About Cindy V. Tisdale
Clients facing high-stakes divorce and contested custody turn to Cindy V. Tisdale at the moments that matter most for their families and their finances. A Past President of the State Bar of Texas and Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Cindy represents business owners, professionals, and parents across Fort Worth, Granbury, Midland, and surrounding communities in complex divorce, property, and custody matters.
Much of Cindy’s work involves the financial complexity that accompanies high-net-worth divorce, as well as difficult child custody disputes. She regularly handles cases involving closely held businesses, business valuation, the characterization and tracing of separate and community property, premarital agreements, and the division of substantial marital estates. In custody matters, her focus remains on protecting the long-term stability and well-being of the children involved.
Cindy starts by listening. She knows her clients understand their families, businesses, and priorities better than anyone else, and she sees her role as helping them understand the law, weigh their options, and make sound decisions about what comes next.
Her approach is strategic rather than driven by conflict. Cindy is not interested in pursuing revenge or escalating a dispute simply for the sake of fighting. Particularly when children are involved, she considers the family’s life beyond the divorce and works toward outcomes that protect what matters while allowing clients to move forward.
When litigation is necessary, Cindy brings the preparation, judgment, and courtroom experience developed over decades in Texas family courts. Her clients know she will listen to what matters to them, tell them what they need to know, and be fully committed to their case.
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What Sets Her Apart
- Past President of the State Bar of Texas. Cindy served as President in 2023–2024, the highest elected leadership position in the State Bar of Texas.
- Board Certified in Family Law. Cindy has been Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2003, a distinction reflecting substantial experience, demonstrated competence, and peer recognition in the field.
- Distinguished Trial and Family Law Credentials. Cindy is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Fellow of both the International Academy of Family Lawyers and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
- A Frequent Teacher of Family Law. For more than 15 years, Cindy has taught other attorneys at advanced family law programs across Texas on subjects including complex property, evidence, and trial skills.
- Deep Experience in Complex Family Law Matters. Cindy’s decades of practice give her the perspective to identify the issues that matter most, anticipate challenges, and guide clients through financially and emotionally demanding cases.
- Serving Families Across North and West Texas. Cindy advises clients from Goranson Bain Ausley’s Granbury and Fort Worth offices and represents clients in Midland and communities throughout the region.
Practice Focus
Cindy’s practice is particularly suited to matters involving significant assets, financial complexity, and contested family disputes:
- High Net Worth Divorce. Cindy represents clients in divorces involving substantial marital estates, closely held companies, sophisticated financial holdings, and other assets requiring careful analysis and valuation.
- Complex Property. She handles the characterization, tracing, valuation, and division of complex assets, including business interests, real estate, separate property claims, and property accumulated over long marriages.
- Business Valuation in Divorce. Cindy works with financial experts when necessary to address the value of closely held companies, professional practices, and other business interests involved in a marital estate.
- Child Custody. Cindy represents parents in conservatorship and possession matters, including contentious and high-stakes parenting disputes, with a focus on the children’s long-term stability.
- High-Conflict Divorce. She provides steady, strategic representation in cases marked by significant conflict, protecting her client’s priorities while avoiding unnecessary escalation.
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements. Cindy drafts and reviews premarital, postmarital, and partition and exchange agreements for individuals and couples.
- Litigated Divorce. When settlement is not possible and a matter must be tried, Cindy provides representation grounded in decades of courtroom experience and thorough preparation.
Recognition and Credentials
Cindy’s work has earned recognition across Texas family law. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Family Law (2025 -2027), has been named a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters (2023–2026), and was selected to both the Top 100: Dallas/Fort Worth and Top 50: Women Texas Super Lawyers lists in 2024. She was named a Top Attorney by Fort Worth Magazine (2024-26) and included on Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Family Lawyers list (2025–2027). In 2023, she received the Dan Price Award from the State Bar’s Family Law Section.
Beyond these recognitions, Cindy has held some of the most senior leadership roles in the Texas legal profession. In addition to serving as President of the State Bar of Texas in 2023–2024, she previously served as Chair of its Board of Directors, Chair of the Texas Bar Foundation, and Chair of the Council of the State Bar’s Family Law Section. She currently serves on the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the Council of the Women and the Law Section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Types of Family Law Cases Does Cindy V. Tisdale Handle?
Cindy focuses on high-net-worth divorce, complex property division, contested custody, and other high-stakes family law matters. Her clients include business owners, professionals, and parents. She also handles business valuation, separate property claims, premarital and marital agreements, and high-conflict divorce.
What Is Cindy’s Experience With High-Net-Worth Divorce and Business Valuation?
