Paul Leopold

Shareholder | Board Certified

VCard

Overview

Paul Leopold is board certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and focuses his practice on family law appeals. He has successfully argued appeals and original proceedings in multiple state and federal appellate courts, ranging from complex property disputes, custody, child support, international child abduction, constitutional rights of parents and myriad other issues. He has been voted by his peers as a “Top Attorney” in both family law and appellate law and has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Thomson Reuters for appellate law. Paul regularly prepares materials to teach other attorneys in Texas and around the nation through continuing legal education courses.

As appellate counsel, Paul works with trial attorneys at each stage of a case. He helps with strategy, pretrial practice, dispositive motions, trial, preservation of error and jury charges. Paul is called on by attorneys around Texas for guidance with complex issues or handling appeals from their cases as well.

Paul actively participates with both local and statewide bar associations and legal groups, including providing monthly case law updates to the Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association. Paul was previously appointed to work with the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee to draft procedural and evidentiary rules that affect the enforcement of foreign judgments in family law cases. The Family Law Foundation often requests Paul help with research and drafting of family law legislation.

Outside of work, Paul enjoys being with his wife and kids and gardening.

Education & Admissions

Texas A&M University School of Law, J.D., 2014
Brigham Young University, B.S. in Marriage, Family, and Human Development, 2010
Licensed in Texas
Supreme Court of the United States
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

Accreditations

Board Certified, Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Honors & Awards

Texas Rising Star, Thomson Reuters, 2020-Present
Top Attorneys: Appellate Law, 360 West Magazine, 2019-Present
Top Attorneys: Family Law, Fort Worth Magazine, 2019-2020
Top 40 Under 40, The National Advocates, 2018
10 Best Attorney for Client Satisfaction, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 2017
The Joseph W. McKnight Best Family Law CLE Article, Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2017

Representative Cases

Representative Reported Cases

In re Younger, --- S.W.3d ---, No. 22-1137, 2022 WL 18006684 (Tex. Dec. 30, 2022) (orig. proceeding).
In re D.A.A.-B., 657 S.W.3d549 (Tex. App.—El Paso Aug. 30, 2022, no pet.).
In re D.L., 641 S.W.3d 873 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2022, orig. proceeding).
Lundstrom v. Young, 857 Fed. App’x 952 (9th Cir. 2021), cert. denied, 142 S.Ct. 1363 (2022).
In re H.L., 613S.W.3d 722 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2020, no pet.).
Smith v. Smith, 976 F.3d558 (5th Cir. 2020).
Waldrop v. Waldrop, 552 S.W.3d 396 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2018, no pet.) (op. on en
banc reconsideration).
In re S.V., 599S.W.3d 25 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2017, pet. denied) (op. on reh’g).

