Michelle May O'Neil has been named one of the best divorce lawyers in Texas by Texas Super Lawyers Magazine. The list of best lawyers in Texas will appear in the October issue of Texas Monthly Magazine. See the listing below:
Hot Off The Press!
Our new book is ready and available on lulu.com. 
Co-written by Michelle May O'Neil and Ashley Bowline Russell, Basics of Texas Divorce Law provides essential information about a Texas divorce, including the four stages of a Texas divorce proceeding, the difference between a no-fault divorce and a fault divorce, how to approach dividing property in a Texas divorce, and the four issues that relate to children in a Texas divorce.
You can order the book directly by clicking on this link: Basics of Texas Divorce Law. The book retails for $12.99 online.
A lont-time and very satisfied client writes,
"I first met Michelle in 2005 and, as a client, she has represented me as my counsel ever since. Based on my personal experience with Michelle, I believe she is probably one of the best family law attorneys in the DFW metroplex. I believe that I was very lucky to find Michelle at a time in my life when I most needed a very good attorney to represent me in my divorce.
At the time, I was faced with the possibility of having only limited visitation with my children and the possibility of my children being relocated out of the DFW area. Michelle took on the challenge of getting me the results, from a year long court battle, to insure that my children would remain in the area so that their Mother and I could share as joint managing conservators. Nothing was and is more important to me than having me a close relationship with my children. Both, their Mother and I are actively involved in the daily activities of the Kids. Consequently, their Mother and I have a friendly relationship and communicate continuously to improve the quality of our children’s lives.
Most recently, their Mother remarried and requested the court to grant relocation to a county outside of the metroplex. Due to my location of work and the place where they would be residing, I would not have been able to see the Kids as much as I have for the past five years. Our lives have become so inextricably intertwined that a change in the location would have been detrimental to everyone in the family.
Therefore, I opposed the move and once again Michelle represented me in another year long battle that finally ended in an all-day trial in June of 2010. The results of that trial assured that the children would remain within a two and a half mile radius of where I live. I was very satisfied with the Judge’s decision to deny the request. And, obviously, I was very pleased with Michelle’s representation.
Michelle is a professional attorney at the highest level and I would gladly recommend her as counsel to anyone."
Dave Buchanan
It is fulfilling for us to represent a client who is so dedicated to his children as Mr. Buchanan. If you know of anyone who is in need of a Dallas area family lawyer for a relocation case like Mr. Buchanan's please ask them to give us a call.
No, we didn't really dance around begging some higher power to send down the trickles of water. Actually, I participated in a very interactive conference about law firm marketing where I heard more about educating clients about the benefits of hiring my law firm, what sets my law firm apart from other Dallas family law attorneys, and improving the provision of service to our clients. Here's why you should hire my firm to represent you in your Dallas area divorce:
Any other reasons you can think of? The list remains a work-in-progress.
Thanks to Stephen Fairley and Rich Strauch of The Rainmaker Institute, John Bisnar of Bisnar/Chase, and Alex Morris who gave a lot of great information. Check out Stephen's blog The Rainmaker Blog.
Dallas Family Law attorney Michelle May O'Neil previewed her book All About Texas Law and Kids with her co-authors Bobbi Sheahan and Sharon Ramage at the Dallas Kids Expo on Saturday. The audience submitted general questions which were answered by the authors based on the book. O'Neil provided copies of the book to give away to the first three audience members who asked questions. Plano Children's Theater generously donated season tickets to give away for questioners. O'Neil answered general questions about the law and children on topics such as child custody, child support, guardianship, grandparent rights, and age for marriage. A portion of the Q&A is posted on youtube video and embedded below:
Dallas Family Law Attorney Michelle May O'Neil was cited in an article published today in the Texas Lawyer news magazine. The article entitled Toddler Tug of War: Mother and Couple at Odds in Parental Rights Termination Case by John Council discusses a case pending in the Houston 1st Court of Appeals seeking to terminate a mother's parental rights when the baby was secreted from the mother by the father and unknowingly placed with a prospecitve adoptive family. The case turns on the question of whether the prospective adoptive family's ability to provide a better environment for the child than the mother should play a role in determining whether the termination of mother's rights is in the child's best interest.
