Barksdale Family Lawyers

I am a Family Law Attorney with over 25 years of experience in the family law field. I am a bilingual speaker fluent in both English and Spanish.

Over 20 years of litigation and counseling experience. We make every reasonable attempt to resolve and settle disputes. If the opposition is unreasonable, we file a lawsuit and litigate as far as necessary. Sometimes a dispute is settled in litigation and other times we prepare for and conduct trials. We also do appeals if necessary in both the Civil and Criminal arenas.

Sherry D Tavel has been licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Texas since 1989. She is board certified in Residential Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization with the State Bar of Texas. She has worked for the Texas Attorney General in the Child Support Division as Managing Attorney. Sherry has owned and managed Chicago Title Company in Deer Park, Texas. She was appointed as the first female for the City of Pasadena as a Municipal Judge, and is currently the Presiding Municipal Judge at Roman Forest, Texas.
Sherry D Tavel has also served as...

Desireé Marie Bedasa is committed to helping families facing challenging family law issues, such as divorce. Due to her own personal experiences growing up, Desireé is inspired to advocate for those who are unable to advocate for themselves, primarily children. As an individual who did not experience a "traditional" upbringing, Desireé knows the potential trauma of a child being caught in the middle of a custody battle. She has dedicated her career to assisting families with children determine what solution is in the best interest of a child. Desireé is dedicated to and experienced at advocating for families in a wide...

My practice is focused on Family Law, and Business Law, especially startups. I have been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and I have have served my Bar Association as a Qualified Mediator and Past President of the Denton County Young Lawyers Association.

Attorney Chrysandra S. Bowen believes in putting her clients first. Passionate about the best interest of her clients, she has earned a reputation for aggressively advocating on their behalf. As a mother herself, she is keenly aware of how divorce can adversely affect the children. She helps clients minimize the impact that divorce and separation have on their children. She has long had an affinity for children and family issues.

As the founder of the Law Offices of David L. Thornton, Galveston County lawyer David L. Thornton offers legal counsel in family law and personal injury cases. Since 1976, he has been licensed to practice as an attorney. He is also a certified mediator who received meditation training at Harvard Law School. On four occasions, Mr. Thornton has been selected for inclusion in the list of Super Lawyers®. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, American Association for Justice and Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists. For a free case evaluation, contact his firm today.

I joined Minor & Jester, P.C. in April of 2025, where my practice is centered around civil litigation, family law, and probate matters. I graduated magna cum laude with a Juris Doctor from Texas Tech University School of Law. During my time there, I stood out for my academic achievements and skills in the courtroom. I represented clients in the Criminal Defense Clinic and actively participated in national moot court and mock trial competitions. Additionally, I was a board member of the Board of Barristers, coaching and judging advocacy teams in various events such as negotiations, moot court, and mock trials....

I am a solo practitioner and my primary focus is family law and probate. If you are looking for an attorney who will truly listen to your issues and will work with you throughout the process, then give me a call. Solving your problem and getting you back on track is my primary concern. I am diligent, responsive, tenacious, reliable, and I truly care about my clients.

Wilfried P. Schmitz is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and received this certification in 2000. He has practiced law for over 30 years after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Christian University and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law.

Mr. Schmitz is a fellow of the College of the State Bar of Texas and a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association, Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists and Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists.

He is licensed to practice law in all State...

Shahzad R. Khan is an accomplished attorney/litigator. He has over ten-years of experience in the practice of law in Immigration, domestic relations, estate planning, and corporate matters. He is experienced in civil litigation and an author of several published articles on family law issues. Over the course of his career, Shahzad has honed his highly strategic legal skills by successfully litigating and settling numerous cases involving family law issues in Texas and Illinois.
Moreover, Shahzad is well experienced and versed in the areas of Employment and Family Based Immigration. He has prepared and overseen the preparation of...

David was born and raised in the Dallas area and attended Mesquite schools. He is a graduate of Texas Wesleyan School of Law. Before he became a lawyer, David was a teacher and a coach in several Texas school districts. He also enjoyed coaching summer leagues for many years.

David served on the Forney ISD school board for six years and was president one year.

David has devoted his career to helping consumers in Texas. He has prosecuted and defended cases involving everything from collections and foreclosures to swimming pools, automobiles, and home foundations. He is proud to say that he has...

ABOUT BEN
Dallas-based attorney Benjamin Palatiere is a courtroom veteran with over 10 years of experience helping individuals, families, and businesses in civil disputes.


Education

Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, 2008
Texas State University, magna cum laude, 2005


Licensed/Admitted

Benjamin is admitted to the Texas Bar and licensed to practice in all district and county courts at law throughout the state.


Groups / Clubs

Dallas Young Lawyers Association
Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Tom Trahan is proficient in all facets of family law, from out-of-court settlements to courtroom litigation. His deep understanding of the litigation process enhances the chances of reaching negotiated or amicable resolutions, as opposing counsel and clients often realize that finding common ground can lead to beneficial outcomes.