Cindy regularly represents clients whose divorces involve substantial and complex marital estates. She understands the financial and legal issues that arise when a divorce involves closely held businesses, separate property claims, asset tracing, and other sophisticated holdings. She works with financial experts when appropriate to help clients evaluate what is at stake and make informed decisions about their financial future.
Does Cindy Handle Contested Custody and High-Conflict Divorce?
Yes. Cindy represents parents in contested custody and high-conflict divorce matters. She works to protect the children’s stability and her client’s long-term priorities while avoiding unnecessary escalation when possible. If litigation becomes necessary, she prepares the case thoroughly for court.
What Is Cindy Tisdale’s Approach to Divorce?
Cindy begins by listening, so she understands what matters most to each client. She helps clients understand their options, likely outcomes, and the consequences of different decisions so they can make informed choices about their future.
For parents, Cindy also considers the family relationships that will continue after the legal case ends. Her goal is to protect her client’s priorities while helping them move forward with clarity and a practical plan for what comes next.
Does Cindy Represent Clients in Midland and West Texas?
Yes. In addition to her work in Fort Worth and Granbury, Cindy represents clients in Midland and throughout West Texas, where she has practiced for many years. She handles complex divorce, property, and custody matters in courts across the region.
What Does It Cost to Work With Cindy?
Goranson Bain Ausley works on a retainer and hourly billing model. Because every family law matter is different, retainer amounts vary based on the complexity of the issues and anticipated scope of representation. During an initial consultation, clients receive information about the firm’s fee structure and what to expect throughout the process.
Beyond the Practice
Cindy has long been active in her community. She is a past President and board member of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hood and Somervell County.
Helping people find their voice during one of the most difficult experiences of their lives is what drew Cindy to family law, and she brings personal understanding of what her clients are going through. Outside her practice, she is the proud mother of two adult children — her son, an associate family lawyer at Goranson Bain Ausley, and her daughter, a nurse in pediatric critical care.
Services
Services
- Fort Worth Child Custody
- Family Partner Violence And Divorce
- Divorce
- Litigation
- High Net Worth Divorce
- Property Division
- Dividing the Marital Home
- Complex Property Division
- Characterization of Separate and Community Property
- Divorce for Business Owners
- Business Valuation in Divorce
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
- Divorce for Men
- Divorce for Women
- Mental Health and Addiction in Divorce
- Child Custody
- Parenting Schedules
- Visitation Rights
- LGBT Parenting Rights
- Child Support
- Modifying Child Support
- Grandparent Visitation and Custody Rights
- High-Conflict Divorce
- Pre-Divorce Guidance
- Contested Divorce
- Gray Divorce
- LGBT Divorce
- Negotiated Divorce
- Uncontested Divorce
- Modification and Enforcement
- Adoption
- Becoming a Foster Parent
- Paternity
- Cohabitation Agreements
- Alimony & Spousal Support Maintenance
- Appealing a Divorce Decree or Judgment
Honors & Awards
Honors & Awards
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2025 – 2027
- Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2023 – 2025
- Selected to the “Top 100: Dallas/Fort Worth Super Lawyers” List, Thomson Reuters, 2024
- Selected to the “Top 50: Women Texas Super Lawyers” List, Thomson Reuters, 2024
- Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2024
- Named to the 500 Leading Family Lawyers List, LawDragon, 2025 – 2027
- Dan Price Award Recipient, 2023
- Standing Ovation Award for Outstanding Volunteer to Texas Bar CLE, Recipient
- Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Texas Young Lawyers Association’s Believe Award
- Presidential Citation from Allan DuBois, President of the State Bar of Texas
- Presidential Citation from Trey Apffel, President of the State Bar of Texas
- Hood County Attorney of the Year Award, 2004 & 2007
Presentations
Presentations
- “Family Law Specifics,” Handling Your First (Or Next) Voir Dire, Austin, TX, April 2026
- “How to Secure Your Own Oxygen Mask First-Tips for Developing Business,” Women and the Law Webcast, April 2026
- “Family Law Case Update,” Women and the Law Symposium and Wellness Retreat, Irving, March 2026
- “Professionalism in the Law: What Would Ted Lasso Do?,” Collin County Bar Association, March 2026
- “Challenging Topics in Challenging Times,” Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX, August 2025
- “Child Support by Any Other Name—Still Child Support,” Texas Association of Domestic Relations Offices, Fort Worth, TX, October 2024
- “Child Support by Any Other Name—Still Child Support,” Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX, August 2024
