Family Law

• Divorce
  Divorce is most often imagined as involving courtroom appearances, evidence and witness testimony to accomplish a divorce. We offer a different approach that involves the Collaborative Divorce process, which gives our clients the diversity to approach divorce and other contested family law issues in a non-litigated manner handled outside the courtroom where that approach would be best for our client. Whether it’s a litigated divorce or collaboration outside the courtroom context, our board-certified family law attorney can get you the results you deserve while zealously protecting your rights.
• Child Support
  Child support is typically ordered to ensure that both parents continue to contribute to the financial needs of their children. Texas follows specific guidelines to calculate child support, taking into account factors such as the number of children, the income of both parents, and any additional child-related expenses.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  When parents decide to part ways, determining child custody and support becomes crucial for the well-being of the children involved. In Texas, the best interests of the child are given paramount importance in making custody decisions. The court will consider factors such as the child’s wishes (if they are of a certain age), the child’s relationship with each parent, the parents’ ability to provide a stable environment, and any history of abuse or neglect.
• Adoption
  Adoption is a beautiful way to expand a family, and Texas has laws in place to regulate the adoption process and protect the rights of all parties involved. Texas recognizes various types of adoption, including stepparent adoption, relative adoption, agency adoption, and private or independent adoption.
• Paternity
• Guardianship
• Spousal Support
  Alimony and Spousal Support are two different methods by which one spouse may acquire support from the other spouse post-divorce. Alimony is a contractual obligation entered into voluntarily by one party, oftentimes used to equalize the division of property in a divorce case. For instance, if one spouse keeps the business, she may want to buy out the other spouse’s interest in the business by paying monthly installments to the other spouse until the obligation is paid. One should always secure the payments with an insurance policy or asset that can be liquidated in the event the paying spouse defaults on the note. Spousal support is usually court-ordered, but can also be entered into by agreement. If court ordered, the beneficiary of the support must meet the requirements under the code to qualify for post-divorce support. Some of those requirements involve having been married for 10 years or more, unable to find suitable employment, or the spouse seeking support is disabled or cares for a child that is disabled. The support is limited to a number of years depending upon the number of years of marriage. We can help secure the best possible outcome for your financial needs, whether the situation involves paying or receiving support post-divorce.

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Mr. Matzner’s experience includes successfully defending a city and police officer in a federal civil rights trial lasting nearly six weeks where the plaintiffs sought $24,000,000 and were awarded $08
• Wrongful Death
  He represents clients in all aspects of personal injury and wrongful death claims, including premise liability, work-related injuries and fatalities, motor-vehicle and trucking litigation, and all other areas of insurance defense.
• Money Laundering
  The Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”) was enacted in 2021 as part of the National Defense  Authorization Act aimed at enhancing transparency and combatting money laundering, terrorism financing, and other illicit activities. The purpose of the CTA is to “better enable critical national  security, intelligence, and law enforcement efforts to counter money laundering, the financing of  terrorism, and other illicit activity” by creating a national registry of beneficial ownership  information for “reporting companies”. Put another way, the goal of the CTA is to prevent the  misuse of anonymous shell companies for illegal purposes.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  The Corporate Transparency Act is a significant change to current United States corporate law about which all individuals with an interest in a business entity need to be aware. Owners and  managers of entities that are subject to the CTA also need to make plans for complying with the new law and implement such plans well before the applicable deadlines.
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Business Formation
• Business Disputes
  A lot goes into starting a new business venture, and it is important to have an experienced business law attorney by your side to help ensure that your interests are protected from the start. At the Lubbock, Texas, based law firm of Crenshaw, Dupree & Milam, L.L.P., we have extensive experience in all aspects of business law.
• Business Transactions
  Kathy Moran joined Crenshaw, Dupree & Milam in June 2018 to open an office in Hobbs, New Mexico, after more than twelve years as a shareholder, director and Vice President of Maddox, Holloman & Moran, P.C. She practices primarily in the areas of corporate law, business transactions, probate, estate administration, and general business matters. She has represented numerous clients in the sale of closely-held businesses, having handled numerous significant business sales and acquisitions, in and outside of the oil and gas industry.
• Limited Liability Companies
  The CTA applies to a broad range of entities, including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and other similar structures. However, certain types of entities are exempt, such as publicly traded companies, registered investment companies, non-profits, many general partnerships, and certain regulated entities. Those companies that are required to report to FinCEN are referred to as “Reporting Companies.”
• Intellectual Property
  Disputes and conflicts in the business world can be disruptive and costly, which is why our team of skilled commercial litigation attorneys is committed to resolving your legal issues efficiently and with the utmost professionalism. We have the expertise to handle a wide array of commercial disputes, including contract breaches, partnership disagreements, intellectual property disputes, employment matters, and more. Our approach combines meticulous legal analysis with strategic negotiation and, when necessary, aggressive advocacy in the courtroom. We prioritize your business's best interests and aim to achieve the most favorable outcomes possible.

