Helping Clients Preserve Their Assets During Divorce
Recognizing that divorce is a difficult time and often involves the division of an estate, Thomas P. Goranson applies a keen understanding of marital assets and how they can be valued and divided to achieve maximum benefit to the client. His attention to detail in cases that require complex property division and valuation of closely held businesses has helped hundreds of clients better understand the value of their property and assets. Befitting the founder of the firm, Tom also brings a certain stature to his cases that supports each client’s goals in their proceedings.
With an eye toward preserving assets rather than destroying them, Tom offers clients a thorough analysis and a creative but realistic plan to accomplish their objectives. In some cases, he is able to accomplish this proactively by sitting down with clients to create pre- and post-marital agreements. But if divorce is already on the horizon, he is able to listen to each client’s unique needs and walk them through the process step by step so that they feel comfortable and confident.
Tom began his law practice in 1971 as an associate with the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld. Early on, he was assigned an estate case and quickly became familiar with community and separate property concepts, cases, and laws in Texas. Then, Tom assisted in a divorce case involving a jury trial. In a rather short period of time, Tom was placed in charge of the divorce practice at Akin, Gump. In 1987, he founded a law firm devoted exclusively to divorce and family law, known today as Goranson Bain Ausley.
Tom’s current divorce practice focuses on high-net-worth divorce cases involving significant property. He is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1980, a graduate of SMU School of Law (1971), and a frequent lecturer on family law matters. He is also a member of two separate American Inns of Court. The William “Mac” Taylor Inn is a general litigation organization, while membership in the Annette Stewart Inn is limited to family law attorneys. Tom was a founding member of the Annette Stewart Inn and was education vice president from 2003 to 2004. Inns of Court were established in the United States for the purpose of fostering excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility, and legal skills. He has also been a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 1982. Tom has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© by Woodward/White Inc. for more than 20 years. Tom was one of the founding members of, and is currently an active member of, a local Toastmasters International Club, Counselors (#5918). He is especially proud of establishing a law firm that has developed a great reputation among judges, mediators, other professionals, and clients.
Tom is a founding partner at Goranson Bain Ausley and a premier Dallas divorce lawyer working out of our Dallas and Plano office locations.
Services
- Divorce
- Collaborative Divorce
- High Net Worth Divorce
- Divorce for Business Owners
- Business Valuation in Divorce
- Property Division
- Complex Property
- Characterization of Separate and Community Property
- Dividing the Marital Home
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
- Divorce for Men
- Divorce for Women
- Child Custody
- Child Support
- Parenting Schedules
- Visitation Rights
- LGBT Parenting Rights
- Mental Health and Addiction in Divorce
- Becoming a Foster Parent
- Grandparent Visitation and Custody Rights in Texas
- Adoption
- Modification and Enforcement
- Cohabitation Agreement
- Alimony & Spousal Support Maintenance
- Appealing a Divorce Decree or Judgment
- Pre-Divorce Guidance
- High-Conflict Divorce
- LGBT Divorce
- Uncontested Divorce
- Contested Divorce
- Litigated Divorce
- Negotiated Divorce
Honors & Awards
- Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law, Best Lawyers, 1987 – 2021, 2024
- Named to the 500 Leading Family Lawyers List, LawDragon, 2024
- Selected to the “Top Lawyers: Family Law”, D Magazine, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007 – 2009
- Selected to the “Best Personal Lawyers in Dallas; Family Law”, D Magazine, 2011
- Selected to the “Best Lawyers in Dallas: Family Law”, D Magazine, 2008
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Thomson Reuters, 2003 – 2023
- Selected to the “Top 100: Texas Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters, 2004- 2005
- Selected to the “Top 100: Dallas/Fort Worth Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters, 2003 – 2005
- “AV” Preeminent® rating, Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
Presentations
- 1980 – Supernumeraries: Master, Auditors, et al, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, State Bar of Texas
- 1983 – Valuation of Property and Proof of Value, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas
- 1984, 1985 – Special Problems of Valuation and Division of Corporations, Partnerships and Trusts, Advanced Family Law Short Course, South Texas College of Law
- 1988 – Valuation of a Closely Held Business and Related Problems of Distribution, Focus on Family Law: Selected Issues in Property and Parent/Child Relationships, State Bar of Texas
- 1992 – Estate Planning — When it Comes Apart, Advanced Underwriting Seminar, Dallas Chapter of CLU & ChFC
- 1992 – Examination of the Expert: How to Dress and Un-dress the CPA on the Witness Stand, the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs (with Angeline L. Bain)
- 1992, 1994 A Characterization & Valuation Primer, Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section, Pro Bono Training Session
- 1993 – What Accountants Really Want to Know About Divorce, the CPA Club of North Dallas
- 1993 – The Partine Dissolution, Dallas Estate Planning Council
