Board Certified – Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2014

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Fellow

Lauren E. Melhart is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Ms. Melhart has extensive experience within the family law field, including several years as a Child Protective Services prosecutor. She has written articles for the State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association, and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers on a variety family law issues and given speeches to a number of family law related organizations across the country. Ms. Melhart a faculty member with the American Bar Association’s Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyer’s Institute for Family Law Associates, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants: Forensic & Valuations Services Conference.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Board Certified – Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Fellow (2019-present)

• Chair, Bookstore Committee (2023)
• Vice-Chair, Institute for Family Law Associates Committee (2023)

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants: Forensic & Valuations Services Conference – Faculty (2022, 2024)

American Bar Association Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute – Faculty (2018-2019, 2022-present)

National Institute for Trial Advocacy Building Trial Skills: Dallas – Faculty (2019)

Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists

• Board member (2019-present)
• Course Director, Annual Trial Institute (2021)
• Co-Chair, Annual Dinner (2019)
• Chair, Membership & Member Services Committee (2023-present)

Texas Board of Legal Specialization – Paralegal Family Law Commission (2022-present)

Texas Family Law Foundation

• Membership Committee (2016-2022)
• Bill Review Committee (2016-2023)
• Silent Auction Committee (2016-2019)
  • Co-Chair, 2019

State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section

• Council for the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas 2023-present

• • Pro Bono Committee (2023-present)
  • Membership Committee (2023-present)

• 2024 Marriage Dissolution Institute Course Director
• 2022 Family Law 101 Course Director
• CLE Committee (2021-2022)
• Annotated Family Code Committee (2016-present)

The College of the State Bar of Texas

Dallas County Bar Association, Family Law Section

• Special Events Advisor (2017)
• Voting Member (2018-2020)
• Nominating Committee (2018-2020)

Collin County Bar Association, Family Law Section

Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association

“Super Lawyer” 2022-2023, by Thomson Reuters Service printed in Texas Monthly

“Rising Star” 2014-2020, by Thomson Reuters Service printed in Texas Monthly

• “Up-And-Coming 50 Women,” 2019 & 2020

EDUCATION

BS (Political Science, magna cum laude), Texas Christian University, 2002

BBA (Accounting & Finance, magna cum laude), Texas Christian University, 2002

JD, Baylor University School of Law, 2007

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Trial Counsel:  Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists 39th Annual Trial Institute, February 16, 2024 (Savannah, GA)

Author/Presenter:  “Ethical Drafting,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 15, 2023 (Fort Worth, TX)

Panelist:  “Virtual Law Office,” American Bar Association Family Law Section Fall CLE Conference, October 14, 2023 (Louisville, KY)

Co-Author/Presenter:  “Navigating CPS Claims in Private Litigation,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, August 9, 2023 (San Antonio, TX)

Panelist: “Life After Law School? Quality of Life Issues,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute for Family Law Associates, June 25, 2023 (Chicago, IL)

Author/Presenter: “Temporary Orders: Child Support, Other Temporary Support, and Where Can I Live?” State Bar of Texas Marriage Dissolution Institute 101, April 26, 2023 (Austin, TX)

Co-Presenter: “Social Media and Family Law,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute for Family Law Associates, June 25, 2022 (Chicago, IL)

Co-Presenter: “Divorce Taxation,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute for Family Law Associates, June 25, 2022 (Chicago, IL)

Presenter: “A Primer on Business Valuations,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute for Family Law Associates, June 23, 2022 & 2023 Jun(Chicago, IL)

Author/Presenter: “Looking for Love: Settlement Agreements,” State Bar of Texas Marriage Dissolution Institute, April 22, 2022 (Fort Worth, TX)

Co-Author/Co-Presenter: “Child Support Determination for High Income Families: Understanding Unique Income Sources and Factors Considered When Deviating from Guidelines,” American Bar Association Family Law Section Spring CLE Conference, April 21, 2022 (New Orleans, LA)

