Attorneys at Law Austin
Barton & Associates Austin
Barton & Associates, Attorneys at Law is a full-service criminal defense, family law, and personal injury firm serving Austin and the greater Central Texas region from our office at 316 W. 12th St. in Old West Austin. Our attorneys practice regularly in Travis County Criminal Court, Travis County Family Court, Williamson County, and Hays County—courts where local relationships, procedural familiarity and an established reputation for trial readiness make a measurable difference in how cases resolve.
We are not a volume firm. We are selective about the cases we accept because we commit fully to every client we represent, which means your case receives attorney-level attention from intake through resolution. If you are facing a criminal charge, a divorce, a contested custody matter or a serious personal injury in Austin or anywhere in Central Texas, Barton & Associates has the depth of experience and the courtroom record to advocate effectively on your behalf. Call 512-THE-FIRM (843-3476) to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
The attorneys at Barton & Associates, Attorneys at Law are trial lawyers, not case processors. Led by founder Gary J. Barton and managed by attorney Duane Graeff, our Austin legal team includes senior trial attorney Jim Erickson and trial attorneys George Manning, AshLee Bradshaw, Desirée Flye Marshall, and Mario Moreno—each bringing focused courtroom experience across criminal defense, family law and personal injury.
What distinguishes our team in the Austin market is not just the number of years our attorneys have practiced, but where they have practiced: in the actual courtrooms, in front of the actual judges, across the counties where your case will be decided. We do not pass clients to junior associates and move on. When Barton & Associates takes your case, the attorney assigned to you is the attorney who will prepare your motion, appear at your hearing and stand beside you at trial if that is where your case needs to go. That standard of representation—consistent, attorney-level, fully committed—is what every client in our Austin office receives from the first consultation forward.
The legal problems that bring people to our Austin office are rarely simple, and the stakes involved—freedom, parental rights, financial security, physical recovery—are too high to tolerate anything less than honest, experienced representation. Our mission at Barton & Associates, Attorneys at Law is straightforward: give every client in Austin and Central Texas the quality of legal advocacy that actually changes outcomes. That means telling you the truth about your case during the consultation, not what you want to hear. It means preparing your matter as though it will go to trial, even when a negotiated resolution is likely. It means being available when you have questions—evenings, weekends and holidays for existing clients, and seven days a week by phone for anyone who needs to speak with our team before deciding whether to hire us.
We serve clients throughout Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Kyle, Buda, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Manor and Bastrop. If you are facing a legal matter in Travis County or anywhere in the surrounding Central Texas region, we are ready to help. Schedule your free consultation today by calling 512-THE-FIRM (843-3476) or completing our online form.
By appointment only—the Austin office is located in Old West Austin, a historic district near downtown.
316 W 12th St Suite 400, Austin, TX 78701
512-THE-FIRM (843-3476)
Info@BartonLawOffice.com
4.9 Excellent Rating
Serving Austin & Travis County Since 2001
Choosing the right family law attorney in Austin is one of the most consequential decisions you will face during an already difficult time. At Barton & Associates, Attorneys at Law, our Austin family law attorneys bring extensive local courtroom experience, proven legal strategy and a genuine commitment to protecting your family’s future across every matter we handle in Travis County Family Court and surrounding jurisdictions.
Divorce in Texas is governed by the Texas Family Code, and the outcome of your case depends heavily on how well your attorney understands both the law and the local courts where your case will be decided. Travis County Family Court operates differently from courts in other Texas counties—it maintains a central docketing system, encourages electronic filing and moves cases at a pace that rewards preparation. An attorney who practices regularly in Travis County knows what judges expect, how to negotiate effectively with opposing counsel and when a case needs to be taken to trial rather than settled. Our Austin divorce lawyers handle every phase of the dissolution process, from initial filing and temporary orders hearings through final decree drafting and enforcement.
Child custody disputes are often the most emotionally charged aspect of any family law case. At Barton & Associates, our Austin custody attorneys prioritize the best interests of your children while aggressively protecting your parental rights. Texas law presumes that joint managing conservatorship is in a child’s best interests, but the specific terms of that arrangement—who has the right to determine the child’s primary residence, which parent makes educational and medical decisions and what the possession schedule looks like—are decided through negotiation or litigation. We handle original SAPCR filings, emergency custody orders, custody modifications based on a material and substantial change in circumstances, and fathers’ rights cases throughout Travis County, Hays County and the Greater Austin area.
