Thoughtful, Honest and Strategic Resolution of Complex Divorces and Family Law Disputes
Preparing clients to write the next chapter in their lives, I help them find a constructive, efficient, and strategic resolution for their divorce or other family law issues, focusing on Collaborative Divorce, mediation, and pre- and post-marital agreements. I understand that many of my clients especially those going through a high net-worth divorce have worked for a lifetime to achieve their success, and I collaborate with them to create a sustainable and realistic plan for their future.
My approach is results-driven, and I encourage clients to establish attainable and realistic goals that keep cases and lives moving forward. My experience in litigation, Collaborative Divorce, and mediation encompasses all areas of family law, including managing difficult custody matters, complex property division involving valuation, issues of grandparents’ rights, and cases involving substance abuse and mental health issues. My clients include business owners, entrepreneurs, lawyers, doctors, and their spouses: intelligent, motivated people who want to work together on practical, long-term solutions.
Here’s how:
- Educate clients on the realities of their situation so they have clarity and autonomy as they find the best path forward.
- Help clients clarify goals for their situation, including possession schedules and finances, and develop strategies for reaching them.
- Provide a supportive environment and expert resources, especially in cases that involve mental health and addiction or personality disorders, custody issues, and cases where a high-net-worth divorce requires in-depth knowledge of financial management and valuation.
- Partner with the client during the case to reshape communication and coparenting strategies both for litigation and the future.
- Advocate tirelessly for out-of-court settlements but fiercely litigate in court when it is warranted and necessary.
Experience and Professional Credentials
A fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Aimee Pingenot Key has earned the esteem of judges and peers for her exceptional work in representing clients and helping to shape family law in Texas. She offers expertise in small and large business matters and understands their organization, ownership, stock interests, and bonus structures. In one case, she created a solution that allowed a business owner to maintain a growing entity without having to sell while transferring the spouse’s interest into a flexible payout plan. Managing complex custody cases, Aimee draws on her master’s degree in social work to be both empathetic and effective. For example, in a case where a client had substance abuse issues that threatened conservatorship, Aimee helped structure an arrangement that involved drug testing, counseling, and treatment, protected the children, and motivated the parent to return to unsupervised possession quickly.
Aimee is on the cutting edge of changes in family law and currently serves on the Texas Family Law Council, a governing arm of the Texas State Bar, and speaks regularly across the state and nation on family law matters. She is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a credentialed collaborative professional by Collaborative Divorce Texas. Among her recognitions, Aimee has been selected to Best Lawyers in Dallas: Family Law by D Magazine in 2017 and 2019 and named to the Texas Super Lawyers list by Thomson Reuters since 2014. She was the course co-director for TAFLS, a trial skills boot camp for family lawyers. Working out of our Dallas and Plano office locations, Aimee is a Dallas divorce lawyer who advocates tirelessly for her clients.
Away from her practice, Aimee is the proud mom of three young children and believes that family is the most valuable asset in life. She actively serves in the school PTA, coaches her children’s sports teams, and serves as a scout troop leader.
