Gary L. Nickelson

Handling the Most Complicated Family Law Cases in Trial Courts Throughout Texas.

Experience and Professional Credentials

Gary L. Nickelson has handled family law cases exclusively for over 40 years. He is board-certified in Family Law through the State Bar of Texas and has been the chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar, President of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – both the Texas Chapter and national organization and is a former director of the State Bar of Texas.

In 2006, Gary received one of the most coveted awards in Texas family law – the Sam Emison Award. Each year, this award is bestowed upon one exceptionally distinguished family law practitioner or judge who has demonstrated a significant commitment and made significant contributions to the practice of family law in the State of Texas.

Gary is also a diplomate in The American College of Family Trial Lawyers, which is by invitation only and limited to 100 Family Law attorneys nationwide.

In 2003 Gary won the State Bar of Texas’ highest and most prestigious award, the Dan Price Award, given to a person who has had a significant impact on the Family Law Section for the past year.

Gary has been named a “Texas Super Lawyer,” a Thomson Reuters business, as published in Texas Monthly magazine since 2003.

Honors & Awards

• International Law Moot Court Competition-University of Texas School of Law, 1972
• Order of Barristers, 1972
• Co-Founder and Chairman of the Family Law Golf Association, Since 1993
• Co-Course Director of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists 9th Annual Trial Institute, New Orleans, LA, 1995
• Course Director Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists 10th Annual Trial Institute, New Orleans, LA, 1996
• Co-Course Director 22nd Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, San Antonio, Texas, 1996
• Course Director 26th Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, San Antonio, Texas, 2000
• Course Director 27th Annual Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Fort Worth Texas, 2004
• Chair, Pro Bono Committee of the Family Law Council, State Bar of Texas, 1995-1997
• Co-Course Director of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter Retreat, San Antonio, Texas, 1996-1998
• Course Director of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter Retreat, San Antonio, Texas, 1999
• Co-Director of Continuing Legal Education, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1997-1998
• Co-Course Director, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law Memphis, TN, 2007
• Fellow of the Year, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1998
• Recipient of the Eva Barnes Award, Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, 2002
• Recipient of the Dan R. Price, Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2003
• Recipient of the Judge Sam Emison Award, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2006
• Listed as a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly Magazine, since inception, 2003 to present
• Named in Top 100 Texas Super Lawyers by Texas Monthly Magazine, Several years
• Listed in Fort Worth, Texas Magazine as a Top Family Law Attorney, 2007 to present
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America as a Top Family Law Attorney, since inception, 2003 to present
• Recipient of the Family Law Hall of Legends Award, 2016
• Recipient of the Pat Nestor Innovation in Professional Development Award, 2018

