Mr. Chris Nickelson

Chris is a Partner with Goranson Bain Ausley. He has held numerous leadership roles within the State Bar of Texas, including serving as Chair of the Family Law Section, and continues to contribute to the development of Texas family law through service, writing, and education.

He is a frequent author and speaker at statewide courses, including Advanced Family Law, Marriage Dissolution, and New Frontiers in Marital Property. Chris is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law and Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Chris has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer every year since 2014, including selection among the Top 100 attorneys in 2025, and has been named a Top Attorney by Fort Worth Magazine since 2007.

Away from the office, Chris and his partner enjoy traveling, renovating their 100-year-old home in Fort Worth’s historic Ryan Place neighborhood, and being the “fun uncles” to seven nieces and nephews.

Chris Nickelson is a Fort Worth divorce lawyer working out of Goranson Bain Ausley’s Fort Worth office, with a focus on high-net-worth divorce, complex property disputes, and divorce appeals.

Honors & Awards

Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Appellate Practice, Best Lawyers, 2025 & 2026

Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2025 & 2026

Family Law Section Chair Award, Family Law Section – State Bar of Texas, 2024

Named to the 500 Leading Family Lawyers List, LawDragon, 2024 -2026

Selected to the “Top 100: Dallas/Fort Worth Super Lawyers” List, Thomson Reuters, 2024 & 2025

Selected to the “Top 100 Texas Super Lawyers” List, Thomson Reuters, 2025

Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2023 – 2025

Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly Magazine, 2014-present

Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2007-present

Top Attorney, 360 West, 2023

SBOT Franklin Jones, Jr., CLE Award in 2012

Rising Star, Texas Monthly Magazine 2004-2013

SBOT Family Law Section’s Dan R. Price Award in 2013

Joseph W. McKnight Best Family Law CLE Article Award in 2011 and 2015

Articles

How to Appeal a Divorce Case: A Guide to Seeking a Better Judgment February 8, 2024

Publications & Speeches

Author and Presenter of “What do You Mean? The Benefits and Detriments of Ambiguity in Contracts” Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 2025, San Antonio.

Co-Author and Co-Presenter of “Trust and Traitors: Holding Spouses Accountable for Fraud on the Community” New Frontiers in Marital Property Law Course, October 2025, Memphis.

Co-Author and Co-Presenter of “Hitting the Nail on the Head: A Deep Dive into Goodwill in the Texas Divorce Context” Advanced Family Law Course, August 2025, San Antonio.

Co-Author and Co-Presenter of “(You) Preserve, (You) Protect & (We) Defend” Undertaking the Challenge of Making an Epic Record for Appeal” Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers Course, December 2024, New Orleans.

Co-Author and Co-Presenter of “Tell Me How to Value This!” “…No, You Tell Me!”: Navigating Complex Issues at the Intersection of Business Valuation Theory and Texas Marital Property Law, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2024, San Antonio.

Co-Author and Co-Presenter of Preserving Error, Advanced Evidence & Discovery Course, May 2024, San Antonio.

Author and Presenter of Drafting for an Appeal, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 2023, Fort Worth.

Co-Author and Co-Presenter of Use of Opinion and Expert Testimony in Property Cases, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2023, Charleston.

Author and Presenter of Issue Spotting & Preservation of Error, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2023, San Antonio.

Presenter of Marital Property Agreements—Pitfalls of Prenups and Postnups, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2023, Austin.

Co-Presenter, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Trial Institute, February 2023, New Orleans.

Co-Author of The Weight of the World: Posturing the Property Case for Appeal, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2022, Lake Tahoe.

Co-Author of A Deep Dive: Statutory and Common Law Reimbursement, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2022, San Antonio.

Author of Make the World Go Away: Finding the Right Appellate Tool, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2022, Fort Worth.

Author of Are You Sure You Want to File That? Summary Judgment Motions, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 2021, San Antonio.

Author of Preserving Your Record, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2021, San Antonio.

