Norton + Wood
Tax | Serving Texarkana, TX
903-823-1321Practical Tax legal help. Representing Texarkana, Texas clients.
A Small Town Law Firm with a Big City Practice
Norton & Wood was founded originally as Norton Burgess by Fred R. Norton, Jr. and Ralph K. Burgess on January 1, 1999. Marshall C. Wood joined the firm shortly thereafter. The firm’s name changed to Norton & Wood on February 21, 2003, when Governor Rick Perry appointed Ralph to the bench of Texas’ 5th Judicial District Court, serving Bowie and Cass counties.
The Norton, Burgess and Wood families grew up together in Texarkana, so the alliance of Fred, Ralph and Marshall in the practice of law, though not necessarily predictable, was not a surprise. The lessons of integrity, hard work, family values and commitment to community taught in Texarkana public schools, at church and at home are the cornerstones upon which Fred and Ralph established the law firm that Fred and Marshall lead today.
Contact us today if you need legal assistance with any of the following:
- Tax Planning
- Tax Controversy
- Business Organizations
- Trusts and Estates
- Probate and Estate Administration
- Wealth Preservation
- Estate Planning
- Asset Protection
- Elder Law
- Complex Business Litigation
- Insurance Defense
- Civil Defense
- Medical Malpractice Defense
- Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death Litigation
We proudly describe our partnership as “a small town law firm with a big city practice.” Recognized with Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer-review rating of “AV,” we have built a regional reputation and retained a prestigious and diverse client list--from multi-national corporations to privately-owned concerns. Our attorneys, licensed in Texas and in Arkansas, have the collective experience and resources to offer most, if not all, of the legal services required by business owners and their families.
Call us today at 903-823-1321 to arrange your initial consultation.
Attorney Fred R. Norton, Jr.

Board Certified in Tax Law and Estate Planning & Probate Law
Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Education:
- L.L.M., Taxation, New York University School of Law, 1984
- J.D., Baylor University School of Law, 1983
- B.B.A., Baylor University, 1980
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas
Attorney Marshall C. Wood
Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Education:
- B.S., Florida State University, 1992 J.D.
- South Texas College of Law, 1996
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Associate Editor, Corporate Counsel Review, South Texas College of Law, 1995-1996
- Recipient, Outstanding Male Graduate Award, South Texas College of Law, 1996
- Teen Court of Texarkana Advisory Board, 1996-2003
- Co-founder and President, Texarkana Young Lawyers Association, 1998
- Graduate, Leadership Texarkana
- Recognized as Rising Star by Texas Monthly magazine
- Leadership Texarkana Advisory Board, 1998-2000
- Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity of Texarkana, 1999-2002
- Board of Directors, State Bar of Texas, 2002-2005
- President, Texas Young Lawyers Association, 2003-2004
- Board of Trustees, Texas Bar Foundation, 2003-2005
- Recognized as Attorney of the Year by the Texarkana Young Lawyers Association, 2005
- Co-founder and President, Liberty-Eylau Education Foundation
- Planning and Zoning Commission, Texarkana, Texas
- Boy Scouts of America, Caddo Area Council, Executive Council
- Co-founder and Chairman, Caddo Eagle Scout Association
- Board of Directors, Wadley Foundation
- Member, Junior League of Texarkana Community Advisory Board, 2007-2009
- Chairperson, Texarkana College President Search Committee, 2009
- Recipient, Idalee Hawkins Leadership Award, 2009
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
- Arkansas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western District of Arkansas
Attorney Richard J. Kroll

Education:
- Juris Doctorate, cum laude, William H. Bowen School of Law, Little Rock, Arkansas, 2017
- B.S., Bachelor of Science, cum laude, Excelsior College, 2014
Bar Admissions:
- Texas
- Arkansas
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Arkansas
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Arkansas
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Arkansas
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Texas
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Texas
Attorney Jaci Roberts Berry

Education:
- Juris Doctorate, William H. Bowen School of Law, Little Rock, Arkansas, 2021
- M.B.A., Master of Business Administration, Texas A&M University , Terkana, Texas, 2017
- B.A. in Accounting, summa cum laude, Texas A&M University, Terkana, Texas, 2016
Bar Admissions:
- Arkansas
- Texas
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Arkansas
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Arkansas
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Texas
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Texas
Certified Legal Specialties:
- Certified Arkansas Mediator (Domestic Relations and Probate)