Presentations

• Speeches to Fort Worth Chapter Texas Society of CPA’s regarding the legal Requirements of a small business, 1990
• Presentation to Parker County Bar Association on Protective and Temporary Orders, 1991
• Speaker and author for seminars entitled “Family Law” sponsored by Parker County Bar Association, 1992
• Speaker and author for National Business Institute, “Custody and Visitation” Fort Worth, Texas, 1992
• Speaker and author for Tarrant County Lawyers Against Domestic Violence “Drafting of a Protective Order”, Fort Worth, Texas, 1992
• Speaker and author for Parker County Bar Association Family Law Seminar, “Interesting Cases”, Weatherford, Texas, 1993
• Speaker and author for West Texas Legal Services Family Law Seminar, “The Proper Use of Forms and Form Book”, 1993
• Speaker and author for State Bar of Texas, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, “Interesting Cases”, Fort Worth, Texas, 1993
• Speaker and author for Marriage Dissolution, “Special Child Support Problems (For Net Resources Below $6,000.00 per Month)” South Padre Island, Texas, 1994
• Speaker and author for Texas Legal Assistants Division- Family Law Seminar, “Obtaining Child Support Outside the Guidelines”, Dallas, Texas, 1995
• Speaker and author for Life Lawyering and Pursuit of Happiness Seminar Speaker on Ethics Panel, Galveston, Texas, 1995
• Speaker and author for N.E. Tarrant County Bar Association “Family Law Updates”, Fort Worth, Texas, 1995
• Speaker and author for Marriage Dissolution Seminar, “Trying the Final Trial at the Temporary Hearing”, El Paso, Texas, 1995
• Speaker and author for Advanced Family Law Course “Temporary Orders”, Dallas, Texas, 1995
• Speaker and author for Advanced Family Law Course, “Practicing Law for Fun and Profit”, Dallas, Texas, 1995
• Speaker and author for Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, “Defending Against Enforcement”, Austin, Texas, 1995
• Speaker and author for the Tarrant County Family Bar Association “Defending Against Enforcement”, 1995
• Speaker and author for American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Mid-Winter Meeting, “Practicing Law for Fun and Profit: Practical Tips For Avoiding Pitfalls and Enjoying Success, Solvency and Sanity in the Practice of Family Law”, Koloa, Hawaii, 1996
• Speaker and author for Marriage Dissolution Seminar, “Sexual Abuse Allegations and Domestic Relation Proceedings: Practice Guidelines for Attorneys”, Corpus Christi, Texas, 1996
• Speaker, New Frontiers in Texas Marital Property Law “Dealing with Special Problems Attendant to Division of Closely Held Businesses”, San Diego, CA, 1996
• Speaker and author for the Fort Worth Chapter, Texas Society of Certified Public Accounts, “An Overview of the Texas Divorce Process”, 1996
• Speaker and author for the Blackstone Seminar “Relocation: Where can Children Go After Divorce?”, Fort Worth, Texas, 1997
• Speaker and author for American College of Family Trial Lawyers, “Cross Examination of a Mental Health Professional”, Laguna Nigel, CA, 1997
• Speaker and author for Marriage Dissolution Seminar, “Practicing Law for Fun and Profit”, Dallas Texas, 1997
• Speaker and author for Advanced Family Law Course, “Handling a Custody Case Involving Allegations of Sexual Abuse”, San Antonio Texas, 1997
• Speaker and author for New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, “The Characterization of Punitive Damages”, San Diego, CA, 1997
• Speaker and author for Family Law Art and Advocacy Law Course “Preparation of the Client as a Witness in Temporary Orders Hearing, Depositions and Trial”, Houston, Texas, 1997
• Speaker and author for 12th Annual Trial Institute, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, “How and When to Oppose a Choice of Managing Conservator”, New Orleans, LA, 1998
• Speaker and author at the 1990 Meeting of the Council of Community Property States “Cohabitant Relationships and Community Property”, Las Vegas, NV, 1998
• Speaker and author for Marriage Dissolution Seminar “Daubert Issues (Questioning Reliability of the Methodology of Custody Expert, An Asset Valuation Expert, etc.; Motions and Procedures to Attack/Exclude; Defending Such Attacks on Methodology)”, Austin, Texas, 1998
• Speaker and author for Advanced Family Law Course, “Special Problems for Divorcing Professionals and Valuation of Professional Practices”, San Antonio, Texas, 1998
• Speaker, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, Texas “Family Law for Fun and Profit: Practical Tips for Avoiding Pitfalls and Enjoying Success, Solvency and Sanity in the Practice of Family Law”, 1998
• Speaker, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, Santa Fe, New Mexico “Entities and Divorce – Family Limited Partnerships, Business Organizations, Trusts”, 1998
• Speaker and author, 1998 Divorce Conference, Dallas, Texas “Daubert Schmaubert – What the Heck is Daubert?”, 1998
• Speaker and author, 1998 Wining Techniques Seminar, “Expecting the Unexpected”, Houston, Texas, 1998
• Speaker and author for the 13th Annual Trial Institute, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, “Daubert Examination of a Valuation Expert” Las Vegas, NV, 1999
• Speaker and author for Marriage Dissolution Seminar, San Antonio, Texas “The Family Lawyer’s Essential Tool Kit”, 1999
• Speaker and author for Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas Texas “Characterization and Tracing”, 1999