Megan was a family law paralegal for 16 years before becoming a family lawyer, and has seen firsthand what matters to clients: knowing their case is in good hands with an attorney who understands their personal situation and who is capable of providing personalized options for addressing their legal issues. With a combination of sound legal counsel and practical advice, Megan guides clients toward goal-oriented decision-making that positions them for a better future. Megan was named to the 2023 Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch © list in the field of Family Law.

Attorney Hal Agron began his career as a criminal prosecutor in the Montgomery County Attorneys Office responsible for defending Montgomery County and its elected officials in State and Federal court. After several years on the criminal side, Hal served as a civil litigator for the county until he left for the public sector in 1994 and began practicing law as in-house counsel for several national insurance carriers. Over the years, Hal Agron has tried and settled countless cases involving misdemeanors and felonies. Much of his success can be attributed to his skills in laying the groundwork and...

I am Attorney Kesney Nichols, and I assist the firm in managing cases and achieving favorable outcomes for our clients. My responsibilities encompass conducting legal research, drafting documents, interviewing clients and witnesses, preparing for hearings and trials, and aiding in the formulation of legal strategies aimed at resolving cases favorably for each client. I am dedicated to supporting clients through the most challenging periods of their lives and tirelessly advocating on their behalf. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy golfing and spending time with my rescue dogs, Nash and Ollie.

Attorney Ned Gill III, is a reputed lawyer who has been committed to the field of family law for quite a handful of years. Belonging to a family associated with law and jurisdiction in Texas, Mr. Ned Gill III is undoubtedly a name with a high recall value amongst the people of Texas. Under his scope of work lies litigation/Mediation for divorce cases, arbitration and more. Being one of the most sought after professional lawyers in the arena of family law in United State, what distinguishes him is his intelligent and expert legal advice to all his customers seeking legal...

Candice B. Deyerle is a founding partner of Deyerle Silva Smith, PLLC and is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Clients with particularly complex family law issues, including divorce with businesses involved, multi-million dollar estates, privacy or publicity concerns, contested custody matters, children or parties with disabilities and/or special needs, or difficult issues such as alcoholism, drug abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or personality disorders involved particularly benefit from Candice’s expertise. From the initial consultation, she will listen to and thoughtfully evaluate the facts of your case and work with you to...

A renowned super lawyer for over four decades, Garry Lewellen has a stellar reputation, earned by case preparation and courtroom skills. A former Chief Justice describes Lewellen as having the innate ability to, "cross examine witnesses with surgical precision, exposing falsehoods, and revealing the truth."

Lewellen graduated from the University of Texas, in 1970, with a degree in Political Science. He subsequently attended the University of Texas School of Law, while serving as Governor Preston Smith’s Student Affairs Advisor for all college campuses within the state.

Thereafter, with approval of the...

Licensed to practice law in Texas since 1996. Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2004.

2025 Super Lawyers Rising Star 2024 Avvo Client Choice Award 2024 Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion - Silver If you would like to discuss a customized approach for your case, call me at (361) 579-2490 or email cole@eckhoffpllc.com. My consultation fee is 300. I represent clients seeking strategic representation for divorce, child custody, child support, modification, enforcement, CPS, adoptions and appeals in family law cases where the Court has abused its discretion or misapplied the law in Victoria, Texas and the surrounding area, including Edna, Ganado, La Ward, Port Lavaca, Seadrift, Point Comfort, Cuero, Yoakum (DeWitt portion only), Yorktown, Goliad, Refugio, and Woodsboro. Learn more at...

After practicing for over 10 years in Houston, I was blessed to be able to return home and enjoy life as a small town attorney for the last 20 plus years. It is nice to have a practice to keep you on your toes and seeing new and different things every day. My practice in Family, Criminal, Consumer Collection Defense, Contract, and Personal Injury will definitely keep me on my toes. I also act as a Mediator and believe every case can be settled if it goes through Mediation. It is a way to allow parties...

Our teams start with a deep understanding of our clients’ business objectives. We share knowledge across practices and regions. We help our clients not only mitigate risk, but also discover opportunity. And each success begins with the same simple question…

How can we help you?

By pooling our energy, talents and resources, we are able to achieve the highest order of excellence in the practice and profession of the law. Through such practice we are able to give back to our communities, and in all things to govern ourselves as members of a free democratic society with responsibilities both to our profession...

I grew up in Anson, Texas, not far from Abilene. I was raised on a ranch out in the country, and it helped shape my early life. I graduated Valedictorian of my high school in 1995, and went to Texas A&M University where I graduated in 1999 in the top 10% of my class with a B.B.A. in Accounting. After graduation with honors (Magna Cum Laude) from A&M, I went straight to law school at Texas Tech University School of Law on a full scholarship. I graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude) from...

As a solo attorney, Kacie Biebas has spent the last several years focusing on family law in Bell and surrounding counties. She has helped hundreds of clients achieve favorable verdicts and stay well informed during their experience with the justice system.