Employment Law

• Employment Discrimination
• Employment Contract
• Employment Litigation
  Mark also has a great deal of experience representing governmental entities in civil rights and employment litigation, and he finds particular satisfaction in representing these clients in what are often difficult matters.
• Non-compete Agreement
• Sexual Harassment

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  After graduating from Baylor, Libby attended the University of Houston Law Center. During law school she served as a law clerk, gaining valuable insights into the legal profession, particularly in real estate litigation and transactions.
• Construction Litigation
  Arlene has been practicing law in Lubbock and all of West Texas since 2000. Her practice includes appellate work as well as insurance defense litigation, including medical malpractice, construction defect litigation, and work-related injuries.
• Real Estate Transactions
  Vic Wanjura is a partner with Crenshaw, Dupree & Milam, L.L.P. Vic assists clients with estate planning, probate, and estate administration matters. He also frequently forms business entities for clients, advises on real estate transactions, and estate and probate litigation.
• Eminent Domain
  If you own mineral rights in Texas, you need an attorney who understands the complex laws surrounding oil, gas, and other natural resources. Mineral rights law can involve leasing issues, royalties, easements, eminent domain, and regulatory compliance. At Crenshaw, Dupree & Milam, LLP, our mineral rights attorneys have the knowledge and experience to protect your interests.
• Land Use and Zoning
  With a deep-rooted understanding of the agricultural industry and its unique challenges, our team of seasoned attorneys is dedicated to providing comprehensive legal solutions for clients across the agricultural sector protecting your interests, and helping you navigate the complex legal landscape. Our expertise covers a wide range of agricultural matters, including land use and zoning, water rights, environmental compliance, farm and ranch operations, agricultural contracts, and regulatory issues. We are committed to fostering sustainable agricultural practices while ensuring our clients' prosperity and growth.
• Property Damage

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  He is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been inducted into the prestigious American Board of Trial lawyers (ABOTA). Mark has earned an AV (highest) Rating as preeminent from his peers through the Martindale Hubbell Attorney rating service, and is a Top Rated Attorney by Avvo Attorney Rating Service, the top two peer rating services in the nation.
• Medical Malpractice
  We focus this area of our practice exclusively on the defense of medical malpractice and professional liability claims. The broad collective experience of our attorneys puts us in a strong position to represent clients from many different professions and backgrounds. Our firm’s insurance litigation background also serves as a distinct asset in these matters.
• Medicaid Planning

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Our estate planning practice is dedicated to helping our clients plan for the future. No matter what stage of life you may be in, the attorneys at the Lubbock, Texas, based law firm of Crenshaw, Dupree & Milam, L.L.P., can help you to create an estate plan that clearly defines and implements your wishes at the end of your life.
• Wills
  Our lawyers can advise you on the best way to set up your estate in order to protect your beneficiaries from excessive inheritance and estate taxes. We have experience handling all aspects of estate planning from simple wills to complex asset protection programs. We will work with you to create a customized solution designed to meet the specific requirements of your situation.
• Trusts
  Montgomery v. Montgomery, individually and as trustee of the James F. Montgomery Irrevocable Trust, decided by the Seventh Court of Appeals (Amarillo), December 6, 2016, opinion written by Justice Brian Quinn.
• Power of Attorney
  Diane Montgomery was married to James Montgomery, but later divorced.  At that time, they executed a “marital settlement agreement” wherein James agreed to pay Diane $21,000 a month until she remarried or died. He paid this obligation for several years, but then ceased doing so. James’ son, Andrew (who was at one point a stepson of Diane), obtained a power of attorney from his father, James,  at which time he converted a revocable trust containing assets of over five million dollars into an irrevocable trust. James, the father, died the day after this irrevocable trust became operative.  Diane filed her initial claim against James’ estate, but it was denied by the administrator.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
  With a deep understanding of bankruptcy law, we offer comprehensive services to debtors seeking relief through bankruptcy, guiding them through the process and exploring all available options, such as Chapter 7 liquidation or Chapter 11 reorganization. Our attorneys work closely with debtors to develop customized strategies that maximize their financial recovery and help them achieve a fresh start.
• Tax Law
  We also provide complete corporate and personal taxation services to our clients. We work with many business owners and individuals in a variety of taxation and tax planning matters. We advise clients on ways that they can structure their personal and business finances in order to derive the greatest possible benefit under the tax code.