- 1994 – Estate Planning/Divorce Interface, 18th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, State Bar of Texas with Robert H. Kroney and Judge Paula Larsen – 1994
- 1995 – Enforcement and Clarification – Property Issues, Advanced Family Law Course for Legal Assistants
- 1995 – On the Cutting Edge of Reimbursement, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, State Bar of Texas (with Tom Greenwald)
- 1995 – Temporary Motions, Orders and Hearings, Legal Services of North Texas- July Pro Bono Training (With Paula Larsen)
- 1995 – Family Law Principles In Divorce and Estate Planning, the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs
- 1996 – Co Presenter of Reimbursement and Alternative Theories of Recovery, New Frontiers of Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas, Coronado – California, October 11, 1996
- 1997 – Working as an Expert Witness in Family Law Matters, Dallas Chapter of the Texas Society of CPA’s Divorce Conference -September 25, 1997
- 1997 – Co Presenter of Defined Contribution Plans, Including the New Treasury Regulation Containing Sample QDRO Language and the PBGC Booklet on QDROs, New Frontiers of Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas, San Diego, California – October 16, 1997
- 1998 – Intellectual Property, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (with K. Dennise Garcia), August 19, 1998
- 1998 – Co Presenter of Strategies for Division of the Complex Estate, New Frontiers of Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas, Santa Fe – New Mexico, October 16, 1998
- 1998 – Moderator, Relations and Tensions Between the Media and Attorneys, William “Mac” Taylor Inn of Court – November 10, 1998
- 1999 – Intellectual Property Issues, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (with K. Dennise Garcia), August 17, 1999
- 1999 – The Next Millennium: 2000 Ways to Dramatically Present Your Case, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (with K. Dennise Garcia) – August 19, 1999
- 1999 – Moderator of Intellectual Property Law and Divorce, The Battle Ground of the Future, New Frontiers of Marital Property Law 1999, State Bar of Texas, San Diego, California – October 14-15, 1999
- 2000 – Panel, Valuation Problems in the 21st Century, Advanced Family Law Course 2000, State Bar of Texas – August 23, 2000
- 2001 – Speaking In Codes: What Every Family Lawyer Should Know About the Civil Practice & Remedies Code, Property Code, and Business & Commerce Code (And Throw in the Finance Code and Penal Code), 2001 Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (with Ron Goranson, K. Dennise Garcia and Lynn Davis Ward) – August 7, 2001
- 2002 – Panelist of Executive Compensation Beyond the 401(k), New Frontiers of Marital Property Law 2002, State Bar of Texas, San Antonio – October 10-11, 2002.
- 2003 – Speaking In Codes: What Every Family Lawyer Should Know About the Civil Practice & Remedies Code, Property Code, and Business & Commerce Code (And Throw in the Finance Code, Business Organizations Code and Penal Code), Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (With K. Dennise Garcia, Ronald L. Goranson and Lynn Davis Ward) – August 18, 2003
- 2005 – Moderator of Panel on Employee Compensation, 2005 Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas – August, 2005
- 2005 – Panel on Employee Compensation, 2005 New Frontiers of Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas – October, 2005
- 2006 – Estate Planning Counsel – Economic Contribution with Robert Kroney
Speaking In Codes, Advanced Family Law – State Bar of Texas – August, 2006
Employee Compensation, Panel Member, New Frontiers of Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas – October, 2006 - 2007 – Business Valuation – Advanced Family Law Course – State Bar of Texas – August, 2007
- 2008 – Speaking In Codes – Marriage Dissolution Institute – State Bar of Texas – 2008
- Dealing with Complex Business Entities on Divorce, Panel Member, New Frontiers of Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas – October, 2008
- 2009 – Panel Moderator, Family Law Isn’t Just the Family Code: Understanding How Other Codes Apply to Family Law, 2009 Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas – August, 2009
- 2010 – Reimbursement – 2010 Family Law on the Front Lines, University of Texas, June 4, 2010
- 2011 – Panel Moderator, Real Estate, Oil & Gas and Estate Planning, 2011 Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, August 2011
- 2011 – A Modest Primer on Business Ownership, Divorce And The Courts, New Frontiers In Marital Property (With Aimee Pingenot) – October 2011
- 2012 – Identifying, Valuing and Characterizing Natural Resources, New Frontiers In Marital Property – October 2012
Professional Associations
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Fellow, 1982 – present
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section
- Member
- American Inns of Court
- Member
- Annette Stewart Inns of Court
- Member, 2003 – 2004
- Collaborative Divorce Texas (f/k/a Collaborative Law Institute of Texas)
- Member
- College of the State Bar
- Member
- Collin County Bar Association, Family Law Section
- Member
- Dallas Bar Association, Family Law and Solo and Small Firm Section
- Member
- Denton County Bar Association
- Member
- Founding Member, Education Vice President
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section
- Member
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
- Member
- Texas Family Law Foundation
- Member
- William “Mac” Taylor Inns of Court
- Member
- Toastmasters International Club Counselors #5918
- Founding Member
Education
- Southern Methodist University School of Law, 1971
- J.D., Law
- Southern Methodist University, 1969
- B.B.A., Finance & Management
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1971
Certifications
Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1980