- “State Bar Update,” Tarrant County Bar Association meeting, July 2023
- “Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll: Authenticity and Admissibility of Salacious Evidence,” Spring Regional Judiciary Conference, April 2023
- “Discovery Made Easy(er),” Wild West CLE Paralegal Seminar, April 2023
- “What Would Ted Lasso Do,” Tarrant County Bench Bar, April 2023
- “What Would Ted Lasso Do,” Hopkins County Bar Association, April 2023
- “What Would Ted Lasso Do,” Southwest Louisiana Bench Bar Meeting, March 2023
- “What Would Ted Lasso Do,” Panhandle Family Law Association, March 2023
- “What Would Ted Lasso Do,” Rockwall County Bara Association, February 2023
- “What Would Ted Lasso Do,” Hidalgo County Bar Association, January 2023
- “What Would Ted Lasso Do,” Webinar, January 2023
- “Professionalism in the Courtroom,” Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers, New Orleans, LA, December 2022
- “Professionalism: What Would Ted Lasso Do?,” Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX, August 2022
- “Cutting Edge Apps and Technology to Win at Trial,” Texarkana Bar Association, Texarkana, TX, March 2022
- “Closing the File,” Corpus Christi Bar Association, March 2022, Via Zoom
- “What Lawyers Need to Know to Be the Better Advocate in a Disputed Custody Case—Judges Panel,” Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX August 2021
- “Temporary Orders,” Texas Bar College 23rd Annual Summer School, Galveston, TX July 2021
- “Disfunction and Disorders in Complex Custody Cases,” Panel Discussion, Innovations: Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation, Webcast, May 2021
- “The Brady Bunch: SAPCR Case Law Update,” Marriage Dissolution, Webcast, April 2021
- “The New Discovery Rules: The Who, What, When, How and What,” Wild West CLE, State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division, Granbury, TX, April 2021
- “Evidentiary Issues: Text Messages, Facebook and Social Media,” Advanced Child Protection Law Course, Webcast, March 2021
- “Property Issues,” Handling Your First (Or Next) Divorce, Webcast, February 23, 2021
- “The 30-Minute Cross, 3-Minute Direct, 5-Minute Witness: Including Presenting and Managing Exhibits,” Advanced Trial Skills, Webcast, December 2020.
- “With a Little Help From My Friends: Working with Financial Experts,” Advanced Family Law, August 2020
- “Initial Client Interviews and Contract Basics,” Texas Bar College 22nd Annual Summer School, Galveston, TX June 2020
- “Property,” Trying Your First (Or Next) Divorce, Austin, TX October 2019.
- “Family Law Legislative Update,” Hood County Bar Association, Granbury, TX, September 2019.
- “Representing the Compromised Parent,” Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX, August 2019.
- “Family Law Legislative Update,” Texas Bar College Summer School, Galveston, TX, July 2019.
- “Initial Client Interviews and Managing Client Expectations,” Marriage Dissolution, Galveston, TX, April 2019.
- “Is ICWA Ancient History?” Advanced Child Protection Law Course, Dallas, TX, April 2019.
- “The Art of Case Analysis,” Moderator of Panel, Mastering Your Practice: Family Law, The Woodlands, TX February 2019 (Lecture Only).
- “Managing Your Law Practice,” Panelist, Mastering Your Practice: Family Law, The Woodlands, TX February 2019 (Lecture Only).
- “Exposing Confirmatory Bias: The Example of Sexual Abuse Allegations,” Family Justice Conference, Austin, TX January 2019.
- “Preparing Your Client for Trial: Managing Emotions and Expectations,” Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers, New Orleans, LA, December 2018.
- “Unusual Possession Schedules” and “Closing the File,” Texas Association of Paralegal Specialists, Addison, TX September 2018.
- “Exposing Confirmatory Bias: The Example of Sexual Abuse Allegations,” Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX August 2018.
- “Family Law Basics: From the Beginning to the End,” Texas Bar College 20th Annual Summer School, Galveston, TX July 2018.
- “Getting Information to Value a Business,” Marriage Dissolution Institute, Dallas, TX April 2018.
- “Closing the File: Are We There Yet?” Advanced Family Law Drafting, Fort Worth, TX December 2017
- “Managing Your Law Practice,” Mastering Your Practice: Family Law & Estate Planning and Probate, Horseshoe Bay, TX September 2017 (Lecture Only)
- “The Art of Case Analysis,” Mastering Your Practice: Family Law & Estate Planning and Probate, Horseshoe Bay, TX September 2017 (Lecture Only)
- “Valuation Demonstration,” Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX August 2017
- “Legislative Update,” Texas Bar College Summer School, Galveston, TX July 2017
- “Family Law Update,” Solo and Small Practitioner CLE, Fredericksburg, TX, April 2017
- “Courtroom Evidence and Demonstration,” Marriage Dissolution, Austin, TX April 2017
- “Dr. Strangelaw: Or How I Stopped Fighting and Learned to Love Collaborative Law,” Abner V. McCall Inn of Court, October 2016 (Lecture Only)
- “Getting It In and Keeping It Out,” Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX, August 2016
- “Drug Testing,” Marriage Dissolution, Galveston, April 2016
- “Drafting Documents to Close the File,” Advanced Family Law Drafting, Dallas, December 2015.