Representative Unreported Cases

Poydras v. Poydras, No. 02-22-00152-CV, 2023 WL 415804 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan.26, 2023, no pet. h.) (mem. op.).
In re M.M., No.05-21-00992-CV, 2023 WL 179810 (Tex. App.—Dallas Jan. 13, 2023, no pet. h.) (mem. op.).
In re C.E., No.02-22-00285-CV, 2023 WL 170762 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 12, 2023, no pet. h.)(mem. op.).
Rice v. Rice, No.02-21-00413-CV, 2023 WL 109817 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 5, 2023, no pet. h.)(mem. op.).
Coon v. Coon (Thomas), No. 02-21-00381-CV, 2022 WL 7232163 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Oct. 13, 2022, no pet.) (mem. op.).In re C.S.D., No.05-20-00383-CV, 2022 WL 4092430 (Tex. App.—Dallas Sep. 7, Sep. 7, 2022, no pet.) (mem. op.).
In re Marriage of Wells, No. 12-21-00152-CV, 2022 WL 3724724 (Tex. App.—Tyler Aug. 30,2022, no pet.) (mem. op.).
Mahmoud v. Jackson, No.05-21-00302-CV, 2022 WL 2167683 (Tex. App.—Dallas June 16, 2022, no pet.) (mem.op.). In re A.Y.S., No.12-21-00074-CV, 2022 WL 868046 (Tex. App.—Tyler Mar. 23, 2022, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
Shakouri v. Shakouri, No. 02-20-00297-CV, 2022 WL 189084 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan.20, 2022, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
Bizzle v. Baker, No.02-20-00075-CV, 2022 WL 123216 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 13, 2022, pet. filed) (mem. op.). In re K.F., No.02-21-00056-CV, 2021 WL 5742239 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Dec. 2, 2021, no pet.) (mem. op.).
In re K.F., No.02-21-00056-CV, 2021 WL 5742239 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Dec. 2, 2021, no pet.) (mem. op.).
Alikhan v. Alikhan, No.03-19-00515-CV, 2021 WL 3085844 (Tex. App.—Austin July 22, 2021, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
In re T.M., No.02-19-00388-CV, 2020 WL 7393741 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Dec. 17, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.).
In re H.L., No.02-20-00120-CV, 2020 WL 5949920 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Oct. 8, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.).
In re E.A., No. 02-18-00233-CV, 2020 WL 3969587 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth June 18, 2020, no pet.)(mem. op.).
In re S.U., No. 02-19-00395-CV, 2020 WL 1949626 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth April 23, 2020, no pet.)(mem. op.).
In re Bizzle, No.02-20-00079-CV, 2020 WL 1313725 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Mar. 20, 2020, orig. proceeding [mand. denied, Aug. 28, 2020]) (mem. op.).
Bartee v. Bartee, No.11-18-00017-CV, 2020 WL 524909 (Tex. App.—Eastland Jan. 31, 2020, no pet.)(mem. op.).
Wright v. Payne, No. 02-19-00147-CV, 2019 WL 6003243 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Nov. 14, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.).
C.C. v. L.C., No. 02-18-00425-CV, 2019 WL 2865294 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth July 3, 2019, no pet.)(mem. op.).
In re J.W., No.02-18-00419-CV, 2019 WL 2223216 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth May 23, 2019, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.).
In re M.S., No.02-18-00379-CV, 2019 WL 1768993 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth April 22, 2019, pet.denied) (mem. op.).
In re C.W.J., No.11-17-00085-CV, 2019 WL 1067489 (Tex. App.—Eastland Mar. 7, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.).
In re K.F., No.02-18-00187-CV, 2018 WL 6816119 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Dec. 27, 2018, pet.denied) (mem. op.).
In re A.C., No.02-18-00129-CV, 2018 WL 5273931 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Oct. 24, 2018, pet.denied) (mem. op.).
Pedone v. Harvey, No. 07-17-00394-CV, 2018 WL 3677804 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Aug. 2,2018, no pet.) (mem. op.).
In re Garza, No.05-18-00816-CV, 2018 WL 3569384 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 25, 2018, orig.proceeding) (mem. op.).
In re J.C.V., No.05-17-00828-CV, 2017 WL 5150990 (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 7, 2017, no pet.) (mem.op.).
In re E.B., No.12-17-00214-CV, 2017 WL 4675109 (Tex. App.—Tyler Oct. 18, 2017, orig.proceeding [mand. denied, June 8, 2018]) (mem. op.).
In re Jennings, No.10-17-00247-CV, 2017 WL 4542994 (Tex. App.—Waco Oct. 11, 2017, orig.proceeding) (mem. op.).

In re B.L., No.02-16-00360-CV, 2016 WL 6804467 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Nov. 17, 2016, orig.
proceeding). (mem. op.).
In re I.C., No.02-15-00300-CV, 2016 WL 1394539 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth April 28, 2016, no pet.)
(mem. op.).
Saldana v. Saldana, No.10-15-00411-CV, 2016 WL 1238730 (Tex. App.—Waco Mar. 24, 2016, no pet.) (mem.op.).