From the article:
Michelle May O'Neil, a family lawyer and partner in Dallas' O'Neil Anderson, believes the 1st Court's decision may ultimately boil down to Jordan's "fundamental right to parent."
"The rights of a parent are constitutional. A parent has a liberty interest in establishing a home for their children and in raising their children. And the government can only interfere in that parent's rights when there are certain adequate reasons," O'Neil says. "For example, if CPS [Child Protective Services] has to take a child from a parent, they have to prove some sort of abuse."
Neither Jordan's mental health history nor her economic situation should figure into a court determination to end her parental rights, O'Neil says.
"Mentally ill people have a right to be parents. The government only has the right to interfere in parental relationships if there is abuse to the child," O'Neil says. "And you can be mentally ill and not abuse your child. One does not equate to the other."
"The question cannot be the quality of the family that the child is placed with," she adds. "The question in a termination proceeding is whether it's in the best interest of the child that the biological parent's right be terminated."
Ann Crawford McClure, a justice on El Paso's 8th Court of Appeals who is a past president of the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section, agrees with O'Neil. Texas courts require a higher burden of proof in parental rights termination cases than in normal family law cases, McClure says.
The Dosseys "have to prove by clear and convincing evidence that it's in the best interest of the child. The courts have been clear that you can't weigh lifestyle in that determination," McClure says. "You can't look at an adoptive family and say they are better off financially and can provide opportunities that the mother can't in determining the best interest of the child."
Dallas Divorce Lawyer Michelle May O'Neil is presently featured with the nationally recognized Featured Legal Guide on www.avvo.com, a directory of lawyers across the country. Her article on Valentine's Day Tips From A Dallas Texas Divorce Attorney discusses ways to keep a marriage together and avoid divorce, with tidbits from her 18 years experience as a divorce lawyer in the DFW metroplex area of Dallas, Texas. The article is also featured in the Avvo Advocate electronic newsletter with legal advice for everday life.
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Yesterday was a great day for us here at the Dallas Divorce Law Blog. We started the day with recognition from the Dallas Morning News Momsblog. Dallas divorce lawyer Michelle May O'Neil has been honored as a contributor to the DMN Momsblog. Her post entitled Who Calls the Doctor When a Child Has Two Homes? was featured yesterday.
The blog was also recognized as the Best in Law Blogs on November 10, 2009 by LexBlog. The entry entitled Parent Coordinator v. Parent Facilitator -- What's the Diff? received this national attention.
Good work guys!
Dallas Divorce Attorneys MIchelle May O'Neil and Nathan Anderson were featured today on the national blog Real Lawyers Have Blogs by Kevin O'Keefe on the topic of lawyer blogging. The post recounted an interview by Lisa Kennelly about O'Neil Anderson's unique take on blogging.
See the post here: Michelle May O'Neil of Dallas Divorce Law Blog: LexBlog Q&A
Or, read the article after the jump.
Continue Reading...Today, channel KDTX featured Michelle May O'Neil on the television show Joy In Our Town to discuss challenges in paying and receiving child support in a down economy. O'Neil gave pointers to obligors (paying support) who have lost their jobs and find it difficult to make the payments, as well as to obligees (receiving support) who need to collect and enforce the payment.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, the show's airing has been delayed until November 13, 2009 at noon. But you can see it below!
To watch the video, click here: www.youtube.com/watch
Dallas Divorce Lawyer Michelle May O'Neil announces the release of the book All About Texas Law and Kids, a book co-authored by Bobbi Sheahan, Michelle May O'Neil, Claudia Cano, and Sharon Ramage. Children are relevant to every aspect of the law, and they cannot represent themselves. From the seizure of the FLDS children to the debates over what is taught in schools, the intersection of kids and the law is front-page news every day in Texas. This book is a useful resource to practitioners, parents, and non-parents alike.
Can a grandparent sue for visitation?
Can a former love interest sue for visitation?
Who is legally responsible for vandalism committed by a 16-year-old or a 6-year-old child?
Can a 12-year-old child decide where she is going to live?
What is an open adoption and is it the right fit for you or your client?
Where do you start with a special needs student?
Are you advising a client on the employment of minors?
What happens when a child gets hurt?