• Speaker for Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas Texas “Practicing Law for Fun and Profit”, 1999
• Speaker, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, San Diego, CA “Defending Against Exotic Property Division Theories”, 1999
• Speaker, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Kohala, HI “Qualifying or Disqualifying the Psychological Expert Witness Using Daubert Principles”, 2000
• Speaker and author, Amarillo Bar Association Spring Institute, “Practicing Law for Fun and Profit”, 2000
• Speaker and author for Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Fort Worth, Texas “Divorce 2000: Taking Care of Your Client and Yourself”, 2000
• Speaker and author, The Fort Worth Chapter TSCPA “Ethics and Privilege Consideration for CPA’s”, 2000
• Speaker and author, The Ultimate Family Law Trial Notebook, “Temporary Orders”, New Orleans, LA, 2000
• Speaker and author, Corpus Christi Bar Association 2001 Family Law Seminar “Temporary Orders”, 2001
• Speaker and author, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, “The Basic Family Law Trial Manual, 2001”, Palm Springs, CA, 2001
• Speaker and author for Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Corpus Christi, Texas “Characterization Reimbursement and Tracing”, 2001
• Speaker and author for Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, Texas “Principles of Characterization and Tracing”, 2001
• Speaker, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, Texas “Effective Use of Legal Assistants in a Family Law Practice”, 2001
• Speaker, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, Santa Fe, NM “Developing Trial Strategies for the Complicated Property Case”, 2001
• Speaker and author for the 16th Annual Trial Institute, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Cancun, Mexico, “Why Am I A Family Law Layers?”, 2002
• Speaker and author for Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, Texas “Mediation: When is it Really Over?”, 2002
• Speaker and author for Marriage Dissolution Seminar, House Texas “Characterization and Tracing on a Budget”, 2003
• Speaker and author for Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, Texas “Family Law for Fun and Profit: Practical Tips for Avoiding Pitfalls, and Enjoying Success, Solvency and Sanity in the Practice of Family Law”, 2003
• Speaker and author for Advanced Family Law Drafting course, Austin, Texas “Relief is Just an Appeal Away: Drafting with Appeal”, 2003
• Speaker and author, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, “Family Law for Fun and Profit”, Lahaina, HI, 2004
• Chair and Moderator, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, Texas Property Trial Demonstration, 2004
• Speaker and author for Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Galveston, Texas “ABC’s of Trying the Simple or Complex Case”, 2005
• Speaker and author for Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, Texas “Handling the High Dollar Property Case on an Unlimited Budget”, 2005
• Co-Moderator on a panel, Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, Texas “Science and Law: What is Best for Children of Divorce?”, 2005
• Speaker and author for Advanced Family Law Drafting, “Using Outside Resources”, San Antonio, Texas, 2005
• Speaker, Family Law with Texas Stars – Pro Bono Seminar, Abilene, Texas “Handling the Custody Case on a Shoestring”, 2006
• Speaker for Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Boot Camp, “Enhancing the Practice”, Austin, Texas, 2006
• Speaker and author, South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association Seminar Hilton Head, South Carolina “Practicing Law for Fun and Profit”, 2006
• Speaker and author, Advanced Family Law Seminar, San Antonio, Texas “Effective Preparation and Presentation at the Final SAPCR Hearing”, 2006
• Speaker and author, Advanced Family Law Seminar, “Hot Tip: Balanced Life”, San Antonio, Texas, 2006
• Speaker and author, Ultimate Trial Notebook, Family Law, “Exhibits”, New Orleans, LA, 2006
• Speaker and author, 2007 Ely Family Law Conference, state Bar of Nevada “Temporary Orders and Witness Preparation” “Substance Abuse and Bad Facts in a Custody Case” “Preserving Error at Trial and Top Ten Mistakes at Trial”, 2007
• Speaker and author, Marriage Dissolution, “The Complex Case”, El Paso, Texas, 2007
• Speaker and author, 33rd Annual Advanced Family Law Course, “How to Get What You Got (In the Decree) Securing and Enforcing The Property Division”, San Antonio, Texas, 2007
• Speaker and author, Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association, “Effective Preparation and Final Trail of a Suit Affecting the Parent Child Relationship”, 2007
• Speaker and author, Kentucky Bar Association, 11th Annual Family Law Seminar “Mediation: Be Prepared”, Louisville, KY, 2007
• Speaker and author, AICPA-AMML National Conference on Divorce “Maintaining the Chain of (Electronic)Evidence and Spoliation of (Electronic) Evidence”, Las Vegas, NV, 2008
• Speaker and author, 34th Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, Texas “Professionalism”, 2008
• Speaker and author, 35th Advanced Family Law Course, Family Law Boot Camp, “Temporary Orders”, Dallas, Texas, 2009
• Speaker and author, 35th Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, Texas “Equitable Remedies: Getting Out of Traps, messes and Other Problems”, 2009
