Family Law

The Family Law Practice Group strives to provide our clients with comprehensive legal representation and takes seriously our commitment to developing a high level of trust and confidence with our clients. Thus, Family Law has become an important component of the Underwood Law Firm. The Underwood Family Law Center has operated as a practice group since 1994 and remains one of the few such practice groups in the Texas Panhandle. We handle family law cases in all counties of the Texas Panhandle.

Our philosophy is to resolve cases by negotiated settlement or mediation when possible, since a negotiated or mediated settlement agreement tends to give the client a greater extent of control over results. Sally Emerson and Chris Wrampelmeier are among the founding members of the Panhandle Collaborative Law Professionals, an organization of West Texas family law practitioners. Collaborative Law is a unique process used to resolve disputes in which both parties retain separate lawyers whose only job is to help the parties settle their disputes.

Because of their experience and expertise, our family law attorneys are especially adept at efficient and reasonable resolution of family law matters. However, we can and do litigate when necessary. The cases that result in a trial usually involve unresolved factual issues, such as disputes over the value of closely-held corporations or other assets. Our Family Law Center handles cases including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Divorce
  • Child custody
  • Property division
  • Pre-marital and post-marital agreements
  • Child support enforcement
  • Modification of custody, child support, and visitation
  • Parentage
  • Step-parent adoptions
  • Interstate family law disputes
  • Protective orders

Sally Holt Emerson, Christopher K. Wrampelmeier, and paralegal, Nancy Gormley, are board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Ms. Emerson is also fluent in Spanish.

Sally Holt Emerson

Christopher K. Wrampelmeier

Courtney Goodman-Morris