Gary L. Nickelson
Top Rated Family Law Attorney with 51 years of experience
Family Law, Child Custody, Guardianship
5201 West Freeway, Suite 100, Fort Worth, TX 76107
About Gary L. Nickelson
Practice Areas
- Family Law
- Child Custody
- Guardianship
Education
- The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 1972J.D.
- Honors: Member, Trial Advocacy Association, 1972
- Honors: National Member, Order of the Barristers, 1972
- Honors: Moot Court Board, 1970-1972
- Honors: Moot Court Board-Secretary/Treasurer, 1971-1972
Show More - Texas Tech University, 1969B.A.
Classes and Seminars
- Co-Course Director, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 9th Annual Trial Institute, New Orleans, LA, 1995
- Course Director, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialist, 10th Annual Trial Institute, New Orleans, LA, 1996
- Co-Course Director, 22nd Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar San Antonio, TX, 1996
- Co-Course Director, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter Retreat, San Antonio, TX, 1996 - 1998
- Co-Director, Continuing Legal Education, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1997 - 1998
- Course Director, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter Retreat, San Antonio, TX, 1999
- Course Director, 26th Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar San Antonio, TX, 2000
- Course Director, 27th Annual Marriage Dissolution Seminar Fort Worth, TX, 2004
- Co-Course Director, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, Memphis, TN, 2007
- Speaker, Legal Requirements of a Small Business, Fort Worth Chapter Texas Society of CPA's, 1990
- Presenter, Protective and Temporary Orders, Parker County Bar Association, 1991
- Speaker, Family Law, Parker County Bar Assoc., 1992
- Speaker, Custody and Visitation, National Business Institute, Fort Worth, TX, 1992
- Speaker, Drafting of a Protective Order, Tarrant County Lawyers Against Domestic Violence, Fort Worth, TX, 1992
- Speaker, Family Law Seminar, Interesting Cases, Parker County Bar Association, Weatherford, TX, 1993
- Speaker, The Proper Use of Forms and Form Book, West Texas Legal Services Family Law Seminar, 1993
- Speaker, Interesting Cases, State Bar of Texas, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Fort Worth, TX, 1993
- Speaker, Special Child Support Problems (For Net Resources Below $6,000.00 per Month), Marriage Dissolution, South Padre Island, TX, 1994
- Speaker, Obtaining Child Support Outside the Guidelines, Texas Legal Assistants Division-Family Law Seminar, Dallas, TX, 1995
- Speaker, Life Lawyering and Pursuit of Happiness Seminar, Galveston, TX, 1995
- Speaker, Ethics Panel, Galveston, TX, 1995
- Speaker, Family Law Updates, N.E. Tarrant County Bar Association, Fort Worth, TX, 1995
- Speaker, Trying the Final Trial at the Temporary Hearing, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, El Paso, TX, 1995
- Speaker, Temporary Orders, Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, TX, 1995
- Speaker, Practicing Law for Fun and Profit, Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, TX, 1995
- Speaker, Defending Against Enforcement, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, Austin, TX, 1995
- Speaker, Defending Against Enforcement, Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, 1995
- Speaker, Practicing Law for Fun and Profit: Practical Tips for Avoiding Pitfalls and Enjoying Success, Solvency and Sanity in the Practice of Family Law, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Mid-Winter Meeting, Koloa, HI, 1996
- Speaker, Sexual Abuse Allegations and Domestic Relation Proceedings: Practice Guidelines for Attorneys, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Corpus Christi, TX, 1996
- Speaker, Dealing with Special Problems Attendant to Division of Closely Held Businesses, New Frontiers in Texas Marital Property Law, San Diego, CA, 1996
- Speaker, An Overview of the Texas Divorce Process, Fort Worth Chapter, Texas Society of Certified Public Accounts, 1996
- Speaker, Relocation: Where Can Children Go After Divorce?, Blackstone Seminar, Fort Worth, TX, 1997
- Speaker, Cross Examination of a Mental Health Professional, American College of Family Trial Lawyers, Laguna Nigel, CA, 1997
- Speaker, Practicing Law for Fun and Profit, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Dallas, TX, 1997
- Speaker, Handling a Custody Case Involving Allegations of Sexual Abuse, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 1997
- Speaker, The Characterization of Punitive Damages, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, San Diego, CA, 1997
- Speaker, Preparation of the Client as a Witness in Temporary Orders Hearing, Depositions and Trial, Family Law Art and Advocacy Law Course, Houston, TX, 1997
- Speaker, How and When to Oppose A Choice of Managing Conservator, 12th Annual Trial Institute, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, New Orleans, LA, 1998
- Speaker, Cohabitant Relationships And Community Property, Meeting of the Council of Community Property States, Las Vegas, NV, 1998
- Speaker, Daubert Issues (Questioning Reliability of the Methodology of a Custody expert, An Asset Valuation Expert, etc.; Motions and Procedures to Attack/Exclude; Defending Such Attacks on Methodology)", Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Austin, TX, 1998
- Speaker, Special Problems for Divorcing Professionals and Valuation of Professional Practices, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 1998
