OWNER/MANAGING ATTORNEY
Matthew A. Skillern is the founder and lead family law attorney at Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers. He is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, an accomplishment that only 1% of family lawyers in Texas have achieved. Matthew is a strong trial lawyer with a record of success. He doesn’t back down, even when faced with difficult child custody issues or contentious divorces.
Matthew believes that being an effective advocate requires being forceful when it comes to defending his clients’ interests but also compassionate when helping them through the legal system. Although Matthew has been successfully litigating family law cases for years, he believes the courtroom is not the only place to resolve the complex and sensitive issues commonly found in family law matters. Recognizing that every client and case is different, Matthew advocates the use of negotiation and mediation to resolve marital and child custody disputes. If negotiation or mediation fail to resolve the issue, Matthew is more than willing to take the matter to trial.
Matthew grew up in Stafford, Texas, with humble beginnings. Upon graduation from high school, Matthew played football at Tyler Junior College and went on to graduate from Baylor University with a degree in political science. He obtained his Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law Houston. Matthew is a first-generation college graduate and often worked three jobs at once to finance his education. His tenacity, work ethic, and drive are evident in his firm, case management and advocacy skills. While Matthew started his legal career as a prosecutor for the Smith County District Attorney’s Office in Tyler, Texas, handling a wide range of criminal matters and trying cases to juries, upon moving home to Houston, Matthew switched to the other side of the courtroom, honing his trial and courtroom skills at one of Houston’s premier criminal defense firms.
Matthew is dedicated to his family and passionate about children and child-related issues. Clients, colleagues, and friends respect him for his dynamic courtroom skills and presence, all the while recognizing his kind heart and compassionate nature. Thus, Matthew founded Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers with the idea that he could utilize his strong advocacy skills for the good of others – because it is not just “family law,” it is someone’s life.
Education
- South Texas College of Law Houston, Texas A&M University, B.A. English (2010)
- J.D.
- Baylor University
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts – 2010
- Major: Political Science
Past Positions
- Smith County District Attorney’s Office, Prosecutor
Honors
- Texas Super Lawyers, 2015 - 2025 by Thomson Reuters
- Texas Rising Stars, 2010 - 2011, 2014 - 2015 by Thomson Reuters
- 10.0 Superb Rating by AVVO
- 10 Best 2025, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
- Expertise.com Best Family Lawyers in Houston 2025
- Clients' Choice Award 2015
- Top Attorneys in Texas 2017 - 2019
- America's Most Honored Professionals 2018 - 2019
- Top Attorneys Texas' Outstanding Young Lawyers 2014
- Houston's Top Lawyers 2014 - 2015
Classes & Seminars
- Houston Bar Association’s CLE May 9, 2014 “A Tale of Two Lawyers: Where Family and Criminal Law Intersects”
Professional Associations
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Member
- Houston Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member
- Fort Bend County Bar Association, Member
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
