Board certification in Texas is a voluntary designation program for attorneys and paralegals. To become board certified, an attorney must have been licensed to practice law for at least 5 years, devoted a substantial percentage of his or her practice to family law for at least three years, demonstrated experience and involvement in handling family law cases, attended continuing education in the area of family law, and passed a peer review. Once all of these criteria are met, an attorney may then sit for a 6-hour grueling written exam. If passed, the attorney is board certified for a period of 5-years, subject to renewal.

Out of over 70,000 attorneys in the State of Texas, only 797 are board certified in family law!

O’Neil Wysocki has three lawyers and one paralegal that are board certified in family law. Michelle May O’Neil has been board certified in family law since 1997, and recertified every five years since. Michael D. Wysocki received his board certification in family law in 2011, and Eric Navarrette became board certified in 2013. Sandra Allen, paralegal to Michelle O’Neil, received her certification in family law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2007, making her one of only four board certified family law paralegals in Dallas County, Texas.

Hiring a board certified family law attorney to represent you in your family law or divorce matter, whether you are in Dallas or anywhere in the State of Texas, ensures you give yourself the best chance at a successful outcome. You can be assured that an attorney who is board certified has at least a minimum level of competence, experience, and expertise to handle your matter.

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Photo of Michelle O'Neil Michelle O'Neil

Michelle May O’Neil has 30+ years’ experience representing small business owners, professionals, and individuals in litigation related to family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and complex property division. Described by one lawyer as “a lethal combination of sweet-and-salty”, Ms. O’Neil exudes…

Michelle May O’Neil has 30+ years’ experience representing small business owners, professionals, and individuals in litigation related to family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and complex property division. Described by one lawyer as “a lethal combination of sweet-and-salty”, Ms. O’Neil exudes genuine compassion for her client’s difficulties, yet she can be relentless when in pursuit of a client’s goals. One judge said of Ms. O’Neil, “She cannot be out-gunned, out-briefed, or out-lawyered!”

Family Law Specialist

Ms. O’Neil became a board-certified family law specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1997 and has maintained her certification since that time. While representing clients in litigation before the trial court is an important part of her practice, Ms. O’Neil also handles appellate matters in the trial court, courts of appeals and Texas Supreme Court. Lawyers frequently consult with Ms. O’Neil on their litigation cases about specialized legal issues requiring particularized attention both at the trial court and appellate levels. This gives her a unique perspective and depth of perception that benefits both her litigation and appellate clients.

Top Lawyers in Texas and America

Ms. O’Neil has been named to the list of Texas SuperLawyers for many years, a peer-voted honor given to only about 5% of the lawyers in the state of Texas. Ms. O’Neil received the special honor of being named by Texas SuperLawyers as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Texas, Top 100 Lawyers in Texas, and Top 100 Lawyers in DFW for multiple years. She was named one of the Best Lawyers in America and received an “A-V” peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directories for the highest quality legal ability and ethical standards.

Author and Speaker

A noted author, Ms. O’Neil released her second book Basics of Texas Divorce Law in November 2010, with a second edition released in 2013, and a third edition expected in 2015.  Her first book, All About Texas Law and Kids, was published in September 2009 by Texas Lawyer Press. In 2012, Ms. O’Neil co-authored the booklets What You Need To Know About Common Law Marriage In Texas and Social Study Evaluations.  The State Bar of Texas and other providers of continuing education for attorneys frequently enlist Ms. O’Neil to provide instruction to attorneys on topics of her expertise in the family law arena.