Co-Author of Education and Other Related Rights, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2021.

Author of Protecting Your Record at Trial, Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers Course, December 2020.

Author of I Fought the Law: Mandamus for the Trial Lawyer, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2020.

Co-Author of Entities and Marital Property Law–Interrelated Claims and Issues, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2019, Savannah.

Author of Declaratory Actions, MSJ’s, and Other Weird and Effective Family Law Tools, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2019, San Antonio.

Co-Author of Stay in Your Lane: The Proper Role of Financial Experts, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2019, Galveston.

Author of Don’t Lose your Appeal at Trial, Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers Course, December 2018, New Orleans.

Co-Author of Marital Agreements, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2018, San Diego.

Author of Character of Debts, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2018, San Antonio.

Author of Temporary Orders During Appeal, Marriage Dissolution, April 2018, Dallas.

Co-Author of Wildlings and Other Things Beyond the Wall—The Impact of Character Beyond Dividing the Community Estate, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2017, Las Vegas.

Author of Appellate Issues Affecting Your Family Law Practice, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2017, San Antonio.

Co-Author of Technology Case Law Update, Family Law & Technology, December 2016, Austin.

Author of Procedural Tricks and Traps, Marriage Dissolution, April 2016, Galveston.

Author of Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, What You’re Supposed to Write and How it Will Help You, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 2015, Dallas.

Author of Who Made This Mess? The Messy Process of Enforcing the Property Division, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2015, Denver.

Author of Jurisdictional Issues, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2015, San Antonio.

Author of Evidentiary Predicates, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2015, Dallas.

Co-Author of I love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change: PDF Document Management—How to Create, Save, e-File, Markup and Collaborate with Clients and Opposing Counsel from Within the Software, Family Law Technology 360, December 2014, Austin.

Author of Recovering Attorney’s Fee’s, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2014, San Antonio.

Co-Author of Post-Trial/Appeal, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2014, San Antonio.

Co-Author of Appellate Concerns Before, During, and After Trial, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2014, San Antonio.

Author of Pleadings, Motions, and Orders, Relating to Summary, Declaratory, and Default Judgments, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 2013, Dallas.

Author of Post-Trial Motions, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2013, San Antonio.

Co-Author of Predicates, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2013, Houston.

Co-Author of Dealing with Foreign Jurisdictional Property Issues, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2012, New Orleans.

Co-Author of Appellate Practice—From Every Angle, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2012, Houston.

Co-Author of Electronic Discovery—How to Get It, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2012, Dallas.

Author of Post-Trial Drafting Issues, Advanced Drafting Course, December 2011, Dallas.

Author of Trying a Case with Appeal in Mind, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2011, San Antonio.

Co-Author of Appellate Practice—From Every Angle, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2011, San Antonio.

Author of Running a Law Office for Fun And Profit, Soaking Up Some CLE Seminar, 2011, South Padre.

Author of Appellate CYA, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2011, Austin.

Author of The Basics: Procedural Concerns, Parent-Child Relationships Seminar, UT CLE, January 2011, Houston.

Author of Strategies for Proving Best Interest, Parent-Child Relationships Seminar, UT CLE, January 2011, Houston.

Co-Author of Using Summary Judgment Procedure in Family Law Cases, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 2010, Houston.

Co-Author of Appellate Practice from Every Angle, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2010, San Antonio.

Co-Author of Proving Separate Property: An Argument for More Use of Summary Judgment Practice in Family Law Cases, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2010.

Author, Impacts at Trial: Saving Your Trial from Mistakes, 10th Annual Family Law on the Front Lines, UT CLE, July 2010, San Antonio.

Author of Finalizing the Deal: Rule 11 Agreements, Mediated Settlement Agreements, and Why Its So Important to Get Orders Timely Signed, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2010, San Antonio.

Co-Author of Preservation of Error (Including Making and Meeting Objections), 2009 Trial of Breach of Fiduciary Duty Litigation Cases, Fredericksburg, Texas.