Publications & Presentations

Author, “The Weight of the World: Posturing the Property Case for Appeal,” State Bar of Texas Annual New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, 2022, Truckee, California
Author, “Cutting Edge Evidence,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2022, San Antonio, Texas
Author, “Cutting Edge Evidence,” State Bar of Texas Annual Texas
Bar College Summer School, 2022, Galveston, Texas
Author, “Cutting Edge Evidence,” State Bar of Texas Annual
Advanced Trial Strategies, 2022, New Orleans, Louisiana
Co-Author, “Covid-19 Legislation Creates New Financial Issues in
Author, Divorce Litigation,” 34 Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 473, 2022
Presenter, “Family Law Case Law Update,” Wise, Jack & Montague
Presenter, Counties Women’s Bar Association, 2022, Online CLE Webinar
Presenter, “Top 20 Family Law Cases of 2021,” Tarrant County
Presenter, Family Law Bar Association Monthly Luncheon, 2022, Online CLE Webinar
Author/Presenter, “Cutting Edge Evidence,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Advanced on a Shoestring, 2021, Fort Worth, Texas
Author, “Exiting the Case: Creative Property Division and Other Remedies at Final Trial,” State Bar of Texas Annual New Frontiers in Marital Property Law CLE, 2021, Austin, Texas
Author, “Texas Evidence Handbook,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2021, San Antonio, Texas
Contributing Editor, “Predicates Manual 5.0,” Texas Family Law Foundation, 2021
Contributing Author, “Fast Guide to Family Law: Checklist for Everyday Practice,” State Bar of Texas Family Law Section, 2021
Contributing Author: “Essentials of E-Discovery, 2nd ed.,” Texas Bar Books, 2021
Author: “The Evidence Handbook: Basic Evidence in Family Law:
Getting It In, Keeping It Out, and Dealing With Electronic Evidence,” State Bar of Texas Handling Your First (Or Next) Divorce Case, 2021, Online CLE Webinar
Presenter, “Access, Disclosure, and Use of Mental Health Records
in Family Law,” Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Virtual 58th
Annual Meeting, 2021, Online CLE Webinar
Presenter, “2021 Changes to the TRCP,” Tarrant County Family Law
Bar Association Monthly Luncheon, 2021, Online CLE Webinar
Author, “Spousal Privacy: Where It Begins and Where It Ends,”
State Bar of Texas Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
Author, “Preparing Direct and Cross Examination of the Financial Expert,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
Author: “Top Ten Mistakes Made in Discovery Matters,” State Bar of Texas Annual Fiduciary Litigation, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
Presenter, “SAPCR Case Law Update,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Advanced on a Shoestring, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
Author, “Cutting Edge Evidence Issues,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Virtual Annual Meeting, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
Author, “Courtroom Evidence,” Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum Virtual Family Law Institute, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
Author, “What to Bring to Court for the Expected and Unexpected,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
Author/Presenter, “Discovery Hacks,” State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
Author, “Discovery Hacks,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Drafting, 2019, Dallas, Texas
Author/Presenter, “Evidence Trial Skills,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Advanced on a Shoestring, 2019, Fort Worth, Texas
Author/Presenter, “Gimme that ‘Fake Smile’ While Putting on Your Fake Evidence,” Legal Aid of Northwest Texas Family Law Seminar, 2019, Fort Worth, Texas
Author, “Courtroom Examination in Family Law Cases: Effective and Efficient Presentation,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2019, San Antonio, Texas
Author, “Evidence Trial Skills: Getting It In and Keeping It Out,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2019, San Antonio, Texas
Author, “Gray Divorce: Strategies for Over 65, Dementia, and Durable POAs,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2019, San Antonio, Texas
Contributing Editor, “Predicates Manual 4.0,” Texas Family Law Foundation, 2019
Co-Author, “Getting Divorced? 8 Ways to Smooth the Process and Ease the Pain,” Fort Worth Magazine, March 2019
Presenter, “Roughin’ It Through Family Law - 2018-2019 Case Law Update,” Collin County Bench Bar, 2019, Glen Rose, Texas
Author, “Evidence Trial Skills: Getting It In & Keeping It Out,” Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers, 2018, New Orleans, Louisiana
Presenter, “Firearms and Gun Trusts,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Advanced on a Shoestring, 2018, Fort Worth, Texas
Author/Presenter, “Evidence Update,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2018, San Antonio, Texas
Author, “Effective Evidence,” State Bar of Nevada Annual Family Law Conference, 2018, Bishop, California
Author, “The Divorce of Las Vegas Mobster, Benjamin ‘Bugsy’ Siegel and Esta Krakower,” Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Annual Trial Institute, 2018, Las Vegas, Nevada
Author, “Innovative Discovery,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Drafting, 2017, Fort Worth, Texas
Author, “Evidence Handbook,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2017, San Antonio, Texas
Author, “Courtroom Evidence and Demonstration,” State Bar of Texas Annual Marriage Dissolution Institute, 2017, Austin, Texas
Author, “Technology Case Law Update,” State Bar of Texas Family Law and Technology, 2016, Austin, Texas
Author, “The New Evidence Handbook,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2016, San Antonio, Texas
Contributing Author, “Fast Guide to Family Law: Checklist for Everyday Practice,” State Bar of Texas Family Law Section, 2016
Author, “The Hearsay Rule Revisited: Practical Application of the Hearsay Rule in Family Court,” South Carolina Bar Convention - Family Law Section, 2016, Charleston, South Carolina
Author, “The Role of Experts in Characterizing and Tracing Property,” State Bar of Texas Annual New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, 2015, Denver, Colorado
Author, “Mandamus and Habeas Corpus,” State Bar of Texas Annual Marriage Dissolution Institute, 2014, Austin, Texas
Author, “Remand,” State Bar of Texas Annual Marriage Dissolution Institute, 2014, Austin, Texas Cases

Professional & Community Involvement

State Bar of Texas, Family Law and Appellate Sections, Member, 2014-Present
Texas Bar College, Member, 2015-Present
Texas Family Law Foundation, Member, 2015-Present
Texas Young Lawyers Association, Member, 2015-Present
Tarrant County Bar Association, Appellate Section
Planning Committee, Secretary, 2023
Member, 2015-Present
Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, Member, 2015-Present
Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, Associate Member, 2017-2018
National Family Law Trial Institute, Alumnus, 2016