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From divorce and custody matters to adoptions and new beginnings, Compass Legal guides families through every stage with clarity, compassion, and practical support—so you never have to navigate the process alone.
Family legal matters are rarely just legal matters. They involve your children, your home, your finances, and your future. At Compass Legal, PLLC, we don’t just handle cases — we help people move forward.
From our office in Carrollton, we represent families across North Texas, including Dallas, Denton, Collin, and Tarrant counties. Whether you’re facing a difficult divorce, fighting for time with your children, or celebrating a long-awaited adoption, our team is here to lead you in the right direction.
A family law attorney guides you through legal issues that affect your family relationships —marriage, divorce, children, and the agreements that protect all of them. In Texas, family law is governed primarily by the Texas Family Code, and the rules are specific, deadline-driven, and often counterintuitive to people going through them for the first time.
Our attorneys — Angela McMurry, Magali Martinez, and Kelli Trujillo, supported by senior paralegal Ashtyn Anders-Tapp and paralegal Alejandra Alvarez — handle the full range of family law matters. We explain your options in plain English (or Spanish!), build a strategy around your goals, and advocate for you in negotiation, mediation, and the courtroom.
Texas is a community property state, and every divorce here involves a 60 day waiting period after filing. Beyond those basics, no two divorces look alike — contested or uncontested, simple or high asset, amicable or high conflict. We help you understand what’s at stake and protect what matters most.
Texas doesn’t use the word “custody” in its statutes — it uses conservatorship to describe parental rights and duties, and possession and access to describe the time schedule you will have with your child. Courts decide both based on the best interest of the child. We help parents secure workable, enforceable parenting arrangements.
Texas calculates child support using guideline percentages of the paying parent’s net resources — starting at 20% for one child — applied to the first $11,700 per month of net resources. Medical and dental support are ordered on top of that. We handle initial orders, modifications, enforcements, and disputes over income.
Adoption is one of the happiest events in family law, but it’s also a formal court process with required steps: termination of parental rights, a home screening, criminal history checks, and a final hearing. We guide stepparents, grandparents, foster families, and adoptive parents through every requirement.
A court order is only as good as your ability to enforce it. When a former spouse or co-parent ignores child support, denies your possession time, or refuses to follow the property division, Texas law gives you powerful remedies — sometimes including contempt of court. We help you enforce a court order and restore accountability.
Marital agreements aren’t about expecting failure —they’re about clarity. A well-drafted prenuptial or postnuptial agreement defines what’s separate and what’s community property, protects businesses and inheritances, and can prevent expensive disputes later.
Families choose us because we combine real courtroom experience with a genuine client- centered approach. Here’s what that means in practice:
Our tagline isn’t decoration. Always leading you in the right direction is how we measure ourselves on every case.
Most contested family law cases in Texas follow the same general path, whether the issue is divorce, custody, enforcement or modification. Knowing the roadmap helps reduce the anxiety of the unknown:
One party files a petition with the district court, and the other party is served (or signs a waiver of service). In divorce, the 60-day waiting period starts at filing.
Many courts have automatic Standing Orders that go into effect upon the filing of your matter, the Orders will setforth what the parties can and cannot do during the pendency of the case.
Early in the case, the court can issue Temporary Orders covering who lives in the house, temporary possession schedules, temporary child support, and bill payment while the case is pending.
Often both sides will exchange financial documents and information — pay records, account statements, business records — so decisions are made on facts, not guesses.
Most North Texas courts require mediation before trial, and most cases settle there. A neutral mediator helps both sides negotiate a binding settlement agreement which is then incorporated into your final document filed with the court.
If settlement isn’t possible, a judge (or in some matters, a jury) decides the contested issues after hearing evidence.
At every stage, preparation drives results. Cases are won — or settled favorably — because the groundwork was done early
In most North Texas counties, yes — courts routinely require mediation before they’ll set a final trial. That’s usually good news: mediation gives you control over the outcome, costs far less than trial, and resolves the majority of family law cases. Our attorneys prepare for mediation as seriously as we prepare for trial, because a strong negotiating position comes from a strong case.
Bring whatever you have — and don’t worry about what you don’t. Helpful items include any existing court orders, recent pay stubs or tax returns, a rough list of assets and debts, and a timeline of key events. Most importantly, bring your questions. The first meeting is about understanding your situation and giving you honest answers about your options.
Whatever brought you here — conflict, change, or a new beginning — you don’t have to navigate it alone. Compass Legal, PLLC serves families throughout the DFW metroplex from our office at 4425 Plano Pkwy, Suite 1103, Carrollton, TX 75010.
We’ll review your case, explain Texas law as it applies to you, and help you take the next step with confidence.
We serve families throughout North Texas, including Dallas, Denton, Collin, and Tarrant counties. Our office is located at 4425 Plano Pkwy, Suite 1103, in Carrollton, which puts us within easy reach of courts across the DFW metroplex. If you live or your case is filed anywhere in North Texas, we can help. Call (972) 292-8151 to confirm we handle matters in your county.
Costs vary widely depending on the type of case and how contested it becomes. An uncontested matter resolved by agreement costs far less than a case that goes to trial. We start with a consultation, explain our fee structure up front, and discuss strategies —that can keep costs proportional to what’s at stake.
It depends on the case type and level of conflict. A Texas divorce cannot be finalized sooner than 60 days after filing, and contested cases involving custody or significant property often take several months to a year or more. Agreed matters move much faster. We’ll give you a realistic timeline based on your specific situation at your consultation.
You’re not legally required to have one, but family court orders affect your children, finances, and rights for years. Mistakes in drafting or strategy are difficult and expensive to undo, and modification later may require proving a material and substantial change in circumstances. An attorney helps you get it right the first time.
