Brad M. LaMorgese
Partner, Attorney at LawBiography
Brad LaMorgese has a lifetime of law experience, starting in his sophomore year of college when he helped win the right for students to fly American flags from their balconies. He is a dedicated professional with integrity who sets realistic expectations for his clients. Few will work harder to achieve results that match client goals.
Just because divorce is painful, doesn’t mean it can’t be positive. Brad understands that legal processes can be stressful, confusing and sometimes even harrowing. But as Winston Churchill said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Brad considers himself a protector and advocate for his clients, their children, and their fortune – making sure they keep going, no matter how hard today may seem, and allowing them to take back their tomorrow.
Brad is known for his experience and excellence in complex litigation involving interpretations of law and cases regarding jurisdictional disputes. With a long track record in complicated, sophisticated cases, he handles all types of family litigation matters including divorce, complex property division, high-net-worth cases, business valuation issues, division of estates, jurisdiction challenges, interstate and international child custody disputes, and marital agreement litigation. He also drafts marital agreements including premarital, postmarital and partition agreements.
Brad is one of the few appellate family lawyers in Texas. During his nearly two decades in practice, he has achieved success in dozens of cases in Texas appeals courts and the Texas Supreme Court, as well as the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. He has handled appeals involving all areas of family law, including interstate and international custody, property division, award of property, habeas corpus, grandparent v. parent rights, bill of review, post-divorce disputes, alimony disputes, parentage issues and father’s rights.
Brad is admitted to practice as a member of the State Bar of Texas, U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 1st, 5th, 6th and 11th Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Brad earned the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Award of Merit in 2005 based on his work before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a case involving The Hague Convention and the civil aspects of international child abduction. He has earned recognition in The Best Lawyers in America from 2016-2025 and has been among the state’s leading family law attorneys on Thomson Reuters’ Texas Super Lawyers list every year since 2004. He also has earned recognition on D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas list and their Top Lawyers Under 40.
Brad is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to excellence in this area of law. Board Certification requires continuing education and involvement in the issues of family law, including marriage, adoption, divorce, custody, support and ownership of property acquired before and during marriage.
Outside of his dedication to family law and his clients, Brad is a family man with a wife and two children. He is also committed to his community, and has served as a member of the Irving City Council as Deputy Mayor Pro Tem. He chaired that council’s Planning and Development Committee and served as a member of the Transportation and Natural Resources Committee. And most importantly, he previously served as his son’s Cub Scout Den Leader.
Areas of Practice
- Appellate
- Family Law
Certified Legal Specialties
- Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1996
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, Dallas, Texas
- J.D. cum laude – 1996
Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas
- B.A. – 1993
Published Works
- What Your Business Lawyer Wants You to Know Before the Settlement – Mediation, Advanced Family Law Drafting Dec. 2019 Sidebar Articles, D. Magazine 2019
- The Royal Wedding and the Role of Prenups, Texas Lawyer July 2018
- The Executive Divorce, D Magazine Nov. 2017
- What to do When the Judge Rules Against You, Dallas Bar Headnotes Oct. 2017
- The Most Important Substantive Law Developments of 2016 (quoted in) Texas Lawyer Jan. 2017
- Texas Uses an Additional Tool to Collect Child Support, Texas Lawyer Oct. 5, 2016
- Top Five Danger Areas in Family Law, Texas Lawyer Apr. 4, 2016
- Common Family Law Errors, North Dallas Bar Association 2016
- 2015 Year in Review, Texas Lawyer Dec. 14, 2015
- 2015 Family Code Changes, Rockwall County Bar Association 2015
- 16 Years of UCCJEA Interstate Custody Jurisdiction in Texas, Texas Lawyer Apr. 16 2015
- Marital Agreements, Annette Stewart Inns of Court, 2013
- Preservation of Error, 2013 Advanced Family Law Course
- Family Law Year in Review, Texas Lawyer, Dec. 17, 2012
- Appeals, 2012 Advanced Family Law Course
- Eight Common Myths, Texas Lawyer, Aug. 13, 2012
- Jurisdiction & Venue, Annette Stewart Inns of Court, 2012
- Jurisdiction & Venue, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, 2011
- Characterization and Tracing, 37th Annual Advance Family Law Course 2011 (co-author)
- Visitation under the Texas Family Code for Children Under 3 and Other Young Children, 2010 Infant Mental Health Advocacy Conference, Texas Association for Infant Mental Health
- Property & Debt Division – Creative Alternatives, 35th Annual Advanced Family Law Course 2009 (co-author)
- Jurisdiction & Venue, 32nd Annual Marriage Dis. Inst. 2009
- Asset Management (10 Tips to Survive the Executive Divorce) Executive Legal Adviser, 2008
- Top 20 Cases from 2007-2008, Collin County Bench Bar 2008
- The Year of Child Support, Texas Lawyer 2007
- Legislative Developments in Family Law, Dallas Bar Association 2007
- Making Summary Judgment Relevant Again, 2007 Advanced Family Law Course (co-author) 2007
- Family Law Appellate Issues, Collin County Bench Bar 2007
- Citing Legal Information, Inst. for Paralegal Ed., March 2007
- Important Topics in Family Law, Tex. Ctr. Jud., 2007 Regional Conference (co-author of update)
- Employer Responsibilities Under the Texas Family Code, Executive Legal Adviser, Sept./Oct. 2006
- Relocation Disputes in the Family Courts, Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, 2006
- Court Cuts Back On Grandparents’ Rights, Texas Lawyer, 2006
- Common Evidentiary Issues in Family Law Cases, UH Family Law Practice Seminar 2005 (Dallas)
- Supreme Court Trends in Family Law, 2004 Tex. Acad. of Fam. Law Specialists Trial Inst.
