, James followed his passion for public interest law as a member of Howard Law’s Fair Housing Clinic, where he represented low-income D.C. residents seeking to abate hazardous conditions in their homes. Prior to attending Howard, James worked as a paralegal with the New York Legal...

I am Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I am a founding member of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Family Law section. I am a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas. I am a former member of the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee. I was selected as one of the top family law attorneys in Houston, Texas in the 2007 edition of H Texas magazine. I have been in the private practice of law in Houston, Texas since 1965. I am a...

I am a general practitioner. This includes criminal defense, family law, and civil disputes such as contractual conflicts, personal injury, and consumer rights causes of action.

Juliann Karenko has over two decades of experience. She focuses her entire practice on family law, including in issues surrounding divorce, child custody, alimony, and other litigation matters. Mr. Karenko is a dedicated attorney who is compassionate and knowledgeable in all areas of family law. She is well-versed in how the law is interpreted and applied in many different contexts. Known for her creative solutions, she works closely with each client to find practical and unique ways to resolve a dispute. Ms. Karenko is highly respected by her colleagues and trusted by numerous clients.

A biography is provided on her website: www.packardlawcenter.com.

Mr. Pelton has been practicing law for over 37 years (18+ in Houston and 19+ in Abilene). An Abilene native, Mr. Pelton graduated from Abilene High School and McMurry College, now McMurry University. After graduating from McMurry in 1972 with a major in Accounting, he attended the South Texas College of Law while working full-time as the personal accountant for W.B. "Tex" and Sue Fondren Trammell. While going to school, Mr. Pelton was also an enlisted/commissioned soldier in the Texas Army National Guard, with 7+ years of service. He graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia at...

Aishah McCoy, a dedicated attorney, is driven by her belief that clients deserve personalized counsel and expertise in every aspect of their case. With a focus on both in and out of court, she is committed to helping clients achieve their goals, whether it's navigating high conflict custody cases or developing generational legacy plans. Aishah's determination and unwavering dedication to her clients are evident in her practice. Aishah McCoy holds a Juris Doctorate certificate from Thurgood Marshall Law School. She also generously volunteers her time to organizations such as RAICES, Legal Line, and Volunteer Legal Services, offering legal assistance to low-income...

Judy is Board Certified in Family Law, a distinction that is earned by fewer than 1% of all attorneys who practice family law. Judy's primary cases involve divorce, child custody, grandparents' rights, interstate cases (including custody and visitation), modification of current orders (including child support, primary custody, and visitation rights).

Jodi Lazar practices family law exclusively and represents clients in both the traditional litigation and collaborative law models, depending on the client’s needs.

Jodi is also an Adjunct Professor in the Advocacy Department at The University of Texas School of Law, where she teaches Intensive Trial Skills and works with the Interscholastic Mock Trial Program.

EDUCATION
The University of Texas School of Law, 1988
The University of Texas at Austin, 1985

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & HONORS
Member, State Bar of Texas (Family Law Section)
Member, Oregon State Bar
Member, American Bar Association (Family Law Section)
Member, Austin Bar Association (Family Law Section)
Member, College of the State Bar of Texas

COLLABORATIVE LAW...

Audrey joined the firm, Noelke English Maples St. Leger in 2009 as an Associate, and quickly became a Partner in January, 2010. With her background in divorce, family law and family law litigation, Audrey brings broad family issues resolution knowledge and particular knowledge in family violence to her clients. After graduating from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts with a double major in Spanish and History, Audrey came to Texas for law school at Baylor. Having established many relationships in Texas convinced her to practice law in Austin. Following a very rewarding time with...

Career exclusively devoted to divorce and custody matters. Extensive trial experience; over 25 years of experience as a first chair litigator in family law matters. Specializing in divorce involving complex estates and intellectual property issues.

Board certified in civil trial law, appellate law, and family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Tim was licensed as an attorney in 1990. He has been practicing almost exclusively as a family law attorney for most of this time. Tim became a Board Certified Family Law Attorney in 2005, which means that he has devoted a substantial amount of his practice to family law, engaging in contested trials of cases involving matters such as divorce, property division, child custody, child support, adoption, and paternity. Although Tim is an experienced litigator, and will continue to help people in court, he knows from experience, that people are better served both emotionally and financially, if they can resolve...

Since graduating from The University of Texas School of Law, Sam has helped guide Austin-area families through divorce and child custody cases, along with handling estate planning, probate, entity formation, general civil litigation, and consumer bankruptcy cases. Though Sam has since chosen to focus his practice exclusively on family law-- representing clients in litigated matters and also through the collaborative law process-- Sam brings a breadth of legal experience to his practice that gives him keen insight in crafting creative, functional, and cost-effective solutions to the dynamic issues of family law.

I pride myself on placing the client first and making every effort to provide my clients with trustworthy personal attention at every turn. ?

I have 46 years of professional experience. I am currently a shareholder with Langley & Banack, Inc., and practice primarily in the areas of family, probate, wills, and real estate and commercial litigation law in South and Central Texas. I was licensed by the State Bar of Texas in 1979 and am admitted to practice in the Federal Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals of the United States, and the Supreme Court of the United States. I...

Ms. Miller attended Texas A&M University for her undergraduate degree in Sociology before beginning her studies at St. Mary’s University School of Law, where she graduated at the top of her class receiving her Juris Doctorate. While attending St. Mary’s School of Law, Ms. Miller participated in both external and internal advocacy programs, excelling in both, finishing in the quarter finals or higher in nearly all competitions. She was also a Staff Writer for Issue 16 of The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race and Social Issues, eventually getting published in a Medical Encyclopedia on the various legal...

Rudy Santos is a proud Texan who is dedicated to the people of the state. He studied law at Texas Tech University and has been committed to practicing law in this community for more than a decade. With a focus on family law, he firmly believes that families are the heart of the Laredo community. As a lawyer dedicated to helping people resolve family-related issues, Rudy Santos is dedicated to assisting families in the community by providing the crucial legal help they need. He works closely with every client to create a personalized case strategy that is most likely to...

Christina Wanies-Guirgis studied government and politics at St. John’s University in New York, New York, and received her law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas. As a Houston native, Christina has a personal connection to the community, and her loyalty is reflected in her representation. She served as an Article and Note Editor for Currents: International Trade Law Journal, and holds memberships in several esteemed organizations, including: Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) Houston Young Lawyers Association (HYLA) Houston Bar Association (HBA) State Bar of Texas

Catherine G. Estrada is an Associate Attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, based in the firm’s San Antonio office. She began her role on June 16, 2025, bringing with her a wealth of legal experience in family and juvenile law. Catherine is a proud graduate of Texas Woman’s University, where she earned her B.A. in Psychology and Criminal Justice in 2006, and went on to receive her Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2010. Her legal career has spanned both public service and nonprofit sectors. Catherine has served as an Assistant District Attorney in Hidalgo...