Carl J. Ritter

Meet Carl Ritter: Your Fearless Family Law and Estate Planning Advocate

Carl Ritter is a senior attorney at Bryan Fagan, PLLC, representing clients in family law and estate planning matters. His focus areas are contested divorces, child custody disputes, guardianships, and contested wills.

Carl doesn’t shy away from cases involving parties with difficult pasts or cases involving Child Protective Services (CPS). He is a fierce advocate for clients attempting to keep or regain custody of their children and provides assistance to grandparents fighting for their grandchildren. He understands that the best interest of the child is always the most important factor in any case.

Carl’s representation extends to clients interested in estate planning, as well as those needing help with guardianship issues. He has substantial experience in contested probate cases that require litigation—litigation and the courtroom have always been Carl’s favorite part of being an attorney.

With over 35 years as a practicing attorney, Carl has an extensive background, including serving as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer in the United States Air Force. His understanding of the nuances of military law, along with the intricacies of military life, makes him an astute choice for military personnel and their families. He also spent 10 years as an attorney with the Office of the Attorney General in Texas.

Carl and his wife of 25 years recently relocated to Houston to be near their two children, who attend Texas A&M and Houston Baptist University. Carl enjoys spending time with his family at the beach and in the mountains—golfing, swimming, relaxing in lazy rivers, enjoying great food, and embracing the outdoors.

Bar Admissions:

• Texas Bar, 1986

Education:

• St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D., 1986
• University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1983

Licenses:

• Texas Real Estate Broker’s License

Representative Experience:

• Successfully maintained paternal grandparents’ access to their grandchild, despite the biological father terminating his parental rights.
• Won a contested probate case where a neighbor was gifted property; the court upheld the original will over family objections.
• Handled a high-stakes estate case involving a $20+ million estate where the court upheld the original will despite a new one drafted on the day of the funeral.

Featured Quote:

“This area of law can be convoluted and complex, but you figure a way to make it work despite the odds against you.”