Ken Bigham Jr. has been licensed to practice law since 1989. Since that time he has made it his mission to empower and defend those who find themselves up against the overwhelming odds of large corporations and organizations. With a focus on personal injury law and criminal defense, Ken has spent the last two decades providing experienced guidance and dedicated legal service.

Our practice is 100% devoted to family law matters including divorce, child custody, child support, grandparent rights, marital agreements, collaborative law, family law mediation, transgender issues, same sex marriages, and domestic partnerships. Because we limit our practice to family law, you can be assured that your case will get the attention and care you deserve. We can also offer you a better way to divorce using Collaborative Law, settling your case without utilizing the court system, or a relatively new program for high conflict cases called 'New Ways for Families.' Call us to request a free consultation...

Blake Watson is a graduate of South Texas College of Law and Baylor University. After graduating law school, Blake went on to work at a large firm in Houston, Texas that specialized in personal injury. While there he helped his clients receive far and lucrative settlements for cases involving auto and 18-wheeler accidents, wrongful death, slip and falls, and work related injuries. From Houston, Blake took his practice to Bastrop and Austin Counties where his practice included everything from real estate transactions to business litigation. When he is not practicing law, Blake is an avid outdoors-man who enjoys all types...

Graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1997 with a Bachelor in Social Work and soon thereafter, worked with the immigrant community as a social worker at a local middle school. In my work, I saw first-hand, the difficulties the undocumented confronted and decided to pursue law school to assist the immigrant community and have a greater impact on their everyday lives. Immediately upon enrollment in St. Mary's School of Law in 2000, I began assisting immigrants obtain legal status as a student attorney through the St. Mary's Immigration Clinic. I obtained my Juris Doctor...

Mary Jones has been resolving family law matters, including complex financial issues, custody and visitation concerns, immediate and long reaching ramifications of settlement provisions for more than 25 years. Mary’s long-standing focus has been in all aspects of family law and collaborative divorce, including traditional and same-sex divorce, child support, spousal support, child custody, modifications, complex property division, maintenance, post-divorce disputes, paternity, adoptions, enforcement, pre- and post-marital agreements, and grandparent access.

The mission of Hiller Law is to deliver expert divorce and family law counsel in a tough, smart, and professional manner. Michael Hiller is known as a fierce courtroom lawyer, and his team provides each client with aggressive and innovative approaches to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Michael Hiller is a Texas Board Certified family lawyer who has extensive legal experience in handling all kinds of family law cases and is specifically trained to handle high conflict divorce cases for high net worth individuals. The Hiller Law Team takes pride in working diligently to present truthful and honest evidence in court...

Jamie Kerr graduated from Rice University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2000. He spent nine years in education, working mostly with high school and university students through the process of application for admission to undergraduate, graduate, business, and law schools. In 2009, Jamie returned to school himself and graduated three years later from the University of Texas School of Law with a Juris Doctor. During his tenure at UT, Jamie focused heavily on clinical education, the study of the dynamics of domestic violence, and criminal law. He spent a year helping victims of domestic violence with their civil cases...

Louis Leichter practices administrative, health, and criminal law, focusing on the area of licensure and license defense. Mr. Leichter advises clients on disciplinary actions and misconduct allegations that may affect their professional licenses. Mr. Leichter also represents clients on related issues that are divergent from the receipt of a disciplinary order within a healthcare practice. Peer review and medical staff privileges, practitioner data bank disputes, network agreements, contract negotiations, and license renewal questionnaires are important to medical and other health care professionals who are involved in disciplinary action. Prior to starting a private practice, Mr. Leichter prosecuted criminal cases as an...

Merrilee L. Harmon is a Family Law specialist, Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1985. Merrilee has lived most of her life in Waco. She graduated from Baylor University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in elementary education with a minor in English. Merrilee also received certificates in teaching and in the fields of language and learning disabilities and mental disabilities. Merrilee graduated from Baylor Law School in 1978 with a Juris Doctor degree and concentration in Civil Trial Law. From 1978 to 1981, she practiced Criminal Law as...

Emily chose family law to help protect clients’ well-being. She works with clients to find a personalized solution for their situation. Emily understands that divorce and other family law matters are not simply a transaction, but a significant life transition. She offers practical and sound advice to help guide clients through this time to a hopeful future.

I’m an Austin criminal defense lawyer that puts in all the effort required of an attorney striving to be recognized as one of the best criminal defense lawyers in Austin. I investigate evidence, hire experts when needed, and locate and interview witnesses on behalf of my clients. Some Austin defense lawyers choose to help the state by coaching a defendant into a plea-deal for the sake of convenience. Unless the circumstances of the case demands it, that’s not how business is done at the Law Office of Jackson F. Gorski. I prefer to fight for the accused. My law firm provides...

Jennifer represents clients in adoptions, premarital planning and estate planning.