Ms. Payne is a native of Jackson, Mississippi and attended the University of Mississippi for both undergraduate and law school. There she received two Bachelor’s Degrees in Classical Studies and Political Science as well as her Juris Doctorate.

As a law student, Ms. Payne spent most of her time with the University’s Child Advocacy Clinic. In this role she acted as a student attorney, helping families with guardianships, adoptions, and custody arrangements. Through the free clinic, Ms. Payne was able to serve as a Guardian ad Litem, which taught her to conduct thorough investigations in child custody matters and make a report and recommendation to the court based on the best interests of the minor child. Ms. Payne also volunteered with the University of Mississippi Pro-Bono Initiative, which partners with the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project and North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, as well as other organizations, to provide free legal aid to those in need. Previously, Ms. Payne interned under Chancellor Robert Logan where she was able to learn the ins and outs of Mississippi Chancery Court practice.

Today, Ms. Payne concentrates her practice in areas of divorce, child custody and support, abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, adoptions, guardianships, and other areas of family law.