Jonathan J. Bates | Family Law Specialist
- Experience
- Expertise
- Respect
The Summit at Preston Trails
17103 Preston Road,
Suite 150
Dallas, Texas 75248
Phone: (214) 438–1100

Board Certified– Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2000
AAML Certified Arbitrator
Family Law Mediator
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Fellow
Equally adept in the courtroom and at the negotiation table, Jonathan J. Bates focuses his practice in the areas of complex marital property, child custody and other family law matters. Whether in his trial practice or serving as a mediator or arbitrator, Mr. Bates brings more than three decades of experience to bear addressing the intricacies and challenges of family law cases. He is a Diplomat with the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, a select group of 100 of the top family trial lawyers from across the United States. Mr. Bates has actively served the family law community on local, state and national levels, including leadership positions in the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, Texas family law professional organizations and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Mr. Bates is also a frequent author and presenter at continuing legal education programs for the State Bar of Texas and other family law organizations.
HONORS
2024 recipient of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists’ Sam Emison Memorial Award, which is “bestowed upon one exceptionally distinguished family law practitioner or judge who has demonstrated a significant commitment and made significant contributions to the practice of family law in the State of Texas.”
2024 co-recipient of the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section’s Chair’s Award for timeless service and dedication.”
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers’ Fellow of the Year 2020 co-recipient
“AV” Preeminent (5.0 of 5.0) – Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating
“Super Lawyer” 2009-2024, by Thomson Reuters Service printed in Texas Monthly
- Top 100 Lawyers in Texas for 2022; Top 100 Lawyers in DFW 2022-2024
Best Lawyers in America 2019-2024
2019 Recipient of the STANDING OVATION Award from TexasBarCLE in recognition of “exceptional contributions” and “extraordinary energy, commitment of time, and leadership” in volunteer Continuing Legal Education
PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP, SERVICE & AFFILIATION
State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section
- Chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas 2021-2022
- Council for the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2011-2017
Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
- President 2016-2017
- Board of Directors 2009-2012
- Course Director, 2011 Trial Institute
Texas Family Law Foundation – Sustaining Life Member
- Board of Trustees 2010–2016
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Fellow
- AAML National
- National Treasurer 2020-2022
- Board of Governors 2018-2020
- Chair, Budget & Finance Committee 2020-2022
- Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee 2019-2020
- Course Director, National Meeting CLE 2020
- AAML Texas Chapter
- President 2023-2024
- Course Director, Innovations – Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation Course, 2019
AAML Foundation – Lifetime Member
American College of Family Trial Lawyers - Diplomat
Texas Bar Foundation – Life Fellow
The College of the State Bar of Texas – Fellow
Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section
- Board of Directors 2003-2005
Collin County Bar Association, Family Law Section
Collin County Bench-Bar Foundation
- Board of Directors 2009-2010
- Course Director, Collin County Bench Bar Conference 2009
Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association
EDUCATION
BBA (Finance/Economics), Baylor University, 1990
JD, Baylor University School of Law, 1993
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
“Deep Dive – Look Before You Leap: Premarital and Marital Property Agreements” (with Chris Wrampelmeier), Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, August 7, 2024
“Similar But Different – Reimbursement, Reconstitution, and Requests for Disproportionate Share,” Marriage Dissolution Institute, San Antonio, April 26, 2024
“Premarital Agreements, Partition and Exchange Agreements, and Other Contract Considerations,” Panel Moderator, New Frontiers in Marital Property Course, Charleston, October 6, 2023
“Characterization and Tracing” (with Aaron Ballard), Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, August 9, 2023
“Securing the Deal: Rule 11 Agreements, MSAs and ISAs,” Marriage Dissolution Institute, Austin April 28, 2023
“Underutilized Pre-Trial Strategies,” (with Hon. Karl Hays), Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers, New Orleans, December 1, 2022
“Follow the Money: Securing Attorney’s Fees at Every Stage of the Case,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, Advanced on a Shoestring Course, November 3, 2022
“Follow the Money: Securing Attorney’s Fees at Every Stage of the Case,” Advanced Family Course, San Antonio, August 9, 2022
