Ryan R. Bauerle

"My clients come to me at one of the worst times in their lives. My goal is to facilitate the best possible solutions for them."


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Ryan R. Bauerle, Board Certified Family Law Attorney at Goranson Bain Ausley's Plano, Dallas, and Flower Mound offices

About Ryan R. Bauerle

Ryan R. Bauerle is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a Fellow of both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He represents executives, business owners, physicians, attorneys, and their spouses in high-net-worth divorce, complex property division, and contested custody matters.

Clients often turn to Ryan when significant assets, important family relationships, and high-stakes decisions are all on the line. He advises clients through difficult transitions that require careful strategy, thorough preparation, and a clear understanding of both the financial and personal issues involved.

Ryan’s practice focuses on the financial complexity that often accompanies high-asset divorce, including business valuation, executive compensation, the characterization and tracing of separate and community property, closely held business interests, and other sophisticated financial issues. His background in finance gives him a practical understanding of the questions that frequently shape the outcome of complex divorce matters. He also represents clients in contested custody disputes, including cases involving special needs, mental health concerns, and substance abuse issues.

Ryan believes successful outcomes are built through preparation, communication, and thoughtful planning. He works closely with clients to establish clear goals, evaluate options, and make informed decisions throughout the process. While he prepares every case as though it may ultimately be decided in court, he also recognizes that many matters are best resolved through negotiation and settlement. His focus is on helping clients achieve favorable outcomes while preserving as much financial stability, certainty, and peace of mind as possible.

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What Sets Him Apart

  • Board Certified in Family Law. Board Certified since 2018, a distinction that reflects substantial experience, demonstrated competence, and peer-recognized expertise in family law.
  • Nationally Recognized in Complex Family Law. Ryan is a Fellow of both the AAML and the IAFL, reflecting recognized experience in complex, high-net-worth, and multi-jurisdictional family law matters.
  • Financial Sophistication for High-Asset Divorce. With a B.B.A. in Finance from Southern Methodist University, Ryan brings a practical understanding of the business, compensation, valuation, and property-tracing issues that frequently arise in complex divorce. Clients appreciate his ability to translate complicated financial concepts into clear strategies and informed decisions. He writes on this work, including his guidance on protecting wealth in a high-net-worth divorce.
  • Active Leadership in the Legal Profession. Ryan holds national and state bar leadership positions in family law, including roles with the American Bar Association and the Texas Young Lawyers Association.
  • Prepared When Litigation Is Necessary. While Ryan prioritizes constructive resolution wherever possible, he provides thorough preparation and strategic courtroom advocacy when contested custody or complex financial disputes require it.
  • Serving Families in Plano, Flower Mound, and North Texas. Ryan represents clients across Collin and Denton counties, including Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Prosper, Celina, and Lucas, working from the firm’s offices in Plano and Flower Mound on complex divorce, property, and custody matters.

Representative Matters

  • Achieved Favorable Child Custody Arrangement for C-Suite Executive: Successfully facilitated a complex and favorable child custody arrangement for a high-level C-Suite executive who was the sole wage earner in a long-term marriage with multiple children. Despite the executive’s non-traditional and demanding work schedule, Ryan brokered a 50/50 parenting time schedule.
  • Secured Separate Property Status for Medical Practices and Commercial Real Estate: Secured the confirmation of separate property status for a successful business owner encompassing multiple valuable medical practices and commercial real estate assets. This involved extensive forensic financial analysis, documentation, and persuasive argumentation, safeguarding the client’s business interests and ensuring their long-term financial security.
  • Increased Client Compensation & Award of Assets for Financial Waste by Spouse: Successfully substantiated a significant increase in a client’s post-divorce payments and vastly disproportionate share of asset division as compensation due to financial waste by their spouse, who had diverted marital assets for a paramour. This led to a highly favorable financial award for the client, ensuring equitable recompense and addressing the economic harm caused by the spouse’s actions.
  • Preserved Key Assets and Stabilized High-Conflict Divorce Following Appeal: Ryan’s client, initially represented by another family lawyer, was involved in a highly contentious divorce involving family violence allegations, substance abuse concerns, and extensive litigation. After a multi-day trial, the client secured primary parental rights and a favorable division of assets. However, following multiple appeals, including review by the Supreme Court of Texas, key aspects of the asset division were overturned, placing the client at risk of significant financial loss, including the potential forced sale of his home. Brought in at this critical stage, Ryan implemented a strategic and highly prepared approach to guide the client through the next phase of the case. He ultimately secured a negotiated resolution that allowed the client to retain his home and significantly reduce his financial exposure.