Presenter: “Conducting Formal Discovery,” Texas Civil Litigation Skills for Paralegals Seminar, January 20, 2022 (virtual)

Presenter: “(Almost) 50-50 Under 50: Legislative Changes to Standard Possession Orders,” Texas Center for the Judiciary 2022 Family Justice Conference, January 13, 2022 (Georgetown, TX)

Author: “Remote Control? How to Deal with Cross-Examination in Virtual Hearings,” American Bar Association Family Advocate, Fall 2021

Presenter: “Legislative Update 2021: Family Law,” State Bar of Texas, June 22, 2021 (virtual)

Presenter: “Prepping the Witness for Testimony,” State Bar of Texas Family Law Section Pro Bono Seminar, May 7, 2021 (Weatherford, TX)

Author/Presenter: “Amicus Knows Best,” State Bar of Texas Marriage Dissolution Institute, April 29, 2021 (virtual)

Presenter: “Assisting with Alternative Dispute Resolution,” Texas Family Law Practice for Paralegals Seminar, December 2, 2020 (virtual)

Presenter: “Standing – Who Gets a Seat at the Table?,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, November 13, 2020 (Fort Worth, TX)

Co-Author: “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher: Alternatives to Statutory Child Support Guidelines,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, August 2020 (San Antonio, TX)

Author: “Equal Parenting vs. Best Interest: The 50-50 Debate,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Mid-Year Meeting, March 2020

Author/Presenter: “Every Breath You Take (I’ll Be Watching You): CPS & Divorce,” State Bar of Texas Marriage Dissolution Institute, April 25, 2019 (Galveston, TX)

Presenter: “Procedure and Evidence Tips,” State Bar of Texas Family Law Section Pro Bono Seminar, April 5, 2019 (Cleburne, TX)

Author/Presenter: “Assisting with Child Custody and Visitation Issues,” Texas Family Law Practice for Paralegals Seminar, February 14, 2019 (Arlington, TX)

Presenter: “Calling Audibles – The Legislative Process and 2019 Update,” Dallas Bar Association Family Law Section Bench Bar Conference, February 8, 2019 (Dallas, TX)

Panelist: “Trial of a Custody Case,” Innovations: Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation, January 25, 2019 (San Antonio, TX)

Presenter: “Expert Assistance – Business Valuation vs. Jenson Claim,” American Society of Appraisers, October 9, 2018 (Addison, TX)

Presenter: “Legislative Update”, Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar, September 27, 2018 (Addison, TX)

Presenter: “Understanding Retirement Benefits”, State Bar of Texas Family Law Section Pro Bono Seminar, May 11, 2018 (Corpus Christi, TX)

Trial Participant: Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists 33rd Annual Trial Institute, February 16, 2018 (Las Vegas, NV)

Presenter: “Enforcing the Property Division”, Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, November 2, 2017 (Fort Worth, TX)

Presenter: “Enforcement of the Property Division,” Panelist, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, August 9, 2017 (San Antonio, TX)

Presenter: “Legislative Update 2017,” Dallas Bar Association Family Law Section, July 12, 2017 (Dallas, TX)

Panelist: “Preparing for the Board Certification Exam”, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, August 2, 2016 (San Antonio, TX)

Author:  “Pursue and Defend a Child Support Case,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law 101 Course, July 31, 2016

Presenter:  “Family Law Practice”, UNT Dallas College of Law, February 26, 2016 (Dallas, TX)

Author:  “Assisting with Child Custody and Visitation Issues,” Texas Family Law Practice for Paralegals Seminar, January 2016

Author:  “Drafting the Jury Charge,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 11, 2015

Presenter:  “Men: Child Support, Spousal Support, and Fighting for Custody,” Fort Worth Paralegal Association, June 25, 2015 (Fort Worth, TX)

Panelist:  “Taking and Passing the Board Certification Exam,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, Spring 2015 (Fort Worth, TX)

Presenter:  “CPS Litigation 101,” CASA of Trinity Valley, 2009 (Athens, TX)