- Speaker, Family Law for Fun and Profit: Practical Tips for Avoiding Pitfalls and Enjoying Success, Solvency and Sanity in the Practice of Family Law", Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 1998
- Speaker, Entities and Divorce- Family Limited Partnerships, Business Organizations, Trusts, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, Santa Fe, NM, 1998
- Speaker, Daubert Schmaubert - What the Heck is Daubert?, Speaker, 1998 Divorce Conference, Dallas, TX, 1998
- Speaker, Expecting the Unexpected, 1998 Winning Techniques Seminar, Houston, TX, 1998
- Speaker, Daubert Examination of a Valuation Expert, 13th Annual Trial Institute, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Las Vegas, NV, 1999
- Speaker, The Family Lawyer's Essential Tool Kit, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, San Antonio, TX, 1999
- Speaker, Characterization and Tracing, Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, TX, 1999
- Speaker, Practicing Law for Fun and Profit, Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, TX, 1999
- Speaker, Defending Against Exotic Property Division Theories, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, San Diego, CA, 1999
- Speaker, Qualifying or Disqualifying the Psychological Expert Witness Using Daubert Principles, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Kohala, HI, 2000
- Speaker, Practicing Law for Fun and Profit, Amarillo Bar Association Spring Institute, 2000
- Speaker, Divorce 2000: Taking Care of Your Client and Yourself, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Fort Worth, TX, 2000
- Speaker, Ethics and Privilege Consideration for CPA's, The Fort Worth Chapter TSCPA, 2000
- Speaker, Temporary Orders, The Ultimate Family Law Trial Notebook, The Ultimate Family Law Trial Notebook, New Orleans, LA, 2000
- Speaker, Temporary Orders, Corpus Christi Bar Association 2001 Family Law Seminar, 2001
- Speaker, The Basic Family Law Trial Manual, 2001, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Palm Springs, CA, 2001
- Speaker, Characterization Reimbursement & Tracing, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Corpus Christi, TX, 2001
- Speaker, Principles of Characterization and Tracing, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 2001
- Speaker, Effective Use of Legal Assistants in a Family Law Practice, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 2001
- Speaker, Developing Trial Strategies for the Complicated Property Case, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, Santa Fe, NM, 2001
- Speaker, Why Am I A Family Law Lawyer?, 16th Annual Trial Institute, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Cancun, Mexico, 2002
- Speaker, Mediation: When is it Really Over?, Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, TX, 2002
- Speaker, Characterization and Tracing on a Budget, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Houston, TX, 2003
- Speaker, Family Law for Fun and Profit: Practical Tips for Avoiding Pitfalls, And Enjoying Success, Solvency and Sanity in the Practice of Family Law, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 2003
- Speaker, Relief is Just an Appeal Away: Drafting with Appeal, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, Austin, TX, 2003
- Speaker, Family Law for Fun and Profit, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Lahaina, HI, 2004
- Chair and Moderator, Property Trial Demonstration, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX
- Speaker, ABC's of Trying the Simple or Complex Case, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Galveston, TX, 2005
- Speaker, Handling the High Dollar Property Case on an Unlimited Budget, Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, TX, 2005
- Co-Moderator on a Panel, Science and Law: What is Best for Children of Divorce?, Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, TX, 2005
- Speaker, Using Outside Resources, Advanced Family Law Drafting, San Antonio, TX, 2005
- Speaker, Handling The Property Case On A Shoestring, Texas Stars - Pro Bono Seminar, Abilene, TX, 2006
- Speaker, Enhancing the Practice, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, Boot Camp, Austin, TX, 2006
- Speaker, The Characterization of Punitive Damages, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, San Diego, CA
- Speaker, Practicing Law for Fun and Profit, South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association Seminar, Hilton Head, SC, 2006
- Speaker, Effective Preparation and Presentation at the Final SAPCR Hearing, Advanced Family Law Seminar, San Antonio, TX, 2006
- Speaker, Hot Tip: Balanced Life, Advanced Family Law Seminar, San Antonio, TX, 2006
- Speaker, Exhibits, Ultimate Trial Notebook, Family Law, New Orleans. LA, 2006
- Speaker, Temporary Orders and Witness Preparation; substance Abuse and Bad Facts in a Custody Case; Preserving Error at Trial and Top Ten Mistakes at Trial , Ely Family Law Conference, State Bar of Nevada, 2007
- Speaker, The Complex Case, Marriage Dissolution, El Paso, TX, 2007
- Speaker, How To Get How To Get What You Got (In The Decree) Securing and Enforcing The Property Division, 33rd Annual Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 2007
- Speaker, Effective Preparation and Final Trial of a Suit Affecting the Parent Child Relationship, Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association, 2007
