About Aimee Pingenot Key
Conscientious parents and spouses navigating some of life’s most difficult family circumstances turn to Aimee Pingenot Key. Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, she brings a unique background in social work and psychology to her practice. Aimee guides clients through divorce and child custody matters, including cases involving mental health, addiction, and high conflict, where the emotional stakes are often as significant as the legal ones.
Her clinical training shapes how she approaches every case. She recognizes when a co-parent’s behavior may indicate a mental health or substance-use issue, when a child’s stability is at risk, and how to build parenting plans and court orders that hold up under pressure. Aimee works to protect both her clients and their children, helping them make decisions that are financially sound and emotionally manageable. She also advises clients on the financial issues that often accompany divorce, including property division, family businesses, prenuptial agreements, spousal maintenance, and other support matters. Aimee begins each case by understanding what matters most to the family in front of her, then develops a strategy tailored to those priorities. Master-credentialled in Collaborative Divorce, she resolves many matters out of court and works to minimize conflict whenever possible. When litigation is necessary, she is a skilled advocate who protects her clients’ interests while keeping the focus on their children’s long-term well-being.
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What Sets Her Apart
- A Social Work and Psychology Background. Before law school, Aimee earned a Master of Science in Social Work and a degree in psychology and served as program director of a child-visitation agency. That experience gives her a deeper understanding of the emotional and family dynamics behind divorce and custody disputes.
- Board Certified in Family Law. Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2012. The distinction reflects substantial experience, demonstrated competence, and peer-recognized expertise in family law.
- Recognized in Three Family Law Practice Areas. Named in The Best Lawyers in America for Family Law, Family Law Mediation, and Collaborative Law.
- Experienced in Collaborative Divorce. Aimee is a Credentialed Collaborative Professional with Collaborative Divorce Texas. She helps many clients resolve disputes without going to court.
- More Than Two Decades in Family Law. More than 20 years representing families through negotiated settlements, collaborative resolutions, and contested trials.
- Experience With Complex Property and Finances. Aimee handles divorces involving closely held businesses, substantial assets, and disputed property. She has co-authored case-law updates on Texas property law.
Practice Focus
Aimee advises clients in family law matters that combine emotional complexity, contested parenting, and significant financial questions:
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial agreements. Aimee represents clients in complex premarital and postmarital agreements, including matters involving multigenerational wealth and substantial assets. She is known for her modern, collaborative approach that helps couples reach durable agreements and provide a clear roadmap for dissolution with clarity and respect.
- Mental Health and Addiction in Divorce. Aimee represents clients divorcing a partner with addiction or mental illness. She recognizes the clinical signals that affect custody and safety.
- High-Conflict Divorce. When a spouse is hostile, controlling, or has a personality disorder, Aimee works to de-escalate the conflict. She secures orders detailed enough to hold up later.
- High Net Worth Divorce. In divorces with substantial assets, Aimee addresses business valuations, executive compensation, and contested property. She grounds each step in careful financial analysis.
- Child Custody. Aimee approaches custody from the child’s perspective first. She builds conservatorship and parenting-schedule arrangements that work for both homes.
- Family Partner Violence and Divorce. For clients leaving an abusive relationship, Aimee moves quickly on protective orders. She plans carefully around the client’s safety.
- Collaborative Divorce. Aimee guides couples through the collaborative process toward a private, out-of-court resolution. It keeps control of the outcome in their hands.
- Divorce Mediation. Aimee uses mediation to help couples reach durable agreements. It avoids the cost and strain of a contested trial.
Recognition and Credentials
Best Lawyers has recognized Aimee in family law since 2015. She was named Best Lawyers in Dallas: Family Law by D Magazine 5 times, including 2024, 2025, and 2026. Texas Super Lawyers has named her every year since 2006 — first as a Rising Star and, since 2014, as a Super Lawyer — including selections to its Top 50 Women and Top 100 Dallas/Fort Worth lists. She has appeared on LawDragon’s 500 Leading Family Lawyers since 2024, and she holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a past President of the Collin County Bar Association’s Family Law Section (2017–2018). She is currently the chair of the Dallas Bar Association’s Family Law Section.
Aimee consistently contributes to the continuing legal education that trains other family lawyers. She has co-authored the State Bar of Texas’s Family Law at Your Fingertips series and presented on topics from drafting enforceable orders to the role of mental health in family law cases. She also writes for the firm’s Learning Center, including a recent post-divorce checklist for clients rebuilding after a divorce is final.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Types of Family Law Cases Does Aimee Pingenot Key Handle?