Featured Video
Services
Services
- Family Partner Violence And Divorce
- Divorce
- Collaborative Divorce
- Divorce Mediation
- High Net Worth Divorce
- Complex Property
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
- High-Conflict Divorce
- Mental Health and Addiction in Divorce
- Divorce for Women
- Divorce for Men
- Parenting Schedules
- Child Custody
- Grandparent Visitation and Custody Rights in Texas
- Child Support
- Modifying Child Support
- Modification and Enforcement
- Property Division
- Dividing the Marital Home
- Characterization of Separate and Community Property
- Business Valuation in Divorce
- Visitation Rights
- Becoming a Foster Parent
- Flat-Fee Divorce
- Adoption
- Paternity
- Alimony & Spousal Support Maintenance
- Cohabitation Agreement
- Contested Divorce
- Uncontested Divorce
- LGBT Divorce
- Litigated Divorce
- Negotiated Divorce
- LGBT Parenting Rights
- Appealing a Divorce Decree or Judgment
- Pre-Divorce Guidance
- Divorce for Business Owners
- Gray Divorce
Honors & Awards
Honors & Awards
- Selected to the “Best Lawyers in Dallas: Family Law”, D Magazine, 2017, 2019, 2020, & 2024
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Thomson Reuters, 2014 – 2023
- Selected to the “Top 100: Texas Super Lawyers” List, Thomson Reuters, 2017 – 2019, 2022
- Selected to the “Top 100: Dallas/Fort Worth Super Lawyers” List, Thomson Reuters, 2017- 2022
- Selected to the “Top 50: Women Texas Super Lawyers” List, Thomson Reuters, 2017 – 2022
- Selected to the Texas Rising Star list, Thomson Reuters, 2006 – 2013
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2015 – 2024
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2024
- Named to the 500 Leading Family Lawyers List, LawDragon, 2024
- Dallas Young Lawyers Association Leadership Class Member, 2006
- “AV” Preeminent® rating, Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
Articles
Articles
- Divorce and Mental Illness: How a Spouse’s Mental Health Can Affect the Divorce July 15, 2024
- When Worlds Collide: Immigration Law Issues Within a Family Law Practice July 11, 2024
- What Can You Do With a Prenuptial Agreement in Texas? March 12, 2024
- A Comprehensive Guide on How to Get a Marriage License and Change Your Name After Marriage in Texas October 10, 2023
- 6 Tips on Introducing a New Person into the Lives of your Children February 2, 2023
- Divorcing Someone with Borderline Personality Disorder April 30, 2022
- Getting a divorce? Here are 5 ways to manage stress during COVID-19 March 26, 2020
- New Child Support Cap in Texas Effective September 1, 2019 August 27, 2019
- Pregnant and Done: Divorcing When a Child Is Due July 14, 2019
- The Element of Surprise: Drug Tests in Texas Divorces or Custody Case August 5, 2015
- Legislative Changes to the Spousal Maintenance Provisions in the Texas Family Code January 14, 2014
Published Works
Published Works
- Co-author, “What Every Lawyer Needs to Know about CPS Involvement in Cases,” Headnotes, Dallas Bar Association, 2021
- Co-Author, Family Law at Your Fingertips, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2018 – 2019.
Co-Author, Family Law at Your Fingertips–Children, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2019.
Co-Author, Family Law at Your Fingertips–Evidence, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2019. - Ask the Expert – Mental Health, D Magazine, 2017
- Author, “Divorce and Domestic Violence: When Family Law Meets Criminal Law” American Bar Association, Vol. 32 No. 4, August, 2015
Videos & Podcasts
Videos
- What Defines a Modern Premarital Agreement?
- How Do I Manage “Distance Learning” Between Two Homes with My Ex?
- How is Our Possession Schedule Affected by a “Shelter in Place” Lockdown?
- Can I Still Have a Virtual Court Hearing ?
- How Co-parenting is Affected if a Parent is Potentially Exposed to COVID-19?
- Ways to Prepare for a Divorce When Your Spouse has a Substance Abuse Problem
- How to Prepare for a Divorce When Your Spouse Has a Substance Abuse Problem
- Dallas Divorce Attorney Explains How to Gain Financial Security in a Divorce
- In-Person Versus Remote Education: What Co-Parents Need to Know
Podcasts
Presentations
Presentations
- “Overlap Issues in Family Law”, Dallas Bar – Criminal Law Section Meeting, Co-Presenter, 2019
- “Evidence 101 for Family Lawyers”, Family and Veterans Advocacy Clinic, Texas A&M University School of Law, 2019
- Trial Presentation, TAFLS Trial Institute, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2019
- “Enforcing and Modifying Family Law Orders and Decrees”, Texas Family Law Practice for Paralegals, 2019
- Innovations: Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation, State Bar of Texas, Course Director, 2019
- “Creating Harmony”, State Bar of Texas, Collaborative Law Course, Presenter, 2018
- “Grandparents and Third Party Standing“, State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, Author and Presenter, 2017
- The New Normal – Modern Family Issues in a Changing Landscape, Innovations: Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation, State Bar of Texas, Moderator, 2017
- “Go Beyond the Forms: Effectively Drafting Family Law Orders”, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, Author and Presenter, August 2016
- “Assisting with Child Support Calculations,” Blue Moon Paralegal Seminar, Author and Presenter, February 2014
- “Mental Health Issues and the Impact on Family Law Cases,” Collin County Family Law Section, Author and Presenter, February 2014
- “Impact of Domestic Violence on Family Law,” Facing Violence Conference, Author and Presenter, October 2013
- “Grandparent Access and Rights and Duties,” Smart Decisions Conference Speaker, February 2013
- “Protective Orders and Family Law,” Collin County Bar Association, Author and Presenter, January 2013
- “Family Law Primer for Federal Employees,” Department of Homeland Security Presentation, Presentor November 2012.
