Client-focused Solutions Driven by Integrity and Professionalism
Before Goranson Bain Ausley, Thomas L. Ausley was a founding partner of its predecessor, Ausley, Algert, Robertson & Flores, LLP. Tom has spent his career dedicated to practicing family law, and his steadfast integrity in advising and guiding his clients has earned him the highest level of respect from both judges and his peers. In 2013, he received the Sam Emison Award from the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists for his significant work in family law. Tom also received the Austin Bar Association’s Distinguished Lawyer Award in 2008 and the Texas Bar Foundation’s Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award in 2019.
Tom possesses a wealth of skill and experience from his numerous years practicing family law. He has excelled in cases involving Collaborative Divorce, high-net-worth divorce, mediation, and pre- and post-marital agreements. Today, his primary focus is on complex property cases. His years of handling complex property cases have provided him with extensive knowledge of the issues concerning closely held business interests and larger estates. However, whether he’s helping clients with a Collaborative Divorce or a complex property division, Tom always encourages those he represents to show compassion, especially regarding the interests of any children who may be involved.
Tom has shown himself to be a master litigator many times over, but he knows that’s not the only approach. He is highly skilled at developing creative solutions that help keep his clients out of court. Tom is also an exceptional negotiator who uses his talents in mediation to help settle disputes to obtain a favorable outcome. Whether through collaborative law, trial, mediation, or settlement conferences, Tom’s goal is always to help his clients reach the best resolution possible.
Tom has earned a reputation as one of the most recognized and respected divorce attorneys in Austin, Texas. His extensive and impressive list of accomplishments and professional association memberships includes:
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization certification in family law
- Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- President of AAML Texas Chapter (2005-06)
- Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers
- Member of the American Bar Association Family Law Section
Outside of his legal practice, Tom has also taught courses on family law for the State Bar of Texas and authored several articles. His accomplishments both in and out of the courtroom have made him a highly requested panelist and speaker. Martindale-Hubbell gave him an “AV” rating in their legal directory, and he was also the recipient of the Austin Bar Association’s Larry York Mentor Award in 2016.
Services
- Divorce
- Collaborative Divorce
- Divorce Mediation
- Divorce Arbitration
- High Net Worth Divorce
- Complex Property
- Divorce for Business Owners
- Business Valuation in Divorce
- Property Division
- Characterization of Separate and Community Property
- Dividing the Marital Home
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
- Gray Divorce
- Divorce for Men
- Divorce for Women
- Mental Health and Addiction in Divorce
- Parenting Schedules
- Visitation Rights
- LGBTQ+ Parenting Rights
- Becoming a Foster Parent
- Grandparent Visitation and Custody Rights in Texas
- Paternity
- Adoption
- Cohabitation Agreement
- Child Custody
- Child Support
- Alimony & Spousal Support Maintenance
- LGBTQ+ Divorce
- Uncontested Divorce
- Contested Divorce
- Litigated Divorce
- Negotiated Divorce
- High Conflict Divorce
- Pre-Divorce Guidance
- Appealing a Divorce Decree or Judgment
- Modification and Enforcement
- Amicable Divorce
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 – 2023
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law, Best Lawyers, 1987 – 2024
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law Mediation, Best Lawyers, 2023-2024
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law Collaborative Law, Best Lawyers, 2024
- Named to the 500 Leading Family Lawyers List, LawDragon, 2024
- Larry York Mentor Award, Austin Bar Association, 2016
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Thomson Reuters, 2003 – 2023
- 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- 2023
- 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, Best Lawyers, 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
