Constructive Solutions for Complex Family Law Matters
I represent business owners, professionals, and parents who want to resolve complex family law matters in the least destructive manner possible. While managing all aspects of family law, I have a strong focus on cases involving complicated property and challenging real estate investments, contested custody disputes and modifications, and pre-marital and post-marital agreements. Whether in the courtroom or through out-of-court settlement, my goal is to protect children from the conflict of divorce and preserve financial assets for the future.
Here’s how:
- Customize a plan for each client that considers the unique and dynamic factors of their situation, whether that be a contested custody case, a complex property or real estate division, or pre-marital agreement.
- Serve clients with an unmatched work ethic, integrity, and thorough preparation to achieve the best possible outcome.
- Use Collaborative Divorce, mediation, negotiation, or litigation, depending on the approach that best meets clients’ needs.
- Synthesize and explain complex legal issues to empower clients to make informed decisions throughout their case.
- Educate and prepare clients for each step of the process, so they feel more in control and secure about their future.
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Professional Credentials
Jonathan is a highly skilled litigator and negotiator in high-conflict legal situations who consistently receives praise from clients for his integrity, professionalism, and responsiveness. He has extensive experience handling cases related to Collaborative Divorce, negotiated, and litigated divorce, complex property, and real estate division, contested custody, mental health and addiction issues, and pre- and post-marital agreements.
Jonathan is trained in Collaborative Divorce and is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in family law. He has been named D Magazine’s Best Lawyers Under 40 in 2023, a Best Lawyers in America © by Best Lawyers in 2020, 2021, and 2023 – 2025, and a Super Lawyers Rising Star From 2019 to 2023.
Jonathan invests his time doing pro bono work for victims of domestic violence in partnership with Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support and Emily’s Place. He is a member of the Annette Stewart American Inn of Court and the Dallas Bar Association Family Law Section. Jonathan also frequently writes on family law topics for the Texas Bar Journal, the Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, and the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section.
Jonathan James is a Dallas divorce lawyer working out of our Dallas and Plano office locations.
Interests
Born and raised in Plano, Texas, Jonathan attended Canyon Creek Christian Academy. After completing his undergraduate degree at Baylor University, he attended Texas Wesleyan School of Law (now Texas A&M School of Law) in Fort Worth.
Jonathan and his wife Emily are high school sweethearts and have two sons and a daughter. When not consuming content from numerous podcasts, articles, and the news, Jonathan is an active member of his church and enjoys participating in community service projects and trivia nights, playing golf, and playing bass guitar on the worship team.
Services
Services
- Family Partner Violence And Divorce
- Divorce
- Collaborative Divorce
- Contested Divorce
- Negotiated Divorce
- Property Division
- Complex Property
- Child Custody
- Child Support
- Modifying Child Support
- Parenting Schedules
- Visitation Rights
- Mental Health and Addiction in Divorce
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
- LGBT Parenting Rights
- Grandparent Visitation and Custody Rights in Texas
- Modification and Enforcement
- Divorce for Men
- Divorce for Women
- Dividing the Marital Home
- Characterization of Separate and Community Property
- Business Valuation in Divorce
- Cohabitation Agreement
- LGBT Divorce
- Uncontested Divorce
- High Net Worth Divorce
- Paternity
- Adoption
- Becoming a Foster Parent
- Alimony & Spousal Support Maintenance
- Divorce for Business Owners
- Appealing a Divorce Decree or Judgment
- Pre-Divorce Guidance
- High-Conflict Divorce
- Litigated Divorce
- Amicable Divorce
- Gray Divorce
Honors & Awards
Honors & Awards
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2019-2022
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Best Lawyers, 2020-2021, 2023 – 2025
- The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2024 & 2025
- Best Lawyers Under 40, D Magazine, 2023
Articles
Articles
- What Are My Rights if I Leave the Marital Home? Problems With Moving Out Before Divorce April 17, 2024
- What Should I Do to Differentiate My Personal Assets from Those of My Business? January 9, 2024
- How Can I Protect My Business from Being Considered Marital Property During the Divorce Process? December 19, 2023
- What Is a “Good” Lawyer? June 15, 2023
- Who Typically Gets the House in a Texas Divorce and What to do if You Want to Keep the House April 24, 2023
- Five Important Tips Before You File for Divorce November 16, 2022
- Pre-Marital and Post-Marital Agreements: The Gold Standard for Protecting Assets October 3, 2022
- What An Experienced Attorney Brings to Your High Net Worth Divorce July 20, 2022
- What Happens to Debt in a Divorce? April 7, 2022
- Five Tips to Protect and Maintain Your Separate Property in Divorce March 29, 2022
- Who Gets the House in a Divorce? September 29, 2021
Published Works
Published Works
- Co-Author, “Five Tips to Protect and Maintain Your Separate Property”, Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, September 2019.
- Author, “Right of First Refusal in Custody Cases”, State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section Report, Volume 2017-6 (Winter).
- Author, “Custody Fight: When Grandparents or Other Relatives Seek Parental Rights”, Texas Bar Journal, November 2017
- Author, “Kid Duty: The Right of First Refusal in Custody Cases and How it Can Backfire”, Texas Bar Journal, July 2017.
Videos & Podcasts
Videos
Professional Associations
Professional Associations
- Annette Stewart American Inn of Court, Member
- Collin County Bar Association, Member
- Dallas Bar Association, Member
- Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member
- State Bar of Texas, Member
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Member
Education
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.), Texas Wesleyan School of Law, Texas 2012
B.A., Baylor University, Political Science, 2009
Bar Admissions
Bar Admissions
- State Bar of Texas, 2012
Certifications
Certifications
- Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Family Law, 2020