“Personality Disorders and How They Impact Custody,” (with Dr. Jonathan Gould and Dr. Sol Rappaport), American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Mid-Year Meeting, Indian Wells, California, March 17, 2022
“De-Constructing the Custody Evaluation Report,” (with Dr. Jonathan Gould and Dr. Sol Rappaport), American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Mid-Year Meeting, Indian Wells, California, March 17, 2022
“Entity Issues: Pitfalls and Considerations for Division of Entities Created During the Marriage,” (with Patrice Ferguson), Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, August 4, 2021
“Prepping the Witness for Testimony” (with Sarah Darnell), Marriage Dissolution Institute 101, April 11, 2021
“Third-Party Standing,” Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers, December 10, 2020
“Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line: Standing – Who Gets a Seat at the Table? Advanced Family Course, August 4, 2020
“Receiverships and Drafting Requirements” (with Mary Evelyn McNamara and Michael Bernstein), Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, Dallas, December 12, 2019
“Causes of Action in Family Law: The Prudent, the Impermissible and the Sometimes Overlooked,” Advanced Family Course, San Antonio, August 12, 2019
“Break Glass in Case of Emergency: The Best Pleadings to Carry in Your Trial Notebook,” Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers, New Orleans, December 14, 2018
“Kids with Special Needs: What You Need to Know to Prepare – Including Financial Issues at the Time of Divorce and Needs in the Future,” Panelist, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, August 2018
“Making Tax returns Less Taxing” (with Doug Fejer), Marriage Dissolution Institute 101, Dallas, April 11, 2018
“Trial Strategies, Including Deconstruction of a Custody Evaluation” Panelist, Innovations – Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation, New Orleans, January 12, 2018
“Rule 11 Agreements, MSAs, and ISAs – What You Can and Can’t Do,” Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, Fort Worth, December 7, 2017
“Legislative Update 2017: Family Law,” Texas Bar CLE Presents, Dallas, June 30, 2017
“Characterization,” Marriage Dissolution Institute, Austin, April 20, 2017
“Texas Family Code Chapter—Post Divorce Proceedings,” Texas Lawyer, January 2017
“FAQ: Family Violence Protective Orders,” Texas Lawyer, December 20, 2016
“How to Get What You Got! Enforcement of Property Awards/Agreements,” Panelist, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, Louisville, October 13, 2016
“Direct & Cross of a Tracing Expert,” Panelist, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, August 2016
“Moms vs. Dads,” Texas Lawyer, August 2016
“Avoid Pitfalls when Changing Custody Established in a Previous Court Order,” Texas Lawyer, April 4, 2016
“Drafting the Jury Charge,” Advanced Family Law Drafting, Dallas, December 11, 2015
“Using Social Media,” American Society of Appraisers, DFW Chapter, Dallas, November 10, 2015
“For Love or Money: Child Support with the High Earner,” Panelist, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Annual Meeting, Chicago, November 5, 2015
“In Face of Reduced Rights, Here’s How to Advise Grandparents on Family Law Issues,” Texas Lawyer, October 19, 2015
“Non-Parent Standing,” Advanced Family Law 101 Course, August 2015
“House Bill 1449 Ups the Family Code Social Study Provisions,” Texas Lawyer, July 29, 2015
“18 Years and Still Here,” Panel Moderator, Innovations – Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation, June 4, 2015
“Effectively Handling Family Law Tax Issues,” Texas Lawyer, May 4, 2015
“Representing the Difficult Client,” Marriage Dissolution Institute, April 9, 2015
“Post-Divorce Support Payments in Texas,” Texas Lawyer, February 23, 2015
“7 Family Law Questions,” Texas Lawyer, November 3, 2014
“Representing Difficult Family Law Clients,” Texas Lawyer, August 4, 2014
“Crazy – Your Client or Mine?” Panelist, Innovations – Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation, June 13, 2014
“Case Law Update – Property,” Marriage Dissolution Institute, April 24, 2014
“In Re Stephanie Lee: Understanding the Lee Decision,” Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Family Law Forum, Volume 30, Issue I, Spring 2014
“Boost Child Support Clients Receive,” Texas Lawyer, April 21, 2014
“Dividing Debts in Divorce,” Texas Lawyer, March 3, 2014
“Beware of Unintended Consequences,” Texas Lawyer, September 16, 2013
“Commercial Transactions and Legal Entities,” Panelist, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2013
“Family Law Changes From the 83rd Legislature,” Texas Lawyer, July 8, 2013
“Modern Evidence,” State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, June 20, 2013
“Liability Risks of Email Evidence, Health Information,” Texas Lawyer, March 18, 2013
“Social Media – The Value and Danger to Your Practice” (with Brian Cuban), Dallas Bar Association Family Law Section Bench Bar Conference, February 8, 2013
“Trial Strategies: Evaluation and Testing,” Panel Moderator, Innovations – Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation, January 25, 2013
