KoonsFuller

Paul Leopold

Shareholder | Board Certified
paul@koonsfuller.com
817-481-2710

Overview

Paul Leopold is double board certified in Family Law and Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization—one of only ten active attorneys in Texas with this distinction. This rare combination means he knows how to get the right result at trial, protect that result on appeal, and when needed, correct a trial outcome that went wrong.

For clients, this means he sees the whole case while also being detail oriented. He can spot key issues early, guide strategy, and protect long-term goals. For trial attorneys, it means having a strategic partner who knows how to build a clean record, frame strong arguments, and avoid trial-level mistakes that could weaken the case on appeal.

Paul is often brought in when the stakes are high—when cases involve complex property, parental rights, major financial disputes, or difficult legal questions. He has handled appeals across Texas and in federal courts, including matters involving custody, support, property division, constitutional issues, jurisdiction, and international child abduction.

Paul is also a frequent speaker and author on evidence, trial strategy, and appellate practice, and lawyers across the state rely on his guidance with complicated cases. He is active in serving Texas families through the State Bar Family Law Section and the Texas Family Law Foundation.

Outside of work, Paul enjoys being with his wife and children and spending time outdoors.


Education & Admissions

  • ​​Texas A&M University School of Law, J.D., 2014
  • Brigham Young University, B.S. in Marriage, Family, and Human Development, 2010
  • Licensed in Texas
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

Accreditations

  • Board Certified, Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2024
  • Board Certified, Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2022

Honors & Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Law, Family Law, Collaborative Law: Family Law, 2024–present
  • Texas Rising Star “Appellate,” Thomson Reuters, 2020–present
  • Top Attorneys: Appellate Law, 360 West Magazine, 2019-2023, 2025
  • Top Attorneys: Family Law, Fort Worth Magazine, 2019-2020, 2023
  • The Joseph W. McKnight Best Family Law CLE Article, Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2017

Representative Cases

Representative Reported Cases

    • In re C.E., 687 S.W.3d 304 (Tex. 2024) (per curiam).
    • Baker v. Bizzle, 687 S.W.3d 285 (Tex. 2024).
    • In re A.H.S., 676 S.W.3d 355 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2023, pet. denied).
    • In re C.E., 692 S.W.3d 486 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2023) (mem. op.), rev’d, 687 S.W.3d 304 (Tex. 2024) (per curiam).
    • In re Younger, 659 S.W.3d 453 (Tex. 2022) (orig. proceeding).
    • In re D.A.A.-B., 657 S.W.3d 549 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2022, no pet.).
    • In re D.L., 641 S.W.3d 873 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2022, orig. proceeding).
    • Bizzle v. Baker, 683 S.W.3d 44 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2022), aff’d on other grounds, 687 S.W.3d 285 (Tex. 2024).
    • Lundstrom v. Young, 857 Fed. App’x 952 (9th Cir. 2021), cert. denied, 142 S.Ct. 1363 (2022).
    • In re H.L., 613 S.W.3d 722 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2020, no pet.).
    • Smith v. Smith, 976 F.3d 558 (5th Cir. 2020).
    • In re J.C., 594 S.W.3d 466 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2019, no pet.).
    • Waldrop v. Waldrop, 552 S.W.3d 396 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2018, no pet.) (op. on en banc reconsideration).
    • In re S.V., 599 S.W.3d 25 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2017, pet. denied) (op. on reh’g).