Practice Focus

Ryan advises clients in family law matters involving significant financial complexity, sensitive parenting issues, and high-stakes decisions:

  • High Net Worth Divorce. Counsel for clients navigating the division of substantial marital estates, sophisticated compensation structures, business interests, and other significant financial considerations.
  • Complex Property Division. Representation in matters involving closely held businesses, real estate holdings, investment portfolios, and other complex assets requiring detailed financial analysis and valuation.
  • Characterization of Separate and Community Property. Guidance in identifying, tracing, and characterizing separate and community property interests, including matters involving commingled assets and complex financial histories.
  • Business Valuation in Divorce. Representation in matters where a closely held business or professional practice must be valued and addressed within the marital estate.
  • Divorce for Business Owners. Counsel for business owners on dividing ownership interests while maintaining the continued operation of the business.
  • Child Custody and Conservatorship. Counsel in matters involving parenting plans, conservatorship, possession schedules, and other issues affecting children’s well-being, stability, and long-term interests.
  • Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements. Drafting and review of premarital and marital agreements for clients planning a marriage or addressing financial arrangements during one.

Recognition and Credentials

Ryan is consistently recognized among Texas family law attorneys. He is Board Certified in Family Law and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Family Law (2024–2026), following several years in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2020–2023). He has been named to Texas Super Lawyers (2025) after selection as a Texas Rising Star (2020–2024), and to D Magazine’s Best Lawyers Under 40 (2025).

Ryan is also an active leader in the legal profession. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, where he has served as Health & Wellness Committee Vice Chair (2024–2025), and a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and the Texas Family Law Foundation. He serves as Region V Representative on the American Bar Association Family Law Section Council and as a member of the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section Council (2025–present), chaired the State Bar of Texas Public Affairs Committee (2024–2025), and received the TYLA President’s Award (2025).

Ryan contributes regularly to the education of other attorneys. He served as Family Law Continuing Legal Education Course Director for the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting (2024), is a regular guest lecturer at Southern Methodist University School of Law, and speaks frequently on enforcement and contempt, discovery, and possession orders at state and national conferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Types of Family Law Cases Does Ryan Bauerle Handle?

Most of Ryan’s clients are facing a divorce where significant assets and parenting are both at stake, often with a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement in the picture. He handles the property and custody sides of these matters together, working toward a negotiated or settled resolution where possible and representing clients in court when a case must be litigated.

What Is Ryan’s Experience With High-Asset Divorce and Business Valuation?

Ryan has significant experience in divorces involving substantial and complex marital estates. His finance training allows him to analyze valuation, compensation, and property-tracing questions directly, and to work effectively with forensic accountants and other experts when a matter calls for them. He regularly represents clients whose marital estates include closely held businesses, professional practices, and sophisticated compensation arrangements.

Does Ryan Represent Parents in Contested Custody Matters?

Yes. Ryan handles contested custody with attention to children’s long-term stability and well-being. He has experience advocating for co-parenting arrangements, including equal or expanded parenting time and tailored possession schedules for the parents he represents.

Does Ryan Represent Clients in Flower Mound and Denton County?

Yes. Ryan works from Goranson Bain Ausley’s Plano and Flower Mound offices and, as a member of the Denton County Bar Association, represents clients throughout Collin and Denton County — including Flower Mound, Highland Village, Lantana, Argyle, and Northlake.

What Does It Cost to Work With Ryan?

Goranson Bain Ausley works on a retainer and hourly billing model. Because high-net-worth divorces and complex property matters vary widely in scope, retainer amounts depend on the complexity of the issues involved and the anticipated course of the representation. During an initial consultation, clients receive information about the firm’s fee structure and what to expect throughout the process.