- Using a Computer Forensic Expert, Family Law Technology Course, State Bar of Texas, Co-Author 2012
- Property Update, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, Co-Author 2012
- Turbo Charge Your Collaborative Practice, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, Co-Author 2012
- “Recent and Anticipated Developments in Texas Family Law,” Blue Moon Paralegal Seminar, Author and Presenter, September 2012
- “Assisting with Child Custody Cases,” Blue Moon Paralegal Seminar, Author and Presenter, September 2012
- “Standing in Family Law,” Collin County Bar Association, April 2012, Author and Presenter
- “Legislative Updates and Family Law Code Updates,” Collin County Bench Bar Author and Presenter
- “Legislative Changes to Spousal Maintenance Provisions in the Texas Family Code,” Collin County Young Lawyers Bulletin, January 2012
- “Standing for the Not So Nuclear Family,” Innovations—Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation, January 2012, Co-Author
- “A Modest Primer on Business Ownership, Divorce and the Courts,” New Frontiers in Family Law, October 2011, Co-Author
- “Informed Consent in Collaborative Law,” October 2011, Co-Presenter
- ”Collaborative Law Basics and Legislative Updates,” Dallas Bar Association, October 2011, Co-Presenter
- “ Collaborative Law Basics for Corporations and Social Groups,” 2010-present, Presenter
- “What’s your status? Common Law Marriage in Modern Days,” Dallas Bar Association, Headnotes, June 2010, Co-Author
- “Digging Up Dirt–Creative Discovery Techniques in Family Law,” University of Houston Law Foundation, Advanced Discovery Techniques Workshop, December 2004, Presenter and Co-Author
Professional Associations
Professional Associations
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Fellow
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section and GP/Solo Section
- Member
- American Bar Foundation
- Fellow
- Annette Stewart American Inn of Court
- Member
- Member Chair, 2014 – present
- Collaborative Divorce Texas (f/k/a Collaborative Law Institute of Texas)
- Member
- Collaborative Professionals of Dallas
- Member
- Secretary
- Collin County Bar Association, Family Law Section
- Member
- President, 2017 – 2018
- Collin County Young Lawyers Association
- Member
- Vice President, 2010-2012
- Curt B. Henderson American Inn of Court
- Member
- Dallas Bar Association, Collaborative Law and Family Law Section
- Member
- Family Law Section Board Member, 2015-2018
- Dallas Bar Foundation
- Fellow
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
- Member
- Legacy Family Court Foundation
- Board Member
- State Bar of Texas, Collaborative Law and Family Law Section
- Member
- Marriage Dissolution, Course Director, 2017
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
- Member
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Fellow
- Texas Family Law Foundation
- Member
- Junior League of Dallas
Education
Education
- The University of Texas School of Law, 2003
- J.D., Law
- Law Review: Texas International Law Journal
- University of Texas in Austin, 1998
- M.S.S.W., with Honors, Social Work
- University of Texas in Austin, 1996
- B.A., with Honors, Psychology
Bar Admissions
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 2003
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2014
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
Certifications
Certifications
Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2012
Credentialed Collaborative Professional, Collaborative Divorce Texas, 2022