Texas is a community property state, which means that property acquired during a marriage is presumed to belong equally to both spouses—but that presumption can be challenged, and the characterization of assets as community or separate property requires careful legal analysis. Our Austin family law attorneys are experienced in complex property division cases involving real estate, business interests, retirement accounts, stock options and investment portfolios. We also represent clients in spousal maintenance proceedings, prenuptial and postnuptial agreement matters, and post-divorce modification and enforcement actions when an ex-spouse fails to comply with the terms of a court order.
We are proud to serve families throughout Austin, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Manor, Bastrop, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Kyle and Buda. Our Austin office is located at 316 W. 12th St., Suite 400, in Old West Austin near downtown—available by appointment. If you are facing a divorce, custody dispute, child support matter or any other family law issue in Central Texas, contact Barton & Associates today to schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Austin family law attorney. Call 512-THE-FIRM (843-3476) or reach us online at any time.
When you are facing criminal charges in Austin or anywhere in Central Texas, the attorney you hire in the first days after your arrest can determine whether you spend the next months fighting from a position of strength or scrambling to recover from early missteps. At Barton & Associates, Attorneys at Law, our Austin criminal defense attorneys are trial lawyers who know the Travis County Criminal Court system, the prosecutors who bring these cases and the legal strategies that produce results when it matters most.
DWI defense is one of the most technically demanding areas of Texas criminal law. A DWI arrest triggers two separate legal proceedings—a criminal case in county court and an administrative license hearing with the Texas Department of Public Safety—and the clock starts running on your license the moment you are arrested. Our Austin DWI attorneys handle both tracks simultaneously, filing the ALR hearing request within the mandatory window, challenging the legality of the traffic stop and the administration of field sobriety tests, and scrutinizing the calibration records and maintenance logs for any breath or blood testing equipment used in your case. We handle first-offense DWI through felony DWI cases involving prior convictions, open container enhancements, DWI with a child passenger, intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter—in courts throughout Travis County and Hays County.
Beyond DWI, our Austin criminal defense attorneys handle the full range of charges filed in Central Texas courts. We represent clients charged with drug possession and drug delivery, including cases involving marijuana, controlled substances and prescription medications. We defend clients against assault and family violence charges, theft and property crime allegations, weapons offenses and serious felony charges ranging from aggravated assault to murder. We also handle probation violation matters—including motions to revoke and motions to adjudicate deferred adjudication—and post-conviction relief such as expunctions and orders of nondisclosure, which can allow eligible clients to clear their records after a dismissed charge or a successfully completed deferred adjudication.
Our legal team understands that every criminal case involves more than just a courtroom outcome. A conviction—or even an arrest—can affect your employment, your professional license, your housing and your family. We approach every case with that full picture in mind, which means we negotiate with prosecutors when a favorable plea agreement serves your interests and we take your case to trial when it does not. The stakes are too high to accept a result you did not have to accept.
If you or a loved one has been arrested or charged with a criminal offense in Austin or anywhere in Central Texas, contact Barton & Associates, Attorneys at Law immediately. Call 512-THE-FIRM (843-3476) to speak with an experienced Austin criminal defense attorney during a confidential, no-obligation consultation.
When someone else’s negligence puts you in the hospital, costs you weeks or months of work, and leaves you facing medical bills you did not expect to owe, the legal system gives you the right to pursue compensation—but exercising that right effectively requires an attorney who understands how to build a personal injury case, negotiate with insurance adjusters, and, when necessary, take a case to trial in Travis County District Court. At Barton & Associates, Attorneys at Law, our Austin personal injury attorneys handle that process from beginning to end so you can focus on your recovery.
Car accidents are the most common source of serious personal injury claims throughout Central Texas. Austin’s rapid growth has created one of the most congested road environments in the state, and the consequences of a high-speed collision on I-35, US-183 or MoPac can be severe—traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones and injuries that require surgeries, physical therapy, and long-term medical management. Our Austin car accident attorneys conduct thorough liability investigations, obtain accident reconstruction analysis when needed, subpoena traffic camera footage and electronic data from vehicles and document the full scope of your damages—including future medical costs and lost earning capacity—before any settlement demand is made. We do not settle cases before we understand the full extent of your injuries, because once you sign a release, you cannot go back.