Written by leading family law experts, Bobbi Reilly Sheahan, Michelle May O'Neil, Claudia Cano, and Sharon Ramage, All About Texas Law and Kids answers all of these questions and many more. This pocket-size resource includes sections on:
The Rights and Obligations of Parents
Child Protective Services
Custody and Child Support
Adoption
Education: Homeschooling, Public and Private Schools
Special Education
Children and Criminal Law
Children and Employment
Kids, Sex and Texas Law
Kids and Vehicles
When is a kid not a kid?
Kids and Contracts
All About Texas Law and Kids is published by the Texas Lawyer, an IncisiveMedia publication. The book retails for $69.95 plus tax ($75.72) and can be ordered at www.lawcatalog.com
Dallas Divorce Lawyers Michelle May O'Neil and Nathan Anderson hosted an open house celebrating the opening of their new location at Lincoln Centre Two. The event was well-attended, despite the weather, by clients, lawyers, and judges alike. O'Neil Anderson was formed in 2009 to provide compassionate yet relentless service to client in need of family law services. Michelle May O'Neil is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has practiced family law for her entire 17+ year career. Nathan Anderson joins the firm after practicing with the ligitation division of a civil firm in Houston.
Ms. O'Neil and Mr. Anderson appreciate all of those who braved the weather to attend the open house and welcome their clients, friends, and collegues who were unable to attend to come by and see the new space.
Dallas Divorce Lawyer Michelle May O'Neil
Teaches Other Lawyers About Winning
Michelle May O'Neil, 
founding partner of Dallas' O'Neil Anderson family law boutique firm, presented at the Advanced Family Law Conference held in Dallas in August 2009. O'Neil presented her paper Winning Your Case Before You Go To Trial together with Judge William Harris of the 233rd Family District Court of Tarrant County, Texas.
Here's an excerpt from the paper:
Dictionary.com defines a “win” as achieving victory or finishing first in a competition. Many times in family law litigation it is hard to define what constitutes a “win” in any particular case. What really is a “victory”? For some clients the simple act of obtaining the divorce will be considered a “victory”. Others set their standard of a “victory” very high, such as when a client will only be happy if he or she has the child 100% of the time.
Much of “winning” is determined by where the bar gets set to define a win. Establishing achievable goals remains one of the most essential aspects of client relations, as well as “winning” the case.
An additional aspect of “winning” might be to cut short what might otherwise be protracted litigation. This paper aims to review methods of “winning” the case prior to an extended trial on the merits of the case. This paper presumes that “winning” is defined as achievement of the client’s reasonable goals in a quick and efficient manner. This paper discusses various aspects of disposition of a case, both on procedural grounds as well as the merits of a claim, prior to trial. Areas such as jurisdiction, special exceptions, default judgments, summary judgments, declaratory judgments, discovery, sanctions, and pretrial appeal are covered.
Dallas Divorce Lawyer Michelle May O'Neil was quoted in the July 2nd, 2009 edition of Dallas Morning News in Emily Ramshaw's article Child Support Suffers As Economy Suffers. The story lead Thursday's edition with Ms. O'Neil's picture appearing on page 14A.
Here's the excerpt from the article pertaining to Ms. O'Neil:
Michelle May O'Neil, a family law attorney with clients in Dallas and Collin counties, said Crouse's case is common. She's seen a steady uptick in child support-paying parents who have either lost their jobs or had their hours reduced.
O'Neil said family court judges, who traditionally have issued permanent rulings, are giving these financially strapped parents temporary relief instead.
If someone is unemployed, she said, a judge generally will temporarily reduce child support, and then call a review hearing a few months later.
"A kiddo's expenses don't go away just because the economy is tight," O'Neil said. "Judges are giving people a Band-Aid so they can find another job."
We moved! We are on the other side of the move and in the new, pretty office amid boxes and pictures on the floor. The new office is at the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway and LBJ Freeway. Our new address is: O'Neil Anderson, Two Lincoln Centre, 5420 LBJ Freeway, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75240. Our phone numbers are the same: Telephone 972-852-8000 and Facsimile 972-852-8001.
Drop by for a tour if you are in the area.
"Change is inevitable. Growth is intentional."
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