Client Reviews

He is knowledgeable, confident, calm when I needed him to be and firm/aggressive in court when it was necessary. I always feel like he has my children’s best interests in mind. As a parent, it means more than he’ll ever know that it was obvious Ryan wasn’t just interested in having me as “another client” or “another victory” on his impressive resume. He truly cares about the well-being of my children and protecting my rights as their mother. I cannot recommend Ryan enough. – Tasha M.
Ryan Bauerle has been on my side for several years as we have navigated a very contentious custody battle and several related matters. His expertise in family law is top notch and his relationships with other lawyers proved to be exactly the right resources for issues outside of family law. Ryan and the GBA team have secured an outcome for my family that I never thought was possible, especially in the State of Texas. If you want an honest and effective family law attorney, I can not recommend him enough. – Nicholas W.
Ryan Baurle and his staff have been more amazing than I could’ve ever dreamed. We had a complicated family divorce situation, and Ryan completely dominated the courtroom, gave excellent service, has the best attention to detail out of anyone professionally whom I’ve ever met. – Melissa P.
He has been fantastic at working to resolve things quickly, is very responsive, does an outstanding job of prepping his clients prior to court and is an absolute bulldog in court. He works to manage costs for his clients and settle cases prior to court, but if you end up in court you can go in with 100% confidence that Ryan is well prepared and ready to fight for his clients. – Angie M.
Ryan Bauerle handled my divorce in 2019. I was overwhelmed and reluctant to file (though I knew it was necessary). He explained every step and every decision clearly without condescension or mansplaining. He had the backbone when I didn’t and listened to my concerns. Working with Ryan had been one of the best decisions of my adult life. – Emily G.
I had the pleasure of working with Ryan, Lerrin, and Victoria who were all amazing! All three of them were knowledgeable, professional, and looked out for my best interest. If I could go back, I would have started with GBA from the beginning, and they will be who I choose should I need representation in the future. If you are looking for great representation, I recommend stopping your search here and choosing GBA. A big thank you Ryan, Lerrin, and Victoria who were an absolute dream team when I needed it the most! – Gabriela B.
Ryan and Victoria did an awesome job explaining the whole divorce process to me and keeping me protected throughout an emotional event. They had my best interests in mind in all transactions with the other side and were mindful about costs. I appreciate them and highly recommend this firm for anyone who is going through the awful divorce process. – Alex S.
Going through divorce is hard no matter the circumstances. Mine were exceptionally challenging, but the staff at Goranson Bain Asley, in particular Ryan R. Bauerle and Victoria Cernadas, provided timely, professional, and caring expertise throughout the process. With their help, I was able to walk away knowing I had done everything to save my marriage, and when that wasn’t possible, settle as amicably as possible for all parties involved, including my children. I highly recommend them. – Travis H.
Over all great experience. Ryan and Victoria are top notch professionals. They are extremely knowledgeable, reliable, and work to achieve the best possible outcomes. I would recommend them to friends and family if they are ever in need of legal counsel. – Allen D.
Ryan Bauerle and his team were extremely professional and assisted me in a successful outcome in a family matter. If you are looking for a patient and persistent lawyer, I highly recommend. They understand the sensitive nature of family law but also know how to be firm and protect their clients. – Melissa C.
In my own case, Mr. Bauerle exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, responsiveness, and compassion. His ability to navigate a complex and emotionally charged legal matter with clarity, responsiveness, a genuine personal interest and conviction was remarkable. Ultimately, we prevailed, and the court once again issued sanctions—this time against a party who had demonstrated years of disregard for a standing custody order… I am profoundly grateful for the impact this team has had on my child’s life and our family’s peace of mind. It is with heartfelt sincerity that I offer my strongest endorsement of Ryan Bauerle and Victoria C. Their dedication and skill are truly extraordinary amongst the best in the business. – Hakan O.
I initially spoke with Paralegal Connor and worked directly with Paralegal Victoria and Attorney Ryan. All of them could not have been more professional, friendly, and empathetic. Responses to my emails came at the speed of light! My domestic relations issue was resolved and I am grateful to have had them on my side. If my issue resurfaces, I will not hesitate to reach out to them again and would recommend them highly. – Carol P.