We also represent clients injured in 18-wheeler and commercial truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, rideshare accidents involving Uber or Lyft, pedestrian and bicycle accidents, and premises liability cases — including slip and fall incidents, inadequate security claims, and injuries occurring on commercial or residential property where the owner failed to maintain a reasonably safe condition. Dog bite and animal attack victims have rights under Texas law as well, and our attorneys handle those claims with the same level of preparation and advocacy we bring to every case we accept.
For families who have lost a loved one due to another party’s negligence, we handle wrongful death claims throughout Travis County and the surrounding Central Texas area. Texas law allows surviving family members to pursue compensation for funeral and burial expenses, the loss of the deceased’s financial support and services, and the grief, mental anguish and loss of companionship that a wrongful death cause —but the statute of limitations requires action within two years of the date of death. Do not wait.
Our Austin office is located at 316 W. 12th St., Suite 400, and serves clients throughout Travis County, Hays County, and the broader Central Texas region. We are available to speak with you now. Call 512-THE-FIRM (843-3476) or reach us online to get started.
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Contact Barton & Associates Austin today for a free, confidential consultation about your legal matter. Complete this form to schedule a Free Consultation, or call us at 512-843-3476 to check attorney availability for an immediate phone consultation.
We are selective about the cases we accept because we treat our clients like family—with respect, dignity and unwavering commitment. In return, we expect the same courtesy. We do not tolerate rudeness toward our staff, and we will withdraw representation from any client who exhibits inappropriate behavior, dishonesty or attempts to mislead our team.
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FAQ Criminal Defense, Divorce & Injury
The most time-sensitive obligation after a DWI arrest in Austin is requesting an Administrative License Revocation hearing with the Texas Department of Public Safety within 15 calendar days of your arrest. Missing that deadline means your license is automatically suspended on the 40th day regardless of what happens in the criminal case — and the suspension is entirely separate from the criminal proceedings in Travis County Court. Beyond the ALR deadline, do not give a recorded statement to law enforcement, do not post anything about the arrest on social media, and contact an attorney before your arraignment. Bond conditions in Travis County can include ignition interlock requirements and alcohol monitoring imposed at magistration, sometimes before you have spoken with a lawyer. Those conditions are easier to challenge or modify early than after you have been living under them for weeks.
Misdemeanor charges in Travis County are handled in the County Courts at Law, of which there are several, each with its own docket and its own judge. Felony charges are prosecuted in Travis County’s felony district courts — the 167th, 299th, 390th, 426th, and 450th District Courts. It matters which court your case lands in because judges and prosecutors differ in how they evaluate evidence, what arguments they find persuasive, and how they approach plea negotiations. An attorney who appears regularly in Travis County courts understands those differences at a practical level — not just in theory. Our criminal defense attorneys represent clients in all of these courts and work with the same prosecutors and judges on a consistent basis, which shapes our strategy from the moment of arrest, not just at trial.
The Travis County DA’s office has historically taken a more selective approach to low-level drug possession cases than many other Texas counties, particularly for small amounts of marijuana and first-time possession charges. However, this does not mean possession charges disappear or that the consequences are minor. Texas state law still classifies possession of a controlled substance as a felony depending on the substance and amount, and a conviction or deferred adjudication carries permanent consequences for employment, housing, and professional licensing regardless of local prosecutorial tendencies. Drug-free zone enhancements — which apply when an offense occurs within 1,000 feet of a school, playground, or youth center — can significantly increase penalties and apply in densely developed areas of Austin more frequently than people expect. The right defense strategy depends on the specific substance, the amount, where the arrest occurred, and whether the search that produced the evidence was legally justified.
A criminal charge in Travis County can trigger obligations and consequences well beyond the courthouse. Many technology companies in Austin require employees to self-report arrests or charges under the terms of their employment agreements, and some positions require active security clearances that must be reported to federal authorities within a specified period. A conviction — or even a deferred adjudication in some cases — can result in termination, denial of security clearance renewal, or loss of professional licenses including those issued by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Engineers, the Texas Medical Board, or the State Bar of Texas if you hold a law license. The earlier an attorney is involved, the more options exist to protect your professional standing in parallel with mounting a defense. Handling the criminal case without accounting for these downstream consequences is one of the most common and most costly mistakes people in professional roles make after an arrest.