    Representative Unreported Cases

      • In re H.M., No. 07-25-00135-CV, 2025 WL 2962024 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Oct. 20, 2025, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re Timon, No. 05-25-01026-CV, 2025 WL 2856560 (Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 8, 2025, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.).
      • Bravo v. Bravo, No. 05-24-00419-CV, 2025 WL 2053579 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 22, 2025, pet. filed Oct. 8, 2025) (mem. op.).
      • In re C.E., No. 02-22-00285-CV, 2025 WL 1203188 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Apr. 24, 2025, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
      • In re B.M., No. 02-24-00035-CV, 2025 WL 211330 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 16, 2025, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • Sloan v. Sloan, No. 02-23-00361-CV, 2024 WL 4509728 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Oct. 17, 2024, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • Prentiss v. Prentiss, No. 05-23-00646-CV, 2024 WL 4343440 (Tex. App.—Dallas Sep. 30, 2024, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re L.N.T., No. 05-23-00477-CV, 2024 WL 3451509 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 18, 2024, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • B.E.K. v. C.G.E., No. 02-23-00025-CV, 2024 WL 3195849 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth June 27, 2024, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
      • Aijaz v. Arellano, No. 05-23-00628-CV, 2024 WL 2269265 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 20, 2024, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re M.B.G., No. 05-23-00505-CV, 2024 WL 1925871 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 2, 2024, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re A.A., No. 05-22-01216-CV, 2024 WL 1693285 (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 19, 2024, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re P.A., No. 05-22-01048-CV, 2024 WL 1652352 (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 17, 2024, pet. filed) (mem. op.).
      • In re S.N., No. 02-24-00017-CV, 2024 WL 566540 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Feb. 13, 2024, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.).
      • In re Goldberg, No. 02-24-00007-CV, 2024 WL 263249 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 24, 2024, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.).
      • Aijaz v. Arellano, No. 05-22-01133-CV, 2023 WL 8918031 (Tex. App.—Dallas Dec. 27, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re H.T.S., No. 06-23-00029-CV, 2023 WL 7381409 (Tex. App.—Texarkana Nov. 8, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • Lee v. Hoover, No. 11-22-00201-CV, 2023 WL 6466647 (Tex. App.—Eastland Oct. 5, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • Lynch v. Lopez, No. 02-22-00435-CV, 2023 WL 3878434 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth June 8, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re J.G., No. 02-22-00238-CV, 2023 WL 2179463 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Feb. 23, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • Poydras v. Poydras, No. 02-22-00152-CV, 2023 WL 415804 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 26, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re M.M., No. 05-21-00992-CV, 2023 WL 179810 (Tex. App.—Dallas Jan. 13, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • Rice v. Rice, No. 02-21-00413-CV, 2023 WL 109817 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 5, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • Coon v. Coon (Thomas), No. 02-21-00381-CV, 2022 WL 7232163 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Oct. 13, 2022, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re C.S.D., No. 05-20-00383-CV, 2022 WL 4092430 (Tex. App.—Dallas Sep. 7, Sep. 7, 2022, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re Marriage of Wells, No. 12-21-00152-CV, 2022 WL 3724724 (Tex. App.—Tyler Aug. 30, 2022, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • Mahmoud v. Jackson, No. 05-21-00302-CV, 2022 WL 2167683 (Tex. App.—Dallas June 16, 2022, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re A.Y.S., No. 12-21-00074-CV, 2022 WL 868046 (Tex. App.—Tyler Mar. 23, 2022, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
      • Shakouri v. Shakouri, No. 02-20-00297-CV, 2022 WL 189084 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 20, 2022, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
      • In re K.F., No. 02-21-00056-CV, 2021 WL 5742239 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Dec. 2, 2021, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • Alikhan v. Alikhan, No. 03-19-00515-CV, 2021 WL 3085844 (Tex. App.—Austin July 22, 2021, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
      • In re T.M., No. 02-19-00388-CV, 2020 WL 7393741 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Dec. 17, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re H.L., No. 02-20-00120-CV, 2020 WL 5949920 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Oct. 8, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re E.A., No. 02-18-00233-CV, 2020 WL 3969587 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth June 18, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re S.U., No. 02-19-00395-CV, 2020 WL 1949626 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth April 23, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re Bizzle, No. 02-20-00079-CV, 2020 WL 1313725 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Mar. 20, 2020, orig. proceeding [mand. denied, Aug. 28, 2020]) (mem. op.).
      • Bartee v. Bartee, No. 11-18-00017-CV, 2020 WL 524909 (Tex. App.—Eastland Jan. 31, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • Wright v. Payne, No. 02-19-00147-CV, 2019 WL 6003243 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Nov. 14, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • C.C. v. L.C., No. 02-18-00425-CV, 2019 WL 2865294 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth July 3, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re J.W., No. 02-18-00419-CV, 2019 WL 2223216 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth May 23, 2019, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.).
      • In re M.S., No. 02-18-00379-CV, 2019 WL 1768993 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth April 22, 2019, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
      • In re C.W.J., No. 11-17-00085-CV, 2019 WL 1067489 (Tex. App.—Eastland Mar. 7, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re K.F., No. 02-18-00187-CV, 2018 WL 6816119 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Dec. 27, 2018, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
      • In re A.C., No. 02-18-00129-CV, 2018 WL 5273931 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Oct. 24, 2018, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
      • Pedone v. Harvey, No. 07-17-00394-CV, 2018 WL 3677804 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Aug. 2, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re Garza, No. 05-18-00816-CV, 2018 WL 3569384 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 25, 2018, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.).
      • In re J.C.V., No. 05-17-00828-CV, 2017 WL 5150990 (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 7, 2017, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • In re E.B., No. 12-17-00214-CV, 2017 WL 4675109 (Tex. App.—Tyler Oct. 18, 2017, orig. proceeding [mand. denied, June 8, 2018]) (mem. op.).
      • In re Jennings, No. 10-17-00247-CV, 2017 WL 4542994 (Tex. App.—Waco Oct. 11, 2017, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.).
      • In re B.L., No. 02-16-00360-CV, 2016 WL 6804467 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Nov. 17, 2016, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.).
      • In re I.C., No. 02-15-00300-CV, 2016 WL 1394539 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth April 28, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op.).
      • Saldana v. Saldana, No. 10-15-00411-CV, 2016 WL 1238730 (Tex. App.—Waco Mar. 24, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op.).