• Speaker and author, Marriage Dissolution Institute, San Antonio, Texas; “Finalizing the Deal: Rule 11 Agreements, Mediated Settlement Agreements and the Importance of Getting Orders Timely Signed”, 2010
• Speaker and author, state Bar of Texas Bar Convention, Fort Worth, Texas; “Practicing Family Law for Fun and Profit”, 2010
• Speaker and author, 36th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, Texas “The Art of Negotiation: How to get what you want while making the other side believe you have “given up the farm:””, 2010
• Speaker and author, Marriage Dissolution Institute, Austin, Texas; “Legislative Issues and Resources”, 2011
• Speaker and author, Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, Texas; “Legislative Update”, 2011
• Speaker and author, AAML/ AFCC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; “What Lawyers Can Teach Mental Health Professionals”, 2011
• Speaker and author, Advanced Drafting, Dallas, Texas; “New legislation”, 2011
• Speaker and author, Innovations – Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation, “Trial Strategies”, Houston, Texas, 2012
• Speaker and author, Advanced Family Law, “Predicates”, Houston, Texas, 2012
• Speaker and author, Advanced Family Law, Houston, Texas; “Welcome to the Future: Child Custody Evaluations”, 2012
• Speaker and author, “Handling Your First Divorce Case,” Austin, Texas, 2013
• Moderator, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, Texas, 2013
• Speaker and author, “Daubert and the Mosaic of Child Custody Assessment,” AFCC Conference on Advanced Issues in Child Custody: Evaluation, Litigation and Settlement, Washington, D.C., 2013
• Speaker and author, “Preparing Clients for Custody Evaluation: A Call for Critical Examination” Co – Author with Dr. Johnathan W. Gould, Litigation and Settlement, Washington, D.C., 2013
• Speaker and author, “Asset Investigation” at New Frontiers in Marital Property State Bar of Texas, Napa, California, 2013
• Webinar Presenter, “What’s Love (Death) Got To Do With It? –Premarital Agreements and Portability” State Bar of Texas, Austin, Texas, 2013
• Speaker and author, “Effective Documents for the (Efficient) Time Limited Temporary Hearings Orders” Co-Authored with Norma A. Bazan Advanced Family Law Drafting, State Bar of Texas, Dallas, Texas, 2013
• Trial demonstration, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialist, 2014
• Moderator, Making your SAPCR and Spousal Support Case – Temporary Orders (hearing demonstration), 2014
• Speaker and author, “Effective Documents for the (Efficient) Time Limited Temporary Hearings Orders” Co-Authored with Norma A. Bazan Advanced Family Law Drafting, State Bar of Texas, Dallas, Texas, 2013
• Speaker, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 31st Annual TAFLS Trial Institute, New Orleans, LA “Getting Out of the Eye of the Hurricane.”, 2015
• Speaker and author, “Pepto Bismol Moment: What to Do When You Mess Up and How to Save Yourself” Co-Authored with Brian L. Webb and Brant M. Webb, 38th Annual Marriage Dissolution Institute, Dallas, Texas, 2015
• Speaker, State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas “Effective Documents for Temporary Hearings”, 2015
• Course Director and Speaker, Matters of Family Law, September 25th-27th Texas Bar CLE, Horseshoe Bay, Texas, 2015
• Speaker, 20th Annual Course, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, Texas Bar CLE, Denver, CO, 2015
• Speaker and author, “Pepto Bismol Moments Are Reduced to Writing” Co-Authored with Brian L. Webb and Brant M. Webb, 38th State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Drafting, Westin Galleria, Dallas, Texas, 2015
• Speaker, Marriage Dissolution April 7th-8th, 2015 Galveston, Presentation of Matters of Family Law, 2016
• Presenter, Advanced Family Law August 1st-4th, 2016, Live Trial Demonstration “Temporary Orders”, 2016
• Course Director and Presenter Masters of Family Law, September 23rd-24th, 2016
• Speaker, Marriage Dissolution April 20th – 21st, 2017, Austin, Presentation of Professionalism, 2017
• Moderator of Judicial Panel, Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, Fort Worth, Texas May 16th, 2017, “Pepto Bismol Moments”, 2017
• Speaker, Arlington Bar Association, Arlington, Texas Presented State Bar Update, 2017
• Speaker, NE TCBA Luncheon, Colleyville, Texas Presented State Bar Update, 2017
• Speaker, Tarrant County Probate Bar Association, Petroleum Club Presented State Bar Update, 2017
• Speaker and author, “Effective Advocacy in Discovery”, San Antonio, Texas Co-Authored with Chris Nickelson 43rd Annual Advance Family Law, August 7-10, 2017
• Co-Course Director, Mastering Your Practice: Family Law & Estate Planning and Probate, September 14-15th Texas Bar CLE, Horseshoe Bay Resort, 2017
• Speaker, 1st Annual Advanced Child Protection Law Course, Jury Charge Issues State Bar of Texas, Austin, Texas, April 20th, 2018
• Speaker, Omni Fort Worth Hotel, Fort Worth, Texas Presented State Bar Update, April 25th, 2018
• Speaker, 50/50 Possession, San Antonio, Texas Presented with Benjamin Albritton and David Farr 44th Annual Advance Family Law, August 13-16th, 2018
• Speaker and author, “The Lawyer’s Creed Litigation” Advanced Trial Skills for Family Law Lawyers, New Orleans, Louisiana, December 13th – 14th, 2018
• Course Director and Speaker, Mastering Your Practice: Family Law, February 7th – 9th, 2019