Texas law requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the divorce petition is filed before a final decree can be signed, regardless of how quickly both parties agree. In practice, contested divorces in Travis County take considerably longer — typically eight months to two years depending on the complexity of the financial issues, whether children are involved, and how cooperative both sides are in producing discovery. Travis County family courts are active dockets with significant caseloads, which means trial settings are scheduled well in advance and continuances can extend timelines further. Cases involving business valuation, disputed characterization of assets accumulated during Austin’s real estate run-up, or contested custody arrangements tend to run toward the longer end of that range. Understanding the realistic timeline from the beginning leads to better decisions about temporary orders, housing, and finances — decisions made in the first weeks of a case that often shape the final outcome.
Travis County’s real estate market has produced significant appreciation over the past decade, which creates real legal complexity in divorce cases. The threshold questions are when the property was purchased, how it was purchased, and whether separate property funds contributed to the down payment or mortgage. A home purchased before the marriage with separate property funds may retain a separate property character even if community income paid the mortgage during the marriage — but the community may have a reimbursement claim for those payments under Texas Family Code Section 3.402. A home purchased during the marriage with community funds is community property subject to the just and right division standard, regardless of whose name is on the deed. When significant equity exists, as it frequently does in the current Austin market, the division decision — whether one spouse buys out the other, the home is sold, or a deferred sale is ordered — carries major long-term financial consequences that require careful analysis before any agreement is reached.
Location can matter in several ways. Austin’s entertainment district generates a high volume of DWI and public intoxication arrests, and APD officers assigned to those areas conduct stops and field sobriety tests under conditions — noise, crowd density, uneven pavement, lighting — that can affect the reliability of the evidence they collect. Whether the initial contact with law enforcement was legally justified, whether standardized field sobriety tests were administered correctly, and whether body camera footage is consistent with the written arrest report are the same questions we ask in every case, but the specific conditions of a Sixth Street or Rainey Street arrest often provide more material to work with than a routine traffic stop. We request body camera footage and officer incident reports immediately in every DWI case we accept, and we review that footage against the officer’s written account before any plea discussions begin.
Not without either the other parent’s written agreement or a court order permitting the relocation. Most Travis County custody orders include a geographic restriction limiting the child’s primary residence to Travis County and contiguous counties — Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell, and Blanco. Relocating outside that area without authorization is a violation of the court order and can result in contempt proceedings, modification of custody, and in some cases criminal liability. If a parent wants to relocate — for a job, a new relationship, or family reasons — they must petition the court to modify the geographic restriction and demonstrate that the move serves the child’s best interest. The other parent has the right to contest the relocation, and Travis County judges evaluate these cases carefully, looking at the reason for the move, the proposed new visitation schedule, and the impact on the child’s relationship with the non-relocating parent. Relocation disputes are among the most contested and emotionally difficult modifications we handle.
A standard DWI under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04 is a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense, meaning it is prosecuted in Travis County Court at Law. Intoxication assault under Section 49.07 — which applies when a person operating a vehicle while intoxicated causes serious bodily injury to another — is a third-degree felony, which means it moves to a Travis County felony district court, carries a potential sentence of two to ten years in state prison, and cannot be resolved through deferred adjudication. The definition of serious bodily injury is broader than most people expect and includes injuries that create a substantial risk of death, cause permanent disfigurement, or result in protracted loss of a bodily function. A crash that sends another driver to the hospital with fractures or a traumatic brain injury will frequently be charged as intoxication assault rather than standard DWI even on a first offense. The earlier an attorney is involved after an accident involving injuries, the more opportunity exists to conduct an independent investigation before critical evidence is lost.
We maintain an office in Austin at 316 West 12th Street, Suite 400, and our attorneys appear in Travis County courts — both the criminal district courts and the family district courts — on a regular basis. We are not a referral service and we do not hand Austin cases off to local counsel we have no relationship with. The same attorneys who handle your case are the attorneys who appear in court on your behalf in Travis County. Our main office is in San Antonio, where we have practiced for more than two decades, and our Austin clients benefit from that institutional depth — board-certified attorneys, former prosecutors, and trial lawyers with more than 100 jury trials collectively — without sacrificing local court presence. If you are in the Austin area and facing a criminal charge or a family law matter, call us at 512-843-3476 or complete the consultation form on this page to speak with an attorney directly.
316 W 12th St Suite 400, Austin, TX 78701
5110 Wilkinson Dr Suite 210, Corpus Christi, TX 78415
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