Stephen C. DePaul is a Dallas family law and divorce attorney at The Ashmore Law Firm, P.C., in Turtle Creek.He has been licensed for more than 20 years, has extensive business litigation experience, and holds an MBA in finance, so he is well suited to high-net-worth divorces and to divorces with complex finances, business interests, or a professional practice at stake. Stephen represents clients in high-conflict and contested divorce, child custody, and property division cases in Dallas County and in the surrounding Collin, Denton, and Tarrant County courts.
A Dallas Divorce Lawyer Who Prepares Every Case for Trial
Before joining The Ashmore Law Firm, Stephen spent seven years at a Dallas boutique practice devoted exclusively to family law, where most of his clients were professionals and high-net-worth individuals. He handled cases from intake through final judgment, including:
- Scores of bench and jury trials
- Temporary restraining order (TRO) and temporary orders hearings
- Depositions
- Hundreds of mediations
That record fits how The Ashmore Law Firm works. The firm prepares every family law case as if it were going to trial. That preparation shows clients all of their options and gives them the leverage to negotiate a fair settlement outside the courtroom. More than 94% of the firm's cases settle before final trial. When a case does need a judge, Stephen is an experienced family law trial attorney.
Stephen is part of the firm's family law team. Several attorneys may confer on a client's strategy, and the client is billed for one.
Business Litigation Experience for High-Net-Worth Divorce
Stephen brings extensive business litigation experience to his family law practice, which sets him apart in high-net-worth divorces and divorces involving a business. He understands how business disputes are built, argued, and resolved. When a company, a partnership interest, or a professional practice is part of the marital estate, he knows where the value is and where the fight is likely to be.
He pairs that litigation background with formal financial training. Stephen earned his MBA in finance with high honors from the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business. As a graduate fellow with the Georgia Small Business Development Center, he advised medical practices on profitability, receivables, compliance, and valuation for sale and acquisition.
In contested property disputes, Stephen works closely with tracing experts and business valuation experts to identify separate property and to value marital assets accurately. For business owners, physicians, and other practice owners, that combination of business litigation skill and financial know-how helps protect what they have built.
Contested Child Custody Attorney Focused on the Best Interest of the Child
In contested child custody and conservatorship cases, Stephen works with mental health professionals and child custody evaluators. His goal is a clear, well-supported record of what serves the children, presented in mediation or in court.
Education
- J.D., magna cum laude, Indiana University Maurer School of Law. He served as Articles Editor of the Indiana Law Journal and was elected to the Order of the Coif.
- MBA in Finance, with high honors, University of Georgia, Terry College of Business
- B.A., Government and English, The University of Texas at Austin
Earlier Legal and Leadership Career
Stephen began his career as a litigation associate at Freeborn & Peters LLP in Chicago, where he drafted pretrial and summary judgment motions in antitrust and employment cases. He later served as Director of Global Initiatives for The University of Texas System, advising the Chancellor and Board of Regents. After that, he was Vice Provost and Executive Director of the Dickinson Center for Global Study & Engagement, where he built the Center's first academic partnership with Oxford University.
Speaking
Stephen presented a paper on the use of summary judgment in family law litigation at the annual meeting of the Family Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association.
Frequently Asked Questions About Attorney Stephen DePaul
What kind of cases does Stephen DePaul handle?
Stephen DePaul handles divorce, child custody, conservatorship, and property division cases. His focus is high-net-worth divorces and divorces involving businesses or professional practices.
Where does Stephen DePaul practice?
He practices from The Ashmore Law Firm's office in Turtle Creek, Dallas, and represents clients in Dallas, Collin, Denton, and Tarrant counties.
Why does an MBA matter in a divorce?
Complex divorces often turn on financial questions: what a business is worth, which assets are separate or community property, and how income and receivables are traced. Stephen's MBA in finance and his experience valuing medical practices help him work with valuation and tracing experts and explain the numbers clearly in negotiation and in court.
Why does business litigation experience matter in a divorce?
When a business or professional practice is part of the marital estate, a divorce can turn into a business dispute over the company's value, its income, and who is entitled to what. Stephen's business litigation experience means he can handle those disputes in negotiation and, if needed, in court.
Does Stephen DePaul go to trial?
Yes. He has tried scores of bench and jury trials. Like every attorney at The Ashmore Law Firm, he prepares each case as if it will go to trial, and that preparation is why more than 94% of the firm's cases settle before final trial.
How do I schedule a consultation?
The Ashmore Law Firm offers complimentary, confidential consultations with its family law team. Call 214-559-7202.