Jonathan James - Plano, TX
Attorney at Goranson Bain Ausley, PLLC
Family Law Lawyers in Plano, TX
7160 N. Dallas Parkway Suite 650 Plano, TX 75024
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
14
Years
Experience
Plano Family Law Lawyer
Updated: 06/02/2026
Areas of Practice
- Family Law
Attorney Information
Overview
Jonathan is a highly skilled litigator and negotiator in high-conflict legal situations who consistently receives praise from clients for his integrity, professionalism, and responsiveness. He has extensive experience handling cases related to Collaborative Divorce, negotiated, and litigated divorce, complex property, and real estate division, contested custody, mental health and addiction issues, and pre- and post-marital agreements.
Jonathan is trained in Collaborative Divorce and is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in family law. He has been named D Magazine’s Best Lawyers Under 40 in 2023, 2025 and 2026, a Best Lawyers in America © by Best Lawyers in 2020, 2021, and 2023 – 2026, and a Super Lawyers Rising Star From 2019 – 2022 & 2025.
Jonathan invests his time doing pro bono work for victims of domestic violence in partnership with Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support and Emily’s Place. He is a member of the Annette Stewart American Inn of Court and the Dallas Bar Association Family Law Section. Jonathan also frequently writes on family law topics for the Texas Bar Journal, the Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, and the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section.
Jonathan James is a Dallas divorce lawyer working out of our Dallas and Plano office locations.
Born and raised in Plano, Texas, Jonathan attended Canyon Creek Christian Academy. After completing his undergraduate degree at Baylor University, he attended Texas Wesleyan School of Law (now Texas A&M School of Law) in Fort Worth.
Jonathan and his wife Emily are high school sweethearts and have two sons and a daughter. When not consuming content from numerous podcasts, articles, and the news, Jonathan is an active member of his church and enjoys participating in community service projects and trivia nights, playing golf, and playing bass guitar on the worship team.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Best Lawyers Under 40, D Magazine, 2023, 2025, & 2026
- The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2024 – 2026
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Best Lawyers, 2020-2021, 2023 – 2026
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2019-2022 & 2025
Other Sources of Feedback About Jonathan James
Included on the 2026 Texas Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Texas Super Lawyers list
Education
Legal Education
-
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law,
Dallas,
Texas, 2012
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Non Legal Education
-
Baylor University, 2009
B.A.
Major: Political Science
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Partner
Past Positions
- Goranson Bain Ausley, PLLC, Plano, Texas, August 2021 – Present
- Hance Law Group, PC, Dallas, Texas, April 2015 – August 2021
- McClure Law Group, PC, Dallas, Texas, April 2013 – March 2015
Published Works
Articles
-
What Makes a Good Family Lawyer? September 18, 2025
-
Deeds, Mortgages, and Property Division: Getting a Divorce With the House in Both Names or Just One July 15, 2025
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Buying a House During a Divorce in Texas: What You Need to Know July 3, 2025
-
Post-Marital and Premarital Agreements: The Gold Standard for Protecting Assets May 13, 2025
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Tips for Effective Communication During a Divorce October 28, 2024
- Five Tips for How to Protect Your Separate Property in a Divorce October 11, 2024
- What Happens to Debt in a Divorce? October 11, 2024
- What Are My Rights if I Leave the Marital Home? Problems With Moving Out Before Divorce April 17, 2024
- What Should I Do to Differentiate My Personal Assets from Those of My Business? January 9, 2024
- How Can I Protect My Business from Being Considered Marital Property During the Divorce Process? December 19, 2023
- Who Typically Gets the House in a Texas Divorce and What to do if You Want to Keep the House April 24, 2023
- Five Important Tips Before You File for Divorce November 16, 2022
- What An Experienced Attorney Brings to Your High Net Worth Divorce July 20, 2022
- Who Gets the House in a Divorce? September 29, 2021
- Co-Author, “Five Tips to Protect and Maintain Your Separate Property”, Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, September 2019.
- Author, “Right of First Refusal in Custody Cases”, State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section Report, Volume 2017-6 (Winter).
- Author, “Custody Fight: When Grandparents or Other Relatives Seek Parental Rights”, Texas Bar Journal, November 2017
- Author, “Kid Duty: The Right of First Refusal in Custody Cases and How it Can Backfire”, Texas Bar Journal, July 2017.
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 2012
Specialties and Certifications
- Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Family Law, 2020
Other Affiliations
- Annette Stewart American Inn of Court, Member
- Collin County Bar Association, Member
- Dallas Bar Association, Member
- Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member
- State Bar of Texas, Member
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Member
Photo
Contact
7160 N. Dallas Parkway
Suite 650
Plano, TX 75024
Phone Number: 469-490-1430
Email: Send a message
Hours: Weekdays 8am-5pm
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