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Robert Epstein

Managing Partner

Overview

Clients throughout the Greater Dallas area hire Robert Epstein when they need an experienced family law attorney with the strategic capabilities, creativity and intense drive to resolve challenging cases both in and out of the courtroom. He guides clients through all types of family law matters, including divorce proceedings, child custody cases, prenuptial and post-marital agreements, collaborative divorces, modifications of visitation and parental rights, child support modifications, enforcement actions and much more.

No case is too big or complicated for Robert. Many of his clients have significant wealth at stake in a divorce, including entrepreneurs, executives, lawyers, doctors and other professionals. They count on Robert to outhustle adversaries and create a proactive game plan to maintain control of cases involving complex property division issues, business and stock valuations, asset tracing and pre- or post-marital agreements.

Scorched-earth litigation should be the last resort in most family law matters is Robert’s belief, especially for executives who want to keep divorce drama out of their businesses and parents who need to resolve challenging custody disputes with civility and decency for the sake of the kids. In appropriate cases, Robert leads clients through the collaborative divorce process, which provides a private and healthy environment for parties to find common ground and negotiate a final compromise without the mud-slinging and anguish of a courtroom fight.

Passionate about reaching the right outcome in custody disputes where a parent’s struggle with drug or alcohol abuse takes center stage is important to Robert. While protecting the best interests of the kids is always paramount for Robert in a custody case, he is also a strong supporter of giving second chances to parents in recovery who have worked hard to achieve a durable sobriety and are committed to building safe and healthy relationships with their kids.

Clients also rely on Robert to find the best professionals and experts who will play a critical role in achieving a positive case outcome and avoiding new problems, including wealth advisors, forensic accountants, business valuation appraisers, mental health professionals, addiction recovery therapists and co-parenting counselors.

Robert is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Peers have recognized Robert as one of the top family law attorneys in Texas on several occasions, including Texas Super Lawyers (Thomson-Reuters), Best Lawyers in Dallas (D Magazine), Top Attorneys (Fort Worth Magazine) and Power Players of Dallas (Modern Luxury Magazine).

    Licenses
    • Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
    • Certified Financial Litigator, American Academy for Certified Financial Litigators
    • Admitted, State Bar of Texas, 2008
    Education

    • B.A. POLITICAL SCIENCE University of Wisconsin-Madison - 2005
    • J.D. The Catholic University of America - Law School Washington D.C. - 2008

    Away From Work
    • Music lover and owner of hundreds of vinyl record albums from the 1930s to present
    • History enthusiast with particular interest in military conflicts of the 19th and 20th centuries
    • Proud dad of a daughter and twin boys

    Awards and Accolades

    • Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2016 to present
    • The Best Lawyers in America, BL Rankings, LLC, 2020 to present
    • Best Law Firms, BL Rankings, LLC, Tier 1, 2023 to present
    • Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2019 to present
    • Best Lawyers Under 40, D Magazine, 2018-2022
    • “Top Attorneys,” Fort Worth Magazine, 2018-2021
    • “Power Player,” Modern Luxury Magazine, 2017-2021
    • “Texas Rising Star,” Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2017-2018
    • “Dallas Top Jewish Attorney Under 40,” Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas Cardozo Society, 2020

    Representative Work

    • Won bench trial to modify child custody for a father to have sole managing conservatorship with indefinite restricted access for other parent; co-counseled on appeal to have this ruling affirmed, which created landmark case law on child custody modification suits in the State of Texas
    • Won unanimous jury verdict for a father to be awarded child custody and the right to relocate the child’s primary residence
    • Won bench trial involving division of an estate exceeding $100 million
    • Won bench trial for a mother to be awarded primary possession of a child and significantly disproportionate division of community estate
    • Won bench trial for a father to be awarded equal time with the child
    • Obtained child custody on behalf of grandparents
    • Obtained child custody on behalf of a father serving in the military
    • Achieved several settlements for mothers to be able to relocate with their children outside the State of Texas
    • Achieved several settlements for spouses to receive money upon divorce far more than prenuptial agreement terms, including on one occasion the wife of a famous professional athlete
    • Achieved directed verdict on separate property reimbursement claims
    • Prevailed on numerous motions involving matters of interstate child custody and support, including, but not limited to, cases with children or parties in California, Florida, Massachusetts and New York
    • Represented a client in arbitration involving valuation and division of minority interest in a major professional sports franchise
    • Achieved disproportionately favorable settlement involving the sale of the majority interest in a closely held business, which sold for over $50 million.

    Memberships

    • Member, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas Cardozo Society
    • Member, Dallas Bar Association – Family Law Section
    • Member, Collaborative Divorce Texas
    • Member, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
    • Member, State Bar of Texas
    • Member, Texas Family Law Foundation

    News, Events and Insights

    • Author, Considerations for Disabilities in Texas Family Law, State Bar of Texas Family Law Section’s Spring Report, March 15, 2024
    • Featured on The Jennifer Hargrave Show Podcast on How Substance Abuse Factors into the Divorce Process Episode, July 14, 2023
    • Featured in NBC 5 Local News report on “How President Trump’s Tax Changes Will Impact You” (explaining how alimony will no longer be tax-deductible to the spouse paying alimony and will no longer be reported as income for the spouse receiving it in divorces after 2018)
    • Quoted in The Dallas Morning News article “Why 2018 is the ‘Year to Get Divorced’ and Four Other Lesser-Known Effects of the GOP’s Tax Overhaul,” March 26, 2018
    • Author, “Parentage in the Modern Era: What to Know When Baby is on the Way and No Wedding Day,” State Bar of Texas Family Law Section’s Fall 2018 Section Report
    • Author, “Intangible Assets and How to Divide Them,” Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, September 2018
    • Author, “Booze, Pills & Powders: Their Impact on A Child Custody Case,” Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, September 2017
    • Author, “Surrogacy Contracts and the Texas Family Code,” Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, September 2016
    • Author, “Balancing National Security and Free Speech Rights: Why Congress Should Revise the Espionage Act,” 15 CommLaw Conspectus 483, 2007
    • Author, "Enforceability of Premarital Agreements"

      Client Testimonials

      • You were all very helpful, quick to respond and help clarify things, provided good feedback and guidance, and made the experience as painless as possible for me.

        Anonymous
      • "Robert did a great job of managing all facets of the legal work and driving it to our desired results."
        S.Y.
      • I strongly recommend Robert and Jordan

        L.B.