“Our job is to solve problems. That may involve going to court, reaching a settlement, or taking a more patient approach. All of these strategies can resolve a dispute on terms favorable to the client.”
Aubrey M. Connatser is known and respected across the state for her expertise in many facets of her family law practice. This Texas divorce lawyer handles divorce litigation, complex property settlements, child custody and visitation, asset tracing, paternity determination, pre- and post-marital agreements, divorce decree modifications and collaborative law. She is diligent about settling family law cases, and certainly she is highly experienced in the courtroom.
Above all, Aubrey and her growing law firm handle cases of all types and sizes that come to her in the Uptown area of Dallas after a dozen years with another large family law firm.
The Dallas divorce lawyer understands that a Texas divorce looks entirely different to a high net worth Dallas businessperson facing complex property decisions than a stay-at-home Fort Worth spouse with a special needs child. Likewise, Collin County grandparents hoping to bring equilibrium to a family, a North Dallas same-sex couple with children or a long-time married couple from Denton who decide to divorce prior to or during retirement present cases that require her passionate but measured response.
Aubrey is empathetic to all who find themselves in these difficult emotional circumstances. As a result, she is determined to help those who can’t afford her representation receive some legal help. For the past two years, she has been the lead donor to the Dallas Bar Association’s Equal Access to Justice Campaign. Over the years, she and her husband have given more than $80,000 to benefit the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program. She has also encouraged her firm lawyers to give time to provide free legal services for the poor through DVAP.
Aubrey has blazed quite a trail as a Texas family lawyer, having emerged among the Top 100 Attorneys in Texas and one of the Top 50 Women Attorneys in Texas since 2015. She was one of the youngest Dallas family lawyers selected to the Super Lawyers list (Thomson Reuters) in 2004, and she has been chosen among the top 5% of all Texas attorneys for this honor in 2009 through 2011 and 2013-2019.
She has been chosen for The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward White), the oldest and most prestigious legal review service, from 2011 to 2020. In 2011 and then again in 2018-19, Aubrey has been selected one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine.
She was also one of the youngest Texas family law attorneys to become Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2006.
Along the way, Aubrey has gained the respect of the family law community – opposing counsel, judges, juries, expert witnesses, colleagues and clients – for her engaging personality and the clear direction she takes in every case.
“When I was looking for a lawyer to represent me in my divorce,” says a former client, “time and time again I was told that Aubrey Connatser was the best. So I hired her, and it was one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever made. When I was ready to explode, Aubrey was the voice of reason. When we needed to take a strong stance, Aubrey was tough as nails. I ended up with a very fair settlement and custody agreement, even though mine was a contentious divorce involving considerable assets.”
With clients and others associated with her practice, she is careful to protect their privacy even when they have not specifically asked for her to do so.
One local psychiatrist who has worked with Aubrey on several cases touts her ability. “She is a very fine and ethical attorney who does her homework and is excellent in the courtroom,” he says. “I appreciate her integrity and concern for her clients and their children.”
It was Aubrey’s deep concern for children that garnered the attention of the Texas family law community. After serving as an attorney ad litem alongside hundreds of other Texas lawyers for children from the FLDS compound in West Texas, Aubrey was called upon to comment on radio, television and was the subject of a cover story in the Rising Stars Edition of Texas Super Lawyers Magazine about the largest pro bono representation in Texas family law history.
Aubrey is a regular guest on law segments that air on local and national radio and TV about such diverse topics as Texas prenuptial agreements, high profile child custody and celebrity divorce. She is equally comfortable helping a Dallas businessman keep his family-owned company intact, working with a stay-at-home mom who wants to keep her children out of the middle of a divorce or any of the other hundreds of family situations that cross her desk at any given time.
The Dallas attorney uses her psychology background whenever possible. She earned her bachelor’s degree with high honors in psychology from The University of Texas at Austin in 1998 and her Juris Doctor with honors from UT School of Law in 2001.
While an undergraduate, she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Liberal Arts Honors Program and was an Endowed Presidential Scholar. In law school, she became a member of the Texas International Law Journal, was active in the University of Texas Domestic Violence Clinic and volunteered religiously at the Travis County Children’s Advocacy Center.
Born and raised in Dallas, Aubrey was the outstanding graduate of the Episcopal School of Dallas in 1994.
Education:
- University of Texas at Austin School of Law – J.D. (2001)
- University of Texas at Austin – Bachelor of Arts (1998)
Academic Honors:
- University of Texas at Austin, 1998 — Phi Beta Kappa
- University of Texas at Austin, 1994-1998 — Liberal Arts Honors
- University of Texas at Austin, 1997-1998 — Endowed Presidential Scholar
- Texas International Law Journal, 1999-2001 — Member
Professional Licenses:
- State Bar of Texas
- Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Professional Activities, Honors & Awards:
- Managing Member, Owner – Aubrey M. Connatser, P.L.L.C.
- Partner, KoonsFuller, P.C. (Practice Limited to Matrimonial Law)
- Board Certified, Texas Board of Legal Specialization: Family Law 2006
- Best Lawyers in America – 2011 – 2021
- Texas Monthly Super Lawyer – 2004, 2009 – 2011, 2013 – 2021
- Texas Monthly Rising Star – 2004
- Super Lawyer Top 50 Women Lawyers – 2014 – 2021
- Super Lawyer Top 100 Lawyers in Texas – 2014 – 2015, 2017 – 2018
- Super Lawyer Top 100 Lawyers in D/FW – 2014 – 2021
- D CEO Magazine Women Leaders in Law – 2015, 2021
- D Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas – 2011, 2019 – 2021
- Fellow – Dallas Bar Association
- Board Member – Dallas Bar Association – Family Law Section 2006
- Trustee, Dallas Bar Foundation
- Co-Chair – Dallas Bar Association Pro Bono Activities Committee 2006
- Co-Chair – Dallas Bar Association Legal Lines Committee 2006-2008
- Co-Chair – Dallas Bar Association Mentoring Committee
- Fellow – Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
- Member – Dallas Association of Young Lawyers (DAYL)
- Co-Chair – DAYL Lawyers Against Domestic Violence Committee 2005-2007
- Past Co-Chair – DAYL Child Support Enforcement Committee
- Member – State Bar of Texas (Family Law Section)
- Member – American Bar Association (Family Law Section)
- Associate – Annette Stewart American Inn of Court
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists 2006
- Texas International Law Journal – 1999 – 2001
Publications:
- Three Things Lawyers Should Know About Family Law Cases
- Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, June 2005
- The Claim for Economic Contribution:
- Advanced Family Law Seminar
- Questions, Queries and Quibbles, August 2006
- Economic Contribution in a Nutshell:
- Advanced Family Law Seminar
- Reimbursement: Then and Now
- Tracing Economic Contribution Reimbursement – Hypotheticals, August 2007
- Effective Trial Presentation Within Time Limits
- Advanced Family Law Seminar, August 2007
- Current Status of Texas Law on Premarital Agreements
- Drafting, Enforcing and Challenging Texas Premarital (and Nonmarital) Agreements, Fall 2007
- Drafting an Enforceable Protective Order
- Advanced Family Law Seminar, August 2009
Lecturer:
- Dallas Area Paralegal Association – 2003
- Collin County Area Paralegal Association – 2004
- Nuts & Bolts of Family Law for Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program – 2008 – 2010
- Domestic Violence Issues for Transition Research Action Center (TRAC) – 2010
- Child Advocacy Issues for Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program – 2010