      Publications & Presentations

      • Author/Presenter: “Temporary Orders Pending Appeal,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2025, San Antonio, Texas.
      • Author/Presenter: “Social Media,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Criminal Law, 2025, Dallas, Texas.
      • Presenter: “Drafting and Defending Against Enforcements,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, 2025, Fort Worth, Texas.
      • Presenter: “Evidence Essentials,” MyLawCLE, 2025, Online Webinar.
      • Presenter: “Digital Evidence Demystified: Navigating Smartphone Data in Court,” MyLawCLE, 2024, Online Webinar.
      • Presenter: “Presenting and Objecting to Evidence in Legal Proceedings: Common Pitfalls, Documentary Evidence, Pre-trial Motions, Expert Testimony, and Presentation,” MyLawCLE, 2024, Online CLE Webinar.
      • Author/Presenter: “Attorneys as Experts: Mixed Questions of Law & Fact,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2024, San Antonio, Texas.
      • Author/Presenter: “Social Media,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Criminal Law, 2024, San Antonio, Texas.
      • Author/Presenter: “Preserving Error,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Evidence and Discovery, 2024, Dallas, Texas
      • Contributing Editor: “Predicates Manual 6.0,” Texas Family Law Foundation, 2024
      • Presenter: “Evidentiary Complexities in Divorce Cases: Handling Written, Photographic, and Digital Evidence,” MyLawCLE, 2024, Online CLE Webinar
      • Presenter: “Obtaining and Using Social Media Evidence,” MyLawCLE, 2023, Online CLE Webinar
      • Presenter: “Evidentiary Challenges in Divorce Cases,” Strafford Publishing, 2023, Online CLE Webinar
      • Presenter: “Appellate Tips for Trial Lawyers,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Monthly Luncheon, 2023, Fort Worth, Texas
      • Author: “Cutting Edge Evidence Issues in Divorce: Wordless Communication,” State Bar of Texas Annual Marriage Dissolution Institute, 2023, Austin, Texas
      • Author/Presenter: “Discovery: How to Get What You Need,” Denton County Paralegal Association, 2023, Online CLE Webinar
      • Author: “The Weight of the World: Posturing the Property Case for Appeal,” State Bar of Texas Annual New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, 2022, Truckee, California
      • Author: “Cutting Edge Evidence,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2022, San Antonio, Texas
      • Author: “Cutting Edge Evidence,” State Bar of Texas Annual Texas Bar College Summer School, 2022, Galveston, Texas
      • Author: “Cutting Edge Evidence,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Trial Strategies, 2022, New Orleans, Louisiana
      • Author: “Covid-19 Legislation Creates New Financial Issues in Divorce Litigation,” 34 Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 473, 2022
      • Presenter: “Family Law Case Law Update,” Wise, Jack & Montague Counties Women’s Bar Association, 2022, Online CLE Webinar
      • Presenter: “Top 20 Family Law Cases of 2021,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Monthly Luncheon, 2022, Online CLE Webinar
      • Author/Presenter: “Cutting Edge Evidence,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Advanced on a Shoestring, 2021, Fort Worth, Texas
      • Author: “Exiting the Case: Creative Property Division and Other Remedies at Final Trial,” State Bar of Texas Annual New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, 2021, Austin, Texas
      • Author: “Texas Evidence Handbook,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2021, San Antonio, Texas
      • Contributing Editor: “Predicates Manual 5.0,” Texas Family Law Foundation, 2021
      • Contributing Author: “Fast Guide to Family Law: Checklist for Everyday Practice,” State Bar of Texas Family Law Section, 2021
      • Contributing Author: “Essentials of E-Discovery, 2nd ed.,” Texas Bar Books, 2021
      • Author: “The Evidence Handbook: Basic Evidence in Family Law: Getting It In, Keeping It Out, and Dealing With Electronic Evidence,” State Bar of Texas Handling Your First (Or Next) Divorce Case, 2021, Online CLE Webinar
      • Presenter: “Access, Disclosure, and Use of Mental Health Records in Family Law,” Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Virtual 58th Annual Meeting, 2021, Online CLE Webinar
      • Presenter: “2021 Changes to the TRCP,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Monthly Luncheon, 2021, Online CLE Webinar
      • Author: “Spousal Privacy: Where It Begins and Where It Ends,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
      • Author: “Preparing Direct and Cross Examination of the Financial Expert,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
      • Author: “Top Ten Mistakes Made in Discovery Matters,” State Bar of Texas Annual Fiduciary Litigation, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
      • Presenter: “SAPCR Case Law Update,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Advanced on a Shoestring, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
      • Author: “Cutting Edge Evidence Issues,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Virtual Annual Meeting, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