Professional Associations

• Member of Trial Advocacy Association – University of Texas School of Law,  1972
• National Member of the Order of Barristers – University of Texas School of Law, 1972
• Moot Court Board-University of Texas School of Law, 1970-1972
• Moot Court Board-Secretary/ Treasurer, 1971-1972
• International Moot Court Team – 2nd in International Competition, 1972
• Tarrant County Bar Association, Since 1973
• State Bar of Texas, Since 1972
• Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Since 1984
• Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, Since 1980
• College of the State Bar of Texas, Since 1988
• Texas Supreme Court Child Support/ Visitation Guidelines Committee, 1991-1994
• State Bar of Texas Family Law Practice Manual Revision Committee, 1991-1997
• Fellow of the American Academy Matrimonial Lawyers, Since 1992
• President, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, National, 2008-2009
• President, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, 1999-2000
• Family Law Council of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 1992-2003
• Chair, Family Law Council of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2001-2002
• President – Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, 1993
• President, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2000-2001
• Editor of Family Law Forum, 1994-1997
• Member of State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee, 1994-1998
• Chairman of the District 7A Professional Enhancement Program of the State Bar of Texas, 1996-1998
• Diplomat of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, Since 1995
• Member of International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Since 1998
• Life Member of the Texas Family Law Foundation, Since 1999
• President, Texas Family Law Foundation, 2010-2012
• Member of the Matrimonial Lawyers Network, Since 2002
• Section Representative to the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors, 2013-2015
• Elected Director– Region 7-A, Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas, 2015 to 2018

Education

B.A. – Texas Tech University
J.D. – University of Texas School of Law

Bar Admissions

Texas, 1972

Certifications

• Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1984