Author of Equitable Remedies: Getting Out of Traps, Messes, and Other Problems to which You or Your Client May Have Unintentionally Agreed, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2009.

Author of Appealing Your Family Law Case, 23rd Annual Family Law Conference, South Texas College of Law, March 2009, Houston.

Co-Author of Professionalism, August 2008, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio.

Author of Maintaining the Chain of Electronic Evidence and Spoliation of Electronic Evidence, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2008.

Author of Brief Writing that Appeals to Your Audience, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2008.

Co-Author of Extraordinary Writs: When Ordinary Relief Just Won’t Do, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2007, El Paso.

Co-Author of Appellate Advocacy: From the Judge’s Perspective; Advanced Family Law Course, August 2005.

Co-Author of Like Skeet and Sporting Clay: Direct and Collateral Attacks on Judgments, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2005.

Co-Author of Preservation of Error for Discovery Issues, 2005 Brown Bag Seminar for Tarrant County Bar Association, Appellate Section

Co-Author of Appellate Advocate – Substantive Court of Appeals Update, for The Appellate Advocate, 2001-2005.

Author of Relief is Just an Appeal Away: Drafting With Appeal, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2003.

Author of Puttin’ on the Writs: Mandamus, Prohibition and Habeas Corpus, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2002.

Presentations

Co-Presenter of The Weight of the World: Posturing the Property Case for Appeal, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2022, Lake Tahoe.

Co-Presenter of A Deep Dive: Statutory and Common Law Reimbursement, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2022, San Antonio.

Presenter of Make the World Go Away: Finding the Right Appellate Tool, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2022, Fort Worth.

Presenter of Are You Sure You Want to File That? Summary Judgment Motions, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 2021, San Antonio.

Presenter of Preserving Your Record, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2021, San Antonio.

Co-Presenter of Education and Other Related Rights, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2021.

Presenter of Protecting Your Record at Trial, Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers Course, December 2020.

Presenter of I Fought the Law: Mandamus for the Trial Lawyer, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2020.

Co-Presenter, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Trial Institute, February 2020, Annapolis.

Co-Presenter of, Entities and Marital Property Law–Interrelated Claims and Issues, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2019, Savannah.

Presenter of Declaratory Actions, MSJ’s, and Other Weird and Effective Family Law Tools, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2019, San Antonio.

Co-Presenter of Stay in Your Lane: The Proper Role of Financial Experts, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2019, Galveston.

Presenter of Don’t Lose your Appeal at Trial, Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers Course, December 2018, New Orleans.

Co-Presenter of Marital Agreements, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2018, San Diego.

Presenter of Character of Debts, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2018, San Antonio.

Presenter of Temporary Orders During Appeal, Marriage Dissolution, April 2018, Dallas.

Co-Course Director, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Trial Institute, February 2018, Las Vegas.

Presenter of Wildlings and Other Things Beyond the Wall—The Impact of Character Beyond Dividing the Community Estate, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2017, Las Vegas.

Presenter of Appellate Issues Affecting Your Family Law Practice, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2017, San Antonio.

Course Director, Marriage Dissolution, April 2017, Austin.

Presenter of Technology Case Law Update, Family Law & Technology, December 2016, Austin.

Co-Course Director, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2016, San Antonio.

Presenter of Procedural Tricks and Traps, Marriage Dissolution, April 2016, Galveston.

Co-Presenter, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Trial Institute, January 2016, Charleston.

Presenter of Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, What You’re Supposed to Write and How it Will Help You, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 2015, Dallas.

Presenter of Who Made This Mess? The Messy Process of Enforcing the Property Division, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2015, Denver.

Presenter of Jurisdictional Issues, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2015, San Antonio.

Presenter of Evidentiary Predicates, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2015, Dallas.

