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, 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025 & 2026 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.
Honors & Awards
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
What to Do After Your Divorce Is Final: A Complete Post-Divorce Checklist January 23, 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
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
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
