A Dallas family law practice, start to finish
John B. Polk has handled complex family law matters in Dallas for more than 25 years: contested divorces, high-asset property division, custody disputes and post-divorce modifications. He represents women and men, and he takes cases through negotiation, mediation, arbitration or trial.
He prepares every case as if it will go to trial, so that a settlement is reached from strength rather than from fear of court. On property and business cases he works with valuation experts, forensic accountants, CPAs and financial planners. On custody cases he can refer families to therapists, co-parenting counselors and child development professionals.
A neutral as well as an advocate
John has resolved hundreds of cases in mediation, as an attorney for one side or as the mediator for both. He mediates divorce and custody disputes at his Turtle Creek office or over Zoom, and attorneys book him for their own clients.
Since 2012 he has served Dallas–Fort Worth co-parents as a parenting facilitator and parenting coordinator, settling the day-to-day disputes that come after a divorce, often in one or two Zoom meetings. That work led to CPiQ, an online tool that helps co-parents write calmer, child-focused messages.
Credentials
- Licensed
- State Bar of Texas, since 1999. No public disciplinary history.
- Education
- Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, J.D., 1998
Austin College, Sherman, Texas, B.A., 1995 - Recognition
- Texas Rising Stars (Super Lawyers, published in Texas Monthly), 2006 and 2012
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent peer rating, 2026
Divorce expert on NBC5 and WFAA - Memberships
- Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section (board member since 2002)
State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section (since 1999) - Practice
- Family law, collaborative law, mediation, parenting facilitation, wills and trusts
Teaching and writing
John has written for and spoken to other family lawyers for most of his career, often on the hardest procedural questions: custody and support orders that cross state lines, and how to change an order once it exists.
- Collaborative Law: Legal Tips and Traps, Dallas Area Paralegals Association (2010)
- Modifying and Enforcing Foreign Orders, Dallas Bar Association Family Law Section Summer Seminar (2006)
- Family Law Caselaw Update, Dallas Bar Association Family Law Section (2004)
- Basic Divorce Training (co-author), Dallas Bar Association New Lawyer Training (2000)
- Custody Modification: Nuts and Bolts, Advanced Family Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas CLE (1999)
Why family law
John is a father of two. He knows that in a custody case the children are the people with the most at stake and the least say, and he builds parenting plans around what will actually work in their week.
What other attorneys say
John is an exceptionally skilled family law litigator. His knowledge of the law, commitment to preparation and courtroom presence combine to make John one of the most well respected and admired attorneys amongst his peers.
John Polk is an outstanding Family Law Attorney. I would not hesitate to refer a family law matter to him. He is competent, professional and courteous, and aggressive, if needed. I highly recommend him.
John Polk is an excellent, hard-working family attorney who is a strong advocate for his clients. I recommend him!
Mr. Polk and I have worked together in the past and he is a talented lawyer and someone you can trust.
John brings humanity to the law. He is experienced and goal driven.