Aimee handles complex divorce, child custody, property division, post-divorce modifications, and pre- and postnuptial agreements. She concentrates on cases involving mental health, addiction, family violence, and high conflict. She represents clients through Collaborative Divorce, mediation, and litigation, and has been Board Certified in Family Law since 2012.
Does Aimee Handle Divorces Involving a Spouse’s Mental Illness or Substance Abuse?
Yes. These cases are a core part of her practice. Her clinical training helps her recognize how a partner’s mental illness or substance use affects custody, safety, and settlement. She focuses on keeping clients and children safe while steering the case toward workable outcomes.
When Does Aimee Recommend a Collaborative Divorce?
Aimee is Master Credentialed in Collaborative Divorce through Collaborative Divorce Texas. She recommends this process when both spouses want to maintain greater control over decisions, explore creative options, settle privately, and maintain a working relationship, especially when children are involved. She is candid when a case instead calls for Collaborative Divorce or the courtroom.
Can Aimee Help With High-Conflict Custody Cases?
Yes. Aimee regularly represents parents in contested, high-conflict custody matters. These often involve a co-parent’s personality disorder, addiction, or controlling behavior. She keeps the child’s needs and stability at the center, and works to keep the case from escalating.
What Does It Cost to Work With Aimee?
Goranson Bain Ausley works on a retainer and hourly billing model. Because every family law matter is different, retainer amounts vary with the complexity of the issues and the scope of representation — and cases involving mental health, addiction, or high conflict can vary widely. During an initial consultation, clients learn about the firm’s fee structure and what to expect.
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Beyond the Practice
Before law school, Aimee taught in California through Teach for America and later led Kid’s Exchange, a supervised-visitation program for families in crisis — early work with families under stress that still shapes how she practices today. She is a member of the Junior League of Dallas and a past board member of the Legacy Family Court Foundation.
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
- Adoption
- Paternity
- Alimony & Spousal Maintenance
- Cohabitation Agreements
- Contested Divorce
- Uncontested Divorce
- LGBT Divorce
- Litigated Divorce
- Negotiated Divorce
- LGBT Parenting Rights
- Family Law/Divorce Appeals
- Pre-Divorce Guidance
- Divorce for Business Owners
- Gray Divorce
Honors & Awards
Honors & Awards
- Doyle’s Guide Leading Family, Matrimonial & Divorce Lawyers – Dallas/Fort Worth, Leading Attorney, 2026
- Selected to the “Best Lawyers in Dallas: Family Law”, D Magazine, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025 & 2026
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Thomson Reuters, 2014 – 2025
- Selected to the “Top 100: Texas Super Lawyers” List, Thomson Reuters, 2017 – 2019, 2022 – 2025
- Selected to the “Top 100: Dallas/Fort Worth Super Lawyers” List, Thomson Reuters, 2017 – 2025
- Selected to the “Top 50: Women Texas Super Lawyers” List, Thomson Reuters, 2017 – 2025
- 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 – 2026
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2024 – 2026
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law Mediation, Best Lawyers, 2025 & 2026
- Named to the 500 Leading Family Lawyers List, LawDragon, 2024 – 2026
- Dallas Young Lawyers Association Leadership Class Member, 2006
- “AV” Preeminent® rating, Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
Articles
Articles
- What to Do After Your Divorce Is Final: A Complete Post-Divorce Checklist June 1, 2026
- PART 1: Building the Right Support Team for Divorce January 15, 2026
- What Is the Child Support Cap in Texas? August 28, 2025
- Name Change After Divorce in Texas: A Comprehensive Guide July 17, 2025
- Understanding Walkaway Wife Syndrome February 28, 2025
- Finding Love Later in Life: Why Cohabitation Agreements Are a Smart Choice December 17, 2024
- Understanding Different Types of Mental Health Disorders November 13, 2024
- Divorce and Mental Health Issues: Tips for Divorcing Someone With a Mental Illness November 4, 2024
- Divorce and Mental Health: How to Manage the Psychological Impact of Divorce October 30, 2024
- Pregnant and Done: Getting a Divorce While Pregnant in Texas August 23, 2024
- 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 Does a Prenuptial Agreement Cover 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
- 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
Publications & Speeches
Publications & Speeches
- 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


