Thomas L. Ausley is the founding partner of Goranson Bain Ausley’s predecessor firm Ausley, Algert, Robertson & Flores, LLP. He has devoted his legal career to the practice of family law and has earned the respect of peers and judges alike for his unwavering integrity in guiding and advising clients. Tom was bestowed the prestigious Sam Emison Award by the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists in 2013 in recognition of his significant contributions to the practice of family law and the Austin Bar Association’s Distinguished Lawyer Award in 2008. In 2019, Tom received the Texas Bar Foundation’s Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award.
Tom offers clients the experience and skill that only come from years of practicing family law. He primarily focuses on complex property cases, with a deep understanding of issues surrounding larger estates and closely-held business interests. Tom encourages clients to show compassion, especially where the best interests of children are concerned.
While Tom is a master litigator, he has a keen eye for creative solutions that keep clients out of court. Tom is known as an excellent negotiator who strives to work through impasses to achieve successful resolutions. His goal is to reach an agreement that is favorable to his clients, whether through trial, settlement conferences, collaborative law, or mediation.
Board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Tom is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and served as President of AAML Texas Chapter in 2005-2006. Tom is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, and a Member of the American Bar Association-Family Law Section, among an extensive list of memberships in professional associations.
A frequently requested speaker and panelist, Tom has authored numerous articles and taught family law courses for the State Bar of Texas. He received an “AV” rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory, Martindale-Hubbell and was given the “Larry York Mentor Award” by the Austin Bar Association in 2016. Tom is one of the most respected and recognized divorce attorneys in Austin, Texas.
Services
- Complex Property
- Paternity
- Adoption
- Cohabitation Agreement
- Child Custody
- Property Division
- Child Support
- Alimony & Spousal Support Maintenance
- LGBTQ+ Divorce
- Uncontested Divorce
- Contested Divorce
- High Net Worth Divorce
- Divorce
- Collaborative Divorce
- Divorce Mediation
- Litigated Divorce
- Negotiated Divorce
- High Conflict Divorce
- Pre-Divorce Guidance
- Appealing a Divorce Decree or Judgment
- Divorce for Business Owners
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
- Modification and Enforcement
Honors & Awards
- Professionalism Award, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2019
- Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award, Texas Bar Foundation, 2019
- Selected to Austin Monthly’s Top Attorneys, 2022
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law, Woodward and White Press, 1987 – 2023
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law Mediation, Woodward and White Press, 2023
- Larry York Mentor Award, Austin Bar Association, 2016
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Thomson Reuters, 2003 – 2022
- Selected to the “Top 100: Texas Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters, 2007
- Selected to the “Top 50: Central/West Texas Region Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2015- 2022
- Recognized for Contributions to the Advancement of Professionalism and Collegiality, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2015
- Sam Emison Award, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2013
- Named the Best Lawyers© Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Austin, Woodward and White Press, 2009
- Distinguished Lawyer Award, Austin Bar Association, 2008
- Outstanding Fundraiser Award, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Austin Chapter, 2008
- President and Chair’s Courage and Integrity Award, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 2004
- Good Guys and Gals Award, National Women’s Political Caucus, Texas Chapter, 2004
- “AV” rating, Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
- Finalist, 1st annual “Ethics in Business Awards”: Individual (Samaritan Counseling Center and St. Edwards University)
Published Works
- Author/Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, The Use of Paralegals in Family Law Cases, 1995
- Author/Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, Valuation and Appraisals, 1997
- Author, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Courses, Ethical Traps in Family Law Cases: Avoiding Land Mines, 1998
- Author, State Bar of Texas Advance Family Law Course, In the Trenches: Winning Techniques in Family Law Litigation, 1998
- Author, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, Securing and Collecting What Your Client Got, 1999
- Author/Speaker, Ultimate Trial Notebook for Family Law, The Use of Paralegals in Family Law Cases, 2000
- Author/Speaker, Advanced Family Law Course, Professionalism in Family Law, 2004
- Author/Speaker, Ultimate Trial Notebook, Pretrial and Scheduling Orders, 2004
- Author/Speaker, Collaborative Law Spring Retreat, Leadership and Self-Renewal for Collaborative Professionals, 2005
- Author/Speaker, University of Texas Family Law on the Front Lines, Impaired Clients: Ethical Issues and Advocacy, 2005
- Author/Speaker, Associate Judge’s Training, The Hague Convention, 2005
- Author/Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, Ethics & the Enhancement of the Attorney-Client Relationship, 2005
- Author/Speaker, Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar, Professionalism & Ethics for Paralegals, 2006
- Author/Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, The Professional Practice: Yourself, Your Office, and Your Relationships with Others, 2008