An uncontested case is one where both parties agree on all issues and simply need the agreement properly documented and approved by the court. A contested case involves at least one disputed issue — custody, support, propert — that must be resolved through negotiation, mediation, or trial. Many cases start contested and settle at mediation, which most North Texas courts require before trial.
Yes. You have the right to change counsel at almost any point in a family law case, though timing matters — switching right before a hearing or trial can require a continuance. If you feel your current representation isn’t communicating or advocating effectively, we offer a consultation to evaluate where your case stands and whether a transition makes sense.
Angela is an outstanding family law attorney. Not only does she really know the law inside out, she is compassionate and gets to know her clients intimately, to better be able to serve them. She is ethical and works diligently to achieve the best possible outcome for those she represents. I am grateful for Angela’s professionalism, swift responses, attention to details and being proactive in always communicating next steps in a clear and concise manner. She made a very stressful divorce process less daunting. She was collaborative, efficient and kinds throughout the process and her communication was stellar. Angela was a great recourse on questions pertaining not only to the divorce at hand, but the process as a whole. She took the time to explain the logistics of navigating the judicial system, in detail. This is a rare gift that eliminates stress, money waste and guess work. Angela did a fabulous job of understanding what my own priorities were and helping me find the best way to patiently work through the process to achieve those goals. I feel that with Angela as my attorney, I received excellent legal representation. Her professionalism is remarkable, along with her knowledge and execution of the law. This was an extremely sensitive and emotional time in my life and Angela handled this case from beginning to end with grace and professionalism in every aspect. I feel that when people are faced with the fear of the unknown and are then given a sense of peace throughout this unfamiliar legal process, then they have found the correct Legal Representation. I definitely found just that in Angela and for that I’m grateful. I’m moving forward with my new life on a very positive note, knowing that I was represented by the most professional and well-rounded attorney that anyone could ever ask for. You can take comfort in knowing that if you retain Angela for your legal needs, you have hired THE VERY BEST !! Angela projects a calm confidence in every situation and that’s clearly a result of the dedication, preparation, and experience that she put into representing her clients. She guided me through an extremely difficult and foreign process. She did not flinch when it was time to give me tough feedback and her advice and support has been right on the money. I feel blessed to be working with Angela as she had my back from day one. I would recommend Angela to people ready to be honest to themselves and to do what’s best for their families. Conscientious, smart, excellent trial lawyer. Ethical, honest and knowledgeable, Outstanding. Great advice. Informative, patient and transparent and keep me up to date on the process. Makes the process as stress-free and straightforward as possible. Thoughtful and detailed
Angela represented me in a very difficult and uncommon family case involving complex out-of-state issues. It was an emotionally challenging situation with many moving parts, and I truly appreciate the professionalism, dedication, and steady guidance she brought to the process. My case was not typical, and there were layers of complexity that I imagine are not encountered every day, yet she handled it with experience, composure, and persistence. I know that both Angela and Ashtyn worked extremely hard behind the scenes on my behalf. Their effort, preparation, and attention to detail did not go unnoticed, especially given how stressful and high-stakes the situation was for me and my family. Navigating a case like this requires not only legal skill but also patience and resilience, and I am grateful for the work they put in throughout the process. I was ultimately able to achieve the outcome I had hoped for, which meant a great deal to me. Having strong representation during such a vulnerable time made an important difference. Ashtyn was also an invaluable part of the team. This case was very emotionally taxing, and her support helped keep communication calm, organized, and manageable when things felt overwhelming. She was responsive, reassuring, and helped maintain a sense of stability during a very uncertain period. While no legal process is ever easy, I appreciate the professionalism, time, and effort both Angela and Ashtyn invested in my case. I am thankful for their work and the role they played in helping me move forward.
I highly recommend Angela for legal services. I’ve consulted with her on both family legal concerns and business-related matters, and each experience has strengthened my confidence in her professionalism and legal expertise. What stands out most about Angela is her honest, straightforward communication and practical approach. She takes the time to walk through realistic scenarios and potential outcomes so you fully understand your options before moving forward. That level of transparency earned my trust and appreciation for how she approaches her work. Angela strongly advocates for her clients’ best interests. She provides thoughtful, well-informed guidance and is responsive when questions arise, always following up with clear explanations and practical recommendations. If you’re looking for a knowledgeable, professional, and trustworthy attorney who communicates clearly and focuses on practical solutions, I confidently recommend Angela.
Angela at Compass Legal is not only an excellent attorney but also someone who genuinely cares about the people she serves. She listened carefully, and answered all my questions patiently. Her integrity and dedication truly stand out. I’m so grateful for her guidance and would trust her again without hesitation.
Magali has my full trust, and I wouldn’t want anyone else on my team. Her dedication and attention to detail in my case have gone far beyond my expectations. She took the time to walk me through every step of the process and has always been straightforward and honest.
I’ve had the privilege of seeing her in the courtroom, and all I can say is I’m grateful she’s on my side. She helped me set court ordered boundaries that keep my family safe and healthy, and she truly cares about the best interests of my daughter.
If you are thinking whether Compass Legal is the right fit for you, all I can say is they gave me peace of mind during one of the most difficult times in my life.
Angela is an amazing lawyer and has helped me with many legal matters. I trust her judgment and advice. She is easy to talk to and I always feel like she has my best interest at heart. I would recommend her to anyone that needs a great lawyer!!
Angela has proven to be very dedicated to her craft. She is knowledgeable and relates well with those she represents. I’d highly recommend her for her honesty and skillful representation.
Schedule a confidential consultation with Compass Legal, PLLC to discuss your family or business law matter and receive clear, strategic guidance tailored to your goals, challenges, and next steps.
(972) 292-8151