- Pretrial and Trial Preservation of Error, 2004 Tex. Acad. of Fam. Law Specialists Trial Inst.
- Family Law Appellate Deadlines, 2003
- Changes to Pleadings and Orders After September 1, 2003: The Changes of the 78th Leg., 2003
- Studying For the Board Certification Exam, 2002 Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas
- Hot Topics in Family Law, Collin County Bench Bar IX, 2002
- Wiretapping, Accessing Electronic Communications, and Interception of E-mail, Lorman, 2001
- Overview of Child Custody Laws in Texas, Lorman Custody Symposium, 2000
- Grandparents’ Rights Re-Examined Lorman Custody Symposium, 2000
- Child Custody Legislative Issues 2000, Lorman Custody Symposium, 2000
- Mental Health Privilege and Confidentiality, Lorman Custody Symposium, 2000
- Termination of Parental Rights, Lorman Custody Symposium, 2000
- Child Support Enforcement, Southwestern Legal Foundation, 1999
- Forum Shopping Your Divorce, Texas Lawyer, 1998
- Division of Retirement Benefits in Texas, Texas Journal of Women and the Law, 1998
- Family Law Lessons of 1997, Texas Lawyer, 1997
Representative Cases
- Sealed Appellant v. Sealed Appellee, 394 F.3d 338 (5th Cir. 2004)
- In re C.J.C., ___ S.W.3d ___ (Tex. 2020)
- In re Dean, 393 S.W.3d 741 (Tex. 2012)
- Hidalgo v. Hidalgo, 310 S.W.3d 887 (Tex. 2010)(per curiam)
- Columbia Med. Ctr. Of Las Colinas v. Hogue, 290 S.W.3d 873 (Tex. 2009)
- In re Zandi, 270 S.W.3d 76 (Tex. 2008)(per curiam)
- In re Derzapf, 219 S.W.3d 327 (Tex. 2007)
- Kiefer v. Touris, 197 S.W.3d 300 (Tex. 2006)(per curiam)
- In re Sanders, 153 S.W.3d 54 (Tex. 2004) (Amicus Curiae)
- In re Forlenza, 140 S.W.3d 373 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding)
- Naaman v. Grider, 126 S.W.3d 76 (Tex. 2003) (per curiam)
- In re K.M.S., 91 S.W.3d 331 (Tex. 2002) (per curiam)
- Shilling v. Gough, 393 S.W.3d 555 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2013, no pet.)
- Stroud v. Stroud, 376 S.W.3d 346 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2012, pet. denied)
- In re B.G.D., 351 S.W.3d 131 (Tex. App.–Fort Worth 2011, no pet.)
- Wright v. Wright, 280 S.W.3d 901 (Tex. App.–Eastland 2009, no pet.)
- In re Hidalgo, 279 S.W.3d 456 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2009, pet. granted)
- Cook v. Cook, 243 S.W.3d 800 (Tex. App.–Fort Worth 2007, no pet.)
- Mock v. Mock, 216 S.W.3d 370 (Tex. App.–Eastland 2006, pet. denied)
- First Prof. Ins. Co. v. Heart & Vascular Inst., 182 S.W.3d 6 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 2005, pet denied)
- Haynes v. Haynes, 180 S.W.3d 927 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2006, no pet.)
- Ricks v. Ricks, 169 S.W.3d 523 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2005, no pet.)
- In re E.A.C., 162 S.W.3d 438 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2005, no pet.)
- Sunbridge Healthcare Corp. v. Penny, 160 S.W.3d 230 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2005, no pet.)
- In re K.B.A., 145 S.W.3d 685 (Tex. App.–Fort Worth 2004, no pet.)
- Columbia Med. Ctr. of Las Colinas v. Hogue, 132 S.W.3d 671 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2004, pet. granted)
- Cigna Healthcare of Texas v. Pybas, 127 S.W.3d 400 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2004, pet. granted, judgm’t vacated w.r.m.)
