Best Lawyers Near You in Southlake, Texas for Family Law
Esther R. Donald is a family law attorney at Goranson Bain Ausley in Dallas. She has been admitted to the Texas Bar since 1988 and has practiced family law for 38 years. Esther is a Master Credentialed Collaborative Professional through Collaborative Divorce Texas and is admitted to practice in the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. Esther has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for Family Law from 2017 through 2026 and for Collaborative Law: Family Law from 2024 throug...
Michelle Heron is a Dallas, Texas divorce attorney with nearly 30 years of trial experience focused on family law matters. At Hargrave Family Law, she represents individuals and families through divorce, custody disputes, and other family law issues. For more than five years, a significant portion of her practice has involved securing protective orders in cases of domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect. Her work is driven by a strong commitment to child welfare and a practical understand...
Chris Nickelson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Family Law. Chris, who practices law in Fort Worth, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Chris is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kevin Davidson, a partner at Goranson Bain Ausley, is a distinguished family lawyer with over 15 years of experience exclusively in family law. He is skilled in cases involving children, where his focus on child-centric solutions and co-parenting strategies helps mitigate the negative impact of divorce on children. With a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and early career experience at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office prosecuting family violence crimes, Kevin br...
Kris is board certified in the area of Family Law and Child Welfare by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Kris earned her law degree at St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio after completing her Bachelor of Business Administration at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She continued her education by earning a Master of Business Administration at St. Mary's University School of Business. Kris has four children and lives in Dallas with her husband. Kris is a credentialed...
Jim Mueller is the owner and managing partner of Mueller Family Law Group , a Dallas, Texas family law firm. He is board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers, and the author of the book Divorce in Texas: The Legal Process, Your Rights, and What to Expect . Jim is a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only organization limit...
Practice Areas Family Law Commercial Litigation Construction Litigation Collaborative Law Practice Emphasis Jessica has a diverse trial practice that focuses on family law and business litigation. She has extensive experience in handling family law cases, including divorce, child custody, asset division, property and business valuation, paternity, financial support and many other issues that arise in a family law context. Jessica has tried many family cases as well as worked with her clients ...
With a career stretching back over 25 years, there’s very little in the area of Family Law David Housel doesn’t have hands-on experience with. Those who work with David know him as accessible and available to his clients, whether that’s on a Tuesday evening or a Saturday morning. He’s a firm believer that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that, should a problem arise, solving it as soon as possible benefits everyone involved. David brings a strong wo...
Carla M. Calabrese is the founding and managing partner of Calabrese BudnerLLP , a Dallas-based boutique family law firm focused on complex divorce and custody matters. With more than 35 years of experience, she practices in FamilyLaw , Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law Mediation, and Family Law Arbitration. Carla is a pioneer of Emotionally Intelligent Divorce®, guiding clients through high-stakes family matters with clarity, strategy, and a focus on long-term outcomes. A Master ...
Francesca Blackard is a dedicated family law attorney and partner at McClure Law Group, where she has exclusively practiced family law since earning her Juris Doctor from New York Law School in 2012. Francesca’s journey to becoming a well-respected family law attorney began even before law school, where she spent five years working as a paralegal and law clerk at family law firms in Chicago, New York, and Dallas. Her unique career path has honed a skill set deeply rooted in family law, ...
Laura Richardson is an Associate at Varghese Summersett Family Law Group, where she is committed to guiding individuals and families through some of life’s greatest challenges. Laura’s experience, compassion, and strong work ethic are the foundation of her success as a top Fort Worth family law attorney. Laura has significant experience handling a wide range of family law matters, including high-asset divorce, contentious child custody disputes, and complex property and debt divis...
As a former child abuse caseworker and judge, Angie has witnessed firsthand the destruction that protracted conflict causes in families. Her experience has led her to believe strongly in interest-based settlements of family conflict. She encourages her clients to consider the collaborative law process, because it allows them to fashion their own solutions and begin anew in the best manner possible. As a widely recognized advocate of collaborative law, Angie has traveled around the U.S. teachi...
No two divorces are the same, and no two divorces reach the same resolution. That means that how you achieve a resolution also differs from case to case. R. Scott Downing is a skilled trial lawyer who has tried numerous complex high-dollar property and custody cases. Recognizing the uniqueness of each case and that not every situation requires a courtroom, Scott is also skilled in the use of collaborative law to reach a resolution. In 2017, Scott was named to The National Law Journal’s ...
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Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
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