- Speaker, Mediation: Be Prepared, Kentucky Bar Association, 11th Annual Family Law Seminar, Louisville, KY, 2008
- Speaker, Maintaining the chain of (Electronic) Evidence and Spoliation of (Electronic) Evidence, AICPA-AAML National conference on Divorce, Las Vegas, NV, 2008
- Speaker, Professionalism, 34th Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 2008
- Speaker, Temporary Orders, 35th Advanced Family Law Course, Family Law Boot Camp, Dallas, TX, 2009
- Speaker, Equitable Remedies: Getting Out of Traps, Messes, and Other Problems, 35th Advanced Family Law Course, Dallas, TX, 2009
- Speaker, Finalizing the Deal: Rule 11 Agreements, Mediated Settlement Agreements and the Importance of Getting Orders Timely Signed , Marriage Dissolution Institute, San Antonio, TX, 2010
- Speaker, Practicing Family Law for Fun and Profit, State Bar of Texas Bar Convention, Fort Worth, TX, 2010
- Speaker, The Art of Negotiation: How to get what you want while making the other side believe you have 'given up the farm' , 36th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, TX, 2010
- Speaker, Legislative Issues and Resources, Marriage Dissolution Institute, Austin, TX, 2011
- Speaker, Legislative Update, Advanced Family Law, San Antonio, TX, 2011
- Speaker, What Lawyers Can Teach Mental Health Professionals, AAML/AFCC, Philadelphia, PA, 2011
- Speaker, New Legislation, Advanced Drafting, Dallas, TX, 2011
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1972
Other Affiliations
- North Texas Family Law Specialists Association, 1984 - Present
- American Bar Association, 1988 - Present
- College of the State Bar of Texas, 1988 - Present
- Parker County Bar Association, 1991 - Present
- Texas Supreme Court, 1991 - 1994 (Child Support/Visitation Guidelines Committee)
- Family Law Golf Association, 1993 - Present (Co-Founder and Chairman)
- American College of Family Trial Lawyers, 1995 - Present (Diplomat)
- International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1998 - Present (Member)
- Matrimonial Lawyers Network, 2002 - Present (Member)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1992 - Present (Fellow)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, 1996 - 1997 (Secretary)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, 1997 - 1998 (Vice President)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, 1998 - 1999 (President-Elect)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, 1999 - 2000 (President)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1997 - 1998 (Counsel)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1998 - 2001 (Board of Governors)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2001 - 2006 (Vice-President)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2006 - 2007 (First Vice President)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2007 - 2008 (President Elect)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2008 - 2009 (President)
- State Bar of Texas, 1972 - Present
- State Bar of Texas, 1991 - 1997 (Family Law Practice Manual Revision Committee)
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, 1992 - Present (Family Law Council)
- State Bar of Texas, 1994 - 1998 (Member, Grievance Committee)
- State Bar of Texas, 1995 - 1997 (Chair, Pro Bono Committee of the Family Law Council)
- State Bar of Texas, 1996 - 1998 (Chairman, District 7A Professional Enhancement Program)
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, 1997 - 1998 (Secretary, Family Law Council)
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, 1998 - 1999 (Treasurer, Family Law Council)
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, 1999 - 2000 (Vice-Chair, Family Law Council)
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, 2000 - 2001 (Chair-Elect, Family Law Council)
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, 2001 - 2002 (Chair, Family Law Council)
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, 2002 - 2003 (Immediate Past Chair, Family Law Council)
- Tarrant County Bar Association, 1973 - Present
- Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, 1980 - Present
- Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, 1989 - 1998 (Board of Directors)
- Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, 1993 (President)
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 1984 - Present
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 1993 - 1996 (Member, Board of Directors)
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 1996 - 1997 (Treasurer)
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 1997 - 1998 (Secretary)
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 1998 - 1999 (Vice President)
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 1999 - 2000 (President-Elect)
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2000 - 2001 (President)
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2001 - 2002 (Immediate Past-President)
- Texas Family Law Foundation, 1999 - Present (Life Member)
- Texas Family Law Foundation, 2009 - Present (President Elect)
- Texas Family Law Foundation, 2010 - 2012 (President)
Past Positions
- Texas Christian University, Adjunct Instructor of Business Law (2/3 time), 1976 - 2008
Fees
- Accepts Credit Cards
Office Info
Other Colleagues
- Litigation, Child Custody, Guardianship, Family Law
Nearby Lawyers
- Family Law
- Child Custody
- Guardianship
- 2.1 miles away
The power of the lawyer is in the uncertainty of the law.