“Discovery on a Shoestring,” Handling Your First (or Next) Divorce Course, January 18, 2013
American Journal of Family Law, Valuing Professional Practices & Licenses: A Guide for the Matrimonial Practitioner, 2005 – 2013 Supplement, “Celebrity Divorce – Representing Big Hitters” (co-authored with Katherine A. Kinser)
“Drafting Premarital and Post-Marital Agreements,” Texas Lawyer, November 12, 2012
“Social Media and Family Law,” The Advocate, State Bar Litigation Section Fall Symposium 2012, Volume 60
“The Best Interest of the Child Standard Explained,” Texas Lawyer, August 13, 2012
“Say No to High Court Endorsement of Pro Se Forms,” Texas Lawyer, August 6, 2012
“Social Media – The Value and Danger to Your Practice” (with Brian Cuban), Advanced Family Law Course, August 2012
“Baker’s Dozen: 13 Unique Ingredients of Family Law Practice,” Texas Lawyer, March 12, 2012
LexisNexis Texas Annotated Family Code, Annotations for Chapter Four – “Premarital and Marital Property Agreements,” 2006 – 2012 (co-authored with Katherine A. Kinser)
“Counseling Clients in a Distressed Economy,” Texas Lawyer, December 5, 2011
“Presumptions and Predicates,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, November 2011
“Presumptions and Predicates,” Advanced Family Law Course, August 2011
“New Laws Address Financial Matters,” Texas Lawyer, June 27, 2011
“Conservatorship and Presumptions: Where is the Starting Line?” 11th Annual Family Law on the Front Lines, June 2011
“Who’s Your Daddy? Family Code Changes Address Mistaken Paternity,” Texas Lawyer, June 6, 2011
“Time-Limited Hearings Require Tight Focus,” Texas Lawyer, April 4, 2011
“When is a Residence Really a Residence?” 2011 Family Law Essentials Handbook, Family Law Section Pro Bono Committee
“In Practice: Family Law Considerations for the First Client Interview,” Texas Lawyer, January 10, 2011
“Defending the Drug User…P.S. Your Client Is a Liar” (with Jim Turnage), The American Bar Association Section of Family Law and the ABA Center for Continuing Legal Education Teleconference and Live Audio Webcast, November 2010
“Looking for the Game Changer — Marketing Your Firm in 2010,” Panel Moderator, Sports Financial Advisors Association 6th Annual Conference, November 2010
“When is a Residence Really a Residence?” Annette Stewart American Inn of Court, September 2010
“The Rules for Unmarried Couples,” Texas Lawyer, August 9, 2010,
“When is a Residence Really a Residence?” Advanced Family Law Course, August 2010
“Who’s Your Daddy? – Paternity Fraud,” 10th Annual Family Law on the Front Lines, July 2010
“Equitable Relief/Reimbursement,” Marriage Dissolution Institute, May 2010.
“Attorney’s Fees,” The Ultimate Trial Notebook: Family Law, December 2009
“Current Issues in our Economic Times,” Panelist, Sports Financial Advisors Association 5th Annual Conference, November 2009
“Reimbursement Revisited: The Current Status of the Law and How to Effectively Make your Claim; Claims You can Make Against Separate Property Companies, Jenson Claims, Alter Ego, Reverse Piercing and Representing the Spouse Who Does Not Run the Company,” Panelist, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2009
“Discovery,” Advanced Family Law Course Boot Camp, August 2009
“Economic Contribution and Reimbursement: Where We Are and Where We’re Going,” 9th Annual Family Law on the Front Lines, June 2009
“Discovery from Third Parties,” Panelist, Marriage Dissolution Institute, April 2009
“Preparation for Temporary Orders Hearings,” 2009 Family Law Essentials Handbook, Family Law Section Pro Bono Committee
“International Issues Involving Children,” Advanced Family Law Drafting, December 2008
“Back in the Garage: Concluding the Divorce Action,” National Business Institute, November 2008
“Case Assessment – Does the Emperor Have Clothes?” Advanced Family Law Course Boot Camp, August 2008
“Developing the Attorney/Client Relationship,” 8th Annual Family Law on the Front Lines, June 2008
“Preparation for Temporary Orders Hearings – What To Do in the Last 100 Days/Hours/Minutes – Burdensome Limitations,” Marriage Dissolution Institute, April 2008
“Guaranteed Pay: What a Deal, or Is It?” – Characterization of Unusual Employment Contracts”, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2006 (co-authored with Katherine A. Kinser)
“Family Law and The Entertainment Arena – Print, Television, Film and Beyond,” 16th Annual Entertainment Law Institute, October 2006 (co-authored with Katherine A. Kinser)
“Enforcement of Pre- and Post-Marital Agreements,” LexisNexis Texas Family Code Seminar, October 2006
“Family Violence ; FAQ RE P.O.’s: The ABC’s of Protective Orders,” Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar, September 2006
Texas Entertainment and Sports Law Journal, Spring 2006, Vol. 15, No. 1, “The PASS Payment: Negotiating the Professional Athlete’s Child Support Obligations” (co-authored with Matthew G. Grimmer and Katherine A. Kinser)
Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists 20th Annual Trial Institute – 2006 – Trial Participant
“In Family Law Cases, Watch for Warning Signs of Violence,” Texas Lawyer, March 7, 2005