At the lowest and hardest point of my life, this law firm and Ryan Bauerle came to my rescue and saved me from my situation. Always quick to respond, even after hours and weekends. Ryan and Victoria truly saved my life and their dedication to their clients is remarkable. They operate with Christian-based values and made me feel supported at a time when I needed the most. I will always be grateful for their support and help – they changed my life for the better! Thank you for all you do and for ALWAYS going above and beyond to support me and my children. – Lisa M.
I can’t recommend Ryan and Victoria enough. They treat your case like you are their only client. I have used them for years and will continue to use them every time I have a need. Thank you both so much! – Kyle W.
I can’t recommend Ryan Bauerle and Victoria highly enough. Going through a divorce is one of the most stressful experiences imaginable, and from day one, they were professional, compassionate, and incredibly knowledgeable. They explained every step clearly, kept me informed, and always made me feel like my case truly mattered. What stood out most was their ability to balance strong legal advocacy with genuine empathy. They were calm, responsive, and strategic, which gave me confidence during a time when I really needed it. Thanks to their guidance and hard work, I was able to get through this process with a fair outcome and peace of mind. – Katy B.
Highly recommend Ryan Bauerle and his paralegal Victoria! Ryan is thoughtful and honest. He knows the law well. Interprets existing documents, and can explain how the courts view things. He listens to his clients and advises you directly. I get timely responses to questions. He really helped me on my case, and afterwards I’ve kept him on retainer for anything that arrives until both my kids are grown. – Anne E.
Going through a custody modification is one of the most stressful things a parent can face, and I’m so thankful I have had Ryan Bauerle and his assistant, Victoria, by my side! From the beginning, they have been calm, focused, knowledgeable, and supportive. Ryan and Victoria are always quick to respond, keeping communications clear, and making sure I understand each next step of the process. They are very realistic in setting expectations, which I truly appreciate during such an emotional time. Most importantly, they have consistently helped to guide me in making decisions based on what makes the most sense for my children and have always kept my kids’ best interests at the center of everything. I feel like my case and my opinions matter and that they truly care about my kids. I’m grateful for their guidance and representation. I highly recommend Ryan to anyone who needs a trustworthy and compassionate family law attorney on their side! – Kristin R.
Working with Mr. Bauerle and Victoria was a phenomenal experience. I came to them as a defendant in a long-standing, complex custody dispute that had spanned years under previous counsel. Within just three months of hiring Ryan and his team, the case was successfully resolved in mediation with an outcome that was both in my favor and in the best interests of my children. The moment Ryan took over, the dynamic of the case shifted instantly. The level of professionalism, efficiency, and accountability provided by this firm is truly unmatched. Their work ethic transformed a stagnant, difficult process into a swift victory, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. – Ashley C.
Ryan Bauerle’s glowing reviews are already well-established, and while I hate to be unoriginal, I can confidently say they are 100% accurate. […] He listens to your biggest priorities, which is crucial when you have little kids involved. He knows how to think outside the box to find real solutions, and he is exceptionally well-connected to top professionals in the area. In a world where it’s not always just what you know, but who you know, his network gives his clients a distinct advantage. Let’s be realistic: no one gets 100% of their wish list in a divorce settlement. However, working with Ryan and Victoria will get you remarkably close. Speaking of Victoria, I am entirely convinced she can read Ryan’s mind. She is just as detail-oriented and meticulously prepared as he is, and together they operate with a seamless, effortless synergy. They responded to every single email I sent within the hour, providing thorough, actionable answers instead of vague legal jargon. […] He absolutely leveraged all the data I provided in preparation for my mediation, and the results spoke for themselves. I came into this process looking for excellent legal representation, but what I actually found was a team that protected my sanity and secured a more peaceful future for my children. I will be forever grateful to Ryan and Victoria for navigating me through one of the hardest chapters of my life. – Lisa W.

Beyond the Practice

Away from his practice, Ryan spends his time with his wife, Laura, and their three children. He loves adventure, travel, and scuba diving, and is an active hockey enthusiast who both plays and coaches his son’s hockey team.

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