Co-Presenter of I love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change: PDF Document Management—How to Create, Save, e-File, Markup and Collaborate with Clients and Opposing Counsel from Within the Software, Family Law Technology 360, December 2014, Austin.

Presenter of Recovering Attorney’s Fee’s, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2014, San Antonio.

Co-Presenter of Post-Trial/Appeal, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2014, San Antonio.

Co-Presenter of Appellate Concerns Before, During, and After Trial, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2014, San Antonio.

Presenter of Pleadings, Motions, and Orders, Relating to Summary, Declaratory, and Default Judgments, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 2013, Dallas.

Presenter of Post-Trial Motions, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2013, San Antonio.

Presenter of Predicates, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2013, Houston.

Co-Presenter of Dealing with Foreign Jurisdictional Property Issues, New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, October 2012, New Orleans.

Co-Presenter of Appellate Practice—From Every Angle, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2012, Houston.

Presenter of Electronic Discovery—How to Get It, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2012, Dallas.

Presenter of Post-Trial Drafting Issues, Advanced Drafting Course, December 2011, Dallas.

Presenter of Trying a Case with Appeal in Mind, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2011, San Antonio.

Co-Presenter of Appellate Practice—From Every Angle, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2011, San Antonio.

Presenter of Running a Law Office for Fun And Profit, Soaking Up Some CLE Seminar, 2011, South Padre.

Presenter of Appellate CYA, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2011, Austin.

Presenter of The Basics: Procedural Concerns, Parent-Child Relationships Seminar, UT CLE, January 2011, Houston.

Co-Presenter of Strategies for Proving Best Interest, Parent-Child Relationships Seminar, UT CLE, January 2011, Houston.

Presenter of Using Summary Judgment Procedure in Family Law Cases, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, December 2010, Houston.

Co-Presenter of Appellate Practice from Every Angle, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2010, San Antonio.

Presenter of Proving Separate Property: An Argument for More Use of Summary Judgment Practice in Family Law Cases, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2010.

Presenter of Preservation of Error (Including Making and Meeting Objections), 2009 Trial of Breach of Fiduciary Duty Litigation Cases, Fredericksburg, Texas.

Presenter of Equitable Remedies: Getting Out of Traps, Messes, and Other Problems to which You or Your Client May Have Unintentionally Agreed, Advanced Family Law Course, August 2009.

Course Director for the 2009 Boot Camp prior to the State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course.

Presenter of, Appealing Your Family Law Case, 23rd Annual Family Law Conference, South Texas College of Law, March 2009, Houston.

Course Director of Family Law Essentials Seminar, October 2008, San Angelo.

Presenter of Brief Writing that Appeals to Your Audience, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2008.

Course Director for 2008 Brown Bag Seminar for Tarrant County Bar Association titled “When Reasonable Minds Cannot Disagree: Summary Judgment Practice in Texas.”

Presenter of Extraordinary Writs: When Ordinary Relief Just Won’t Do, Marriage Dissolution Course, April 2007, El Paso.

Professional Associations

Board of Directors, District 7, Place 1, State Bar of Texas, Present

Member, Tarrant County Bar Association, Present

Member, Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, Present

Chair, Committee on Pattern Jury Charges, Family & Probate Volume, 2020 to present

Member, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2022

Immediate Past Chair, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2020-2021

Chair, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2019-2020

Chair-Elect, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2018-2019

Vice Chair, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2017-2018

Treasurer, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2016-2017

Secretary, Family Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2015-2016

Member, Family Law Council, State Bar of Texas, 2010-2015

Member, Committee on Pattern Jury Charges, Family & Probate Volume, 2017-2020

Chair, District Seven Grievance Committee, 2017-2019

Member, District Seven Grievance Committee, 2013-2019

Member, Texas Commission to Expand Civil Legal Services, 2015-2016

Secretary, Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, 2012-2013

Director, Tarrant County Bar Association Board of Directors, 2008-2009

Chair of the Tarrant County Bar Association Appellate Section, 2008-2009