Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson LLP

14 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Family Law

Biography

As the proud father of six and grandfather of five children, the traits that make Keith Nelson such an effective and empathetic family law attorney—including problem-solver, crisis manager, communicator, mediator, and peacemaker—come naturally.

Keith uses these skills, honed over a 30-year career, to make a difference in clients’ lives, obtaining results that match their goals. Keith is responsive to his clients while guiding them through the legal process in an easy-to-understand and solution-oriented manner.

Impressively, Keith has been selected by Thomson Reuters to the Texas Super Lawyers list since its inception in 2003. He has been named among the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Texas in 2013, 2015, 2017 – 2024, and has been recognized among the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Dallas-Fort Worth fourteen times: 2009, 2011 – 2015, 2017 – 2024. He also was named to D Magazine’s list of The Best Lawyers in Dallas in 2014, 2017-2018, 2021, 2023-2024, and to the Best Lawyers in America by BL Rankings, LLC every year since 2006, based on peer review for his work in family law. Keith is also AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

With a keen interest in issues involving children, his practice includes a special emphasis on addressing the psychological impact of custody and divorce litigation on children and their parents. He also regularly provides pro bono representation for indigents in cases where serious issues regarding children exist.

Keith is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to excellence in this area of law. Board Certification requires continuing education and involvement in the issues of family law, including marriage, adoption, divorce, custody, support, and ownership of property acquired before and during marriage.

From an amicable divorce to a 9.5 on the Richter scale, Keith helps clients find a solution to their crisis so they can move on to the next chapter of life.

Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson LLP

14 Best Lawyers awards

Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson LLP logo

Overview

  • English

  • Baylor University, J.D., graduated 1983
  • Baylor University, B.A., graduated 1979

  • Texas, State Bar of Texas

  • American Bar Association - Member
  • College of the State Bar of Texas - Member
  • Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section - Member
  • National Association of Counsel for Children - Member
  • State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section - Member
  • Collaborative Law Institute of Texas - Member
  • Dallas Alliance of Collaborative Family Lawyers - Member
  • Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists - Member
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - Fellow

  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • English
  • Texas, State Bar of Texas
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • College of the State Bar of Texas - Member
  • Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section - Member
  • National Association of Counsel for Children - Member
  • State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section - Member
  • Collaborative Law Institute of Texas - Member
  • Dallas Alliance of Collaborative Family Lawyers - Member
  • Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists - Member
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - Fellow
  • Baylor University, J.D., graduated 1983
  • Baylor University, B.A., graduated 1979
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Family Law
Awards:
  • Best Lawyers in America, 2006-2026
  • Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2003-2025
  • Top 100 Super Lawyers in DFW – Texas Monthly Magazine, 2009-2025

  • Top 100 Super Lawyers in Texas – Texas Monthly Magazine, 2013, 2015, 2017-2024

  • Best Lawyers in Dallas, Family Law, D Magazine, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023-2024
  • Recognized by D CEO Magazine as one of 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Dallas/Fort Worth, 2015, 2021
  • Ratede AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell

Additional Information

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Case History

Cases
  • Family Law Experience
Keith Nelson is a highly respected attorney with over 30 years of experience in divorce and custody litigation, with a special emphasis on addressing the psychological impact of custody and divorce litigation on children and their parents. He has served on the Texas Supreme Court's Committee on Visitation and Child Support Guidelines, which promotes proposed changes to the Texas Family Code for the Texas Legislature.
AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, Keith has been selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list every year since its inception in 2003. He was named among the Top 100 Lawyers in Texas in 2013 and has been named in the Top 100 Lawyers in Dallas-Fort Worth five times. He also has been named to D Magazine’s list of The Best Lawyers in Dallas and to the Best Lawyers in America every year since 2006.
An American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers fellow since 1993, Keith has served on multiple AAML committees. Keith also provides pro bono representation for indigents in cases where serious issues regarding children exist. Keith is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and is a 1983 graduate of the Baylor University School of Law. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in economics from Baylor. He is married and has six children.

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