- Author/Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, Getting to Closure and Managing Client Relations, Collaborative Family Law Track, 2008
- Author/Speaker, Marriage Dissolution Course 101, Temporary Orders: What You Can Get and How to Get It, 2010
- Author/Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course: The Professional Practice, 2013
Presentations
- “Professionalism: Lessons Learned”, presenter, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas, 2019
- Panelist, State Bar of Texas Family Law 101 – The Top Ten Do’s and Don’ts – Lawyers View, 2017
- Speaker, Advanced Family Law Course – How to Live Long, be Prosperous and be a Professional, 2016
- Panelist, State Bar of Texas New Frontiers in Marital Property Law – Employee Benefits, How the World is Changing, 2016
- Speaker, Marriage Dissolution Institute – Masters of Family Law, 2016
- Speaker, Marriage Dissolution Institute – Taking the “High Road” Encourages Integrity, 2015
- Speaker, Family Law 101 – Basic Litigation Techniques: What Works and What Doesn’t, 2015
- Author/Speaker, Advanced Family Law Course – Do’s and Don’ts in Trial Preparation/Litigation, 2015
- Speaker, Advanced Family Law Course – Professionalism in Family Law, 2014
- Speaker Panelist, Civil Litigation – Witness Testimony: Nailing Your Direct and Cross-Examination, 2014
- Speaker, Technology 360 Conference – Balancing Your Life in This Technical World, 2014
- Speaker, Various seminars for the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas, State Bar of Texas, Travis County Bar Association, and Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas
- Speaker, Advanced Family Law Course – Top Ten Property Case You Need to Know, 2012
- Speaker, International Conference on Couple and Family Relations – Is it Child Abuse and Neglect or Social Policy Gone Awry?, 2012
- Panelist, State Bar of Texas Negotiation Strategies for Lawyers and Negotiation Ethics, 2012
- Speaker, Marriage Dissolution Course 101 – Client Screening: It’s a Tough Job, But Somebody’s Got to Do It, 2011
- Co-Course Director, Advanced Family Law Course, 2011
- Speaker/Panelist, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course – Valuation: Approaches, Assets and Authority, 2010
- Speaker, State Bar of Texas Family Law Boot Camp – Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2010
- Speaker, Austin Bar Association – Family Law Practice in Difficult Economic Times, 2009
- Panelist, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course – Joinder of Third Parties: Entities and/or Individuals, 2009
- Speaker, Collaborative Law Institute of Texas Boot Camp – Ethics in Collaborative Law, 2009
- Speaker, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Annual Meeting, USA and Canadian Chapters, The Path to Yearning for Zion/FLDS, 2009
- Speaker/Panelist, University of Texas School of Law and Texas Family Law Foundation’s 10th Biennial Family Law Legislative Update, 2009
- Speaker/Panelist, State Bar of Texas Family Law on the Front Lines – Representing the Difficult Client, 2007
- Workshop Moderator, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, Advanced Collaborative Law, 2007
- Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course – The Not So Easy To Identify Executive Employment Benefits, 2007
- Speaker, Paralegal Association of the Permian Basin – Ethics, 2006
- Speaker, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists’ Trial Institute – Litigation Alternative – Collaborative Law, 2006
- Moderator of Judges’ Panel, State Bar of Texas Marriage Dissolution Institute, 2006
- Course Director, Family Law, State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, 2006
- Course Director, Ultimate Trial Notebook, 2006
- Speaker, 1st Annual Collaborative Law Seminar – The Use of Collaborative Law in Your Practice, 2004
- Speaker, University of Texas Family Law on the Front Lines – Collaborative Law, 2004
- Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course – Characterization and Tracing, 2003
Professional Associations
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Fellow
- Collaborative Law Committee, Vice Chairman, 2010
- Professional and Collegiality Committee, Vice Chair, 2015
- Texas Chapter
- Treasurer, 2001-2002
- Secretary, 2002-2003
- President-Elect, 2003-2004
- President, 2005-2006
- Board of Governors of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, National Chapter
- Member, 2006-2009
- American Bar Foundation
- Life Fellow, 2006 – present
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section
- Member
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Associate
- Austin Bar Association
- Member
- Austin Bar Foundation
- Life Fellow
- Collaborative Divorce Texas (f/k/a Collaborative Law Institute of Texas)
- Member
- Board of Trustees, 2003 – 2007
- College of the State Bar of Texas
- Member
- International Academy of Family Lawyers
- Fellow
- Martindale-Hubbell Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers
- State Bar of Texas
- Member, 1968 – present
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section Council
- Member, 2003 – present
- Secretary, 2008-2009
- Treasurer, 2009-2010
- Vice-Chair, 2010-2011
- Chair, 2011-2012
- Immediate Past Chair, 2012-2013
- State Bar Task Force on Reorganization of the Office of General Counsel
- Member, 1994
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
- Member
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Life Fellow
- Texas Family Law Foundation
- Charter Member
- Board of Trustees, 2006-2009
- Travis County Family Law Advocates
- President, 2000 – 2001
- Political Action Committee
- President, 2001-2002
- Williamson County Bar Association
- Member
Education
- University of Texas School of Law, 1968
- J.D., Law
- Texas Tech University, 1965
- B.B.A., Finance
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1968
Certifications
Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1980