- “Direct and Cross Examination of Collateral Witnesses,” Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX, August 2015
- “Property Update,” State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX June 2015
- “Property Update,” Marriage Dissolution, Dallas, TX, April 2015
- “Family Law Update,” Essentials for General Practitioners, Sugarland, TX March 2015
- “Family Law Update,” Essentials for General Practitioners, Lubbock, TX January 2015
- “Family Law Update,” Essentials for General Practitioners, San Antonio, TX, December 2014
- “Family Law Update,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association CLE, Fort Worth, TX, November 2014
- “Family Law Update,” Solo and Small Practitioner’s CLE, Galveston, TX, September 2014
- “Using Form Discovery,” Marriage Dissolution, Austin, TX, April 2014
- “Unusual Possession Schedules,” Advanced Family Law Drafting, Dallas, TX, December 2013
- “Unusual Motions,” Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX, August 2013
- “Enforcement and Clarification Proceedings Under Chapter 9,” Marriage Dissolution Institute, Galveston, TX, April 2013
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Trial Institute, Panelist, Colorado Springs, CO, February 2013 (Lecture Only)
- “The Trial Notebook,” Trying Your First Jury Trial, Austin, TX, December 2012.
- “The Top 10 SAPCR Cases You Need To Know,” Advanced Family Law, Houston, TX August 2012.
- “Closing the File,” Family Law Drafting, Dallas, TX, December 2011
- “Admissibility of Electronic Communication in Family Law,” Texas College for Judicial Studies, Austin, TX April 15, 2011
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Trial Institute, Panelist, Las Vegas, NV, Feb. 2011 (Lecture Only)
- “Discovery and Drafting in the Computer Age”, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, Houston, TX, December, 2010
- “Collecting Child Support,” Advanced Family Law 2010, San Antonio, TX, August 2010
- “Advocating and Defending Unusual Child Support Requests,” Family Law On The Front Lines, San Antonio, TX July 2010
- “Electronic Evidence: How to Avoid Getting Shocked,” Ultimate Trial Notebook, San Antonio, TX December 2009 (Voted one of the Best for 2009 CLE)
- “Maximizing Results at Mediation,” Family Law Essentials, Victoria, TX October 2009
(Lecture Only) - “Third Party Discovery,” Marriage Dissolution Institute, Fort Worth, TX April 2009
Moderator, Family Law Essentials, Stephenville, TX July 2009 (Lecture Only)
Professional Associations
Professional Associations
- International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow
- President, Texas Chapter of the American Academy of Family Lawyers, 2025
- Board Member, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2025 – Present
- Member, Council of the Women and the Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2025
- President of the State Bar of Texas, 2023-2024
- Pattern Jury Charge, Family Law Committee Vice Chair, 2020-Present
- Pattern Jury Charge, Family Law Committee Member, 2019-Present
- Member, Tarrant County Bar Association, Present
- Member, Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, Present
- Board of Disciplinary Appeals, member, appointed by the Texas Supreme Court 2020-2022
- Executive Committee for the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists 2017-present
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Board of Directors, 2012-present
- Co-Chair State Bar Workgroup on Texas Lawyer Needs Arising From the 2020 Pandemic and 2021 Winter Storm
- Texas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees, 2015-2019
- Chair of the Texas Bar Foundation, 2017-2018
- Chair to the Council for the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas 2017-18
- Council for the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2008-2018
- Co-Course Director, Annual Meeting for the State Bar of Texas, June 2016
- Co-Course Director, the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Trial Institute, January 2015
- Co-Course Director, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2015
- State Bar of Texas Executive Committee, 2012-2015
- Chair of the Board of Directors for the State Bar of Texas, 2013-2014
- State Bar of Texas Board of Directors, District 14 Representative, 2011-2014
- Course Director, Trying Your First (Or Next) Divorce – January 18, 2013
- Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters – Committee Member 2012-2013
- Supreme Court Task Force for the Delivery of Legal Services to the Poor – Committee Member 2012-2013
- State Bar of Texas Affordable Legal Services – Committee Chair 2012-2013
- Co-Course Director, Advanced Family Law Course – August 2011
- James C. Watson Inn of Former Officers and Directors, Member
- State Bar of Texas Family Law Section, Member
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Member
- College of the State Bar of Texas, Member
- Sustaining Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Member
- Hood County Bar Association, Member
- Children’s Advocacy Center of Hood and Somervell County – President 2011-2012, Board of Directors
Education
Education
B.A. – Baylor University (1991)
J.D. – Baylor University (1995)
Bar Admissions
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1995
Certifications
Certifications
- Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2003