- In re Oates, 104 S.W.3d 571 (Tex. App.-El Paso 2002, orig. proceeding)
- Bates v. Tesar, 81 S.W.3d 411 (Tex. App.-El Paso, 2002, no pet.)
- In re Powell, 79 S.W.3d 814 (Tex. App.-Fort Worth 2002, orig. proceeding)
- In re K.M.S., 68 S.W.3d 61 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2001, pet. denied)
- In re A.M., No. 02-18-00412-CV (Tex. App.–Fort Worth 2020, no pet.)
- In re A.E.M., NO. -5-18-01474-CV, 2019 WL 5957947 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2019, no pet.)
- Goldfarb v. McDonald, NO. 05-19-00391-CV (Tex. App.–Dallas 2019, no pet.)
- In re McAndrews, No. 05-18-01192-CV, 2018 WL 6191385 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2018, orig. proceeding)
- In re Eddins, No. 05-16-01451-CV, 2017 WL 2443138 (Tex. App. Dallas–June 5, 2017, orig. proceeding)
- In Interest of C.M.C., No. 05-15-01359-CV, 2016 WL 7166415 (Tex. App.–Dallas Nov. 9, 2016, no writ)
- In re Rowes, 2016 WL 164549 (Tex. App.-Dallas Jan. 14 2016, orig proceeding)
- Hidalgo v. Hidalgo, 2011 WL 1797621 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2011, no pet.)
- In re A.J.M., No. 05-07-01196-CV, 2008 WL 1810319 (Tex. App.–Dallas Apr. 23, 2008) (mem. op.)
- In re White, No. 05-06-00318-CV, 2006 WL 1000228 (Tex. App.–Dallas Apr. 18, 2006, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.)
- In re R.D., No. 02-04-165-CV, 2005 WL 503055 (Tex. App.–Fort Worth Mar. 3, 2005) (mem. op.)
- Best Bumper v. Coterill, No. 08-02-00021-CV, 2004 WL 2067598 (Tex. App.–El Paso 2004) (mem. op.)
- In re M.A.S., No. 05-03-00401-CV, 2005 WL 1039967 (Tex. App.–Dallas May 5, 2005) (mem. op.)
- In re Physicians & Surgeons Hosp. Of Alice, L.P., 2003 WL 22301235 (Tex. App.–San Antonio Oct. 8, 2003)
- Lindgren v. Lindgren, 2003 WL 21078321 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2003, no pet.) (mem. op.)
- Sookma v. Sookma, No. 01-01-00529-CV, 2002 WL 31388722 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 24, 2002, pet. denied) (not designated for publication)
- Smith v. American Modern Lloyd’s Ins. Co., 11-02-00287-CV, 2002 WL 32344604 (Tex. App.-Eastland Dec. 12, 2002, no pet.) (not designated for publication)
- In re M.A.R.M., 2001 LEXIS 7696 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2001, no pet.)
Honors and Awards
- Irving City Council, Elected 2012
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow
- Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers, 2024
- Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2014, 2016-2024
- Top Lawyers Under 40, D Magazine, 2002, 2004, 2006
- Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, 2004 – 2024
- Top 100 Lawyers in Texas, Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, 2013 – 2024
- Top 100 Lawyers in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, 2013 – 2024
- Texas Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, 2004
- Best Lawyers in America, Family Law, 2016 – 2025
- Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Law, 2016 – 2025
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Award of Merit, 2005
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2009-present)
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists (2001-present)
- State Bar of Texas (Family, Appellate Sections) (1996-present)
- State Bar Family Law Section Checklist Committee (2009)
- Dallas Bar Association (Family, Appellate Sections) (1996-present)
- Dallas Bar Association Family Law Section Board of Directors (2007-2009)
- Dallas Bar Association Clerk and Coordinator Training Seminar Planning Committee (2006)
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization (Family Law Legal Assistants Testing Commission 2006-2012)
- The Annette Stewart American Inn of Court (2006-2014)
- Knights of Columbus – 4th Degree
Blog Posts
Appealing a Divorce
- Is There a Deadline for Me to File an Appeal of a Judgment?
- Is it true that the judge has to tell me the basis of the ruling after trial?
- Should I file a motion for new trial if I receive a bad ruling from the trial judge?
- What is the process for an appeal in Texas and how long will it take?
- What does the standard of review mean on appeal in a family law case in Texas?
- What is the state court appellate process in Texas generally like?
- What is the Process to go to the Texas Supreme Court in an Appeal?
- I’ve gone to the Court of Appeals, now what relief may I get?
- The Rare Bird – A Federal Family Law Case (Constitutional Issues and International Parental Kidnapping)
- The Art & Science of Oral Argument
- Getting Into the Lawbooks – An Undiscussed Dimension of Appeals
10 Divorce Tips for Executives