      • Author: “Courtroom Evidence,” Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum Virtual Family Law Institute, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
      • Author: “What to Bring to Court for the Expected and Unexpected,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
      • Author/Presenter: “Discovery Hacks,” State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division, 2020, Online CLE Webinar
      • Author: “Discovery Hacks,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Drafting, 2019, Dallas, Texas
      • Author/Presenter: “Evidence Trial Skills,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Advanced on a Shoestring, 2019, Fort Worth, Texas
      • Author/Presenter: “Gimme that ‘Fake Smile’ While Putting on Your Fake Evidence,” Legal Aid of Northwest Texas Family Law Seminar, 2019, Fort Worth, Texas
      • Author: “Courtroom Examination in Family Law Cases: Effective and Efficient Presentation,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2019, San Antonio, Texas
      • Author: “Evidence Trial Skills: Getting It In and Keeping It Out,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2019, San Antonio, Texas
      • Author: “Gray Divorce: Strategies for Over 65, Dementia, and Durable POAs,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2019, San Antonio, Texas
      • Contributing Editor: “Predicates Manual 4.0,” Texas Family Law Foundation, 2019
      • Author, “Getting Divorced? 8 Ways to Smooth the Process and Ease the Pain,” Fort Worth Magazine, March 2019
      • Presenter: “Roughin’ It Through Family Law - 2018-2019 Case Law Update,” Collin County Bench Bar, 2019, Glen Rose, Texas
      • Author: “Evidence Trial Skills: Getting It In & Keeping It Out,” Advanced Trial Skills for Family Lawyers, 2018, New Orleans, Louisiana
      • Presenter: “Firearms and Gun Trusts,” Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Advanced on a Shoestring, 2018, Fort Worth, Texas
      • Author/Presenter: “Evidence Update,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2018, San Antonio, Texas
      • Author: “Effective Evidence,” State Bar of Nevada Annual Family Law Conference, 2018, Bishop, California
      • Author: “The Divorce of Las Vegas Mobster, Benjamin ‘Bugsy’ Siegel and Esta Krakower,” Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Annual Trial Institute, 2018, Las Vegas, Nevada
      • Author: “Innovative Discovery,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Drafting, 2017, Fort Worth, Texas
      • Author: “Evidence Handbook,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2017, San Antonio, Texas
      • Author: “Courtroom Evidence and Demonstration,” State Bar of Texas Annual Marriage Dissolution Institute, 2017, Austin, Texas
      • Author: “Technology Case Law Update,” State Bar of Texas Family Law and Technology, 2016, Austin, Texas
      • Author: “The New Evidence Handbook,” State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law, 2016, San Antonio, Texas
      • Contributing Author: “Fast Guide to Family Law: Checklist for Everyday Practice,” State Bar of Texas Family Law Section, 2016
      • Author, “When Evidentiary Matters Cross Ethical Boundaries,” 57 South Texas Law Review 527, Summer 2016
      • Author: “The Hearsay Rule Revisited: Practical Application of the Hearsay Rule in Family Court,” South Carolina Bar Convention - Family Law Section, 2016, Charleston, South Carolina
      • Author: “The Role of Experts in Characterizing and Tracing Property,” State Bar of Texas Annual New Frontiers in Marital Property Law, 2015, Denver, Colorado
      • Author: “Mandamus and Habeas Corpus,” State Bar of Texas Annual Marriage Dissolution Institute, 2014, Austin, Texas
      • Author: “Remand,” State Bar of Texas Annual Marriage Dissolution Institute, 2014, Austin, Texas

      Professional & Community Involvement

      • State Bar of Texas, Family Law and Appellate Sections, Member, 2014–present
      • State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Appellate Committee Member, 2023–present
      • State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Publications Committee Member, 2024–present
      • Texas Bar College, Member, 2015–present
      • Texas Family Law Foundation, Member, 2015–present
      • Texas Family Law Foundation, Legislative Committee Member, 2023–present
      • Texas Young Lawyers Association, Member, 2015–2024
      • Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2025–present
      • Tarrant County Bar Association, Appellate Section, Member, 2015–present
      • Tarrant County Bar Association, Appellate Section, Chair, 2024–2025
      • Tarrant County Bar Association, Appellate Section, Vice Chair, 2023–2024
      • Tarrant County Bar Association, Appellate Section, Secretary, 2023
      • Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, Member, 2015–present
      • Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, Associate Member, 2017–2018
      • National Family Law Trial Institute, Alumnus, 2016
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