Family Law Attorney for Austin and Central Texas

Representing individuals and families through divorce, custody, and high-asset property matters throughout Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties.

Family Law Attorney for Austin and Central Texas

Representing individuals and families through divorce, custody, and high-asset property matters throughout Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties.

Family Law Attorney for Austin and Central Texas

Representing individuals and families through divorce, custody, and high-asset property matters throughout Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties.

About Us

Hartley Family Law Group is a boutique family law practice based in Austin, Texas. I represent individuals and families navigating divorce, child custody, property division, and adoption — matters that require both legal precision and a clear-eyed understanding of what's actually at stake. My clients range from professionals and business owners to parents protecting their children's futures.

This is not a high-volume practice. Every client I take on receives direct, substantive counsel not a case number handed off to support staff. I practice exclusively in family law because complexity requires focus, and the matters I handle are too consequential for a generalist approach.

Clarity. Precision. Advocacy. Resolve.Clarity. Precision. Advocacy. Resolve.Clarity. Precision. Advocacy. Resolve.
Our Philisophy

Embodying independence, strength, reliability and creativity, we deliver exceptional dispute resolution services on a global scale.

The Firm

I built this practice around a specific belief: that family law clients deserve an attorney who is fully present in their matter, not one who processes files between other obligations. Hartley Family Law Group handles a focused caseload by design. That focus is the service.

Our Work

Before building my litigation practice, I spent four years as a certified family court mediator. That experience changed how I evaluate every case — I understand how judges think, how disputes actually resolve, and which battles are worth fighting. That perspective shapes every decision we make together.

Our Values

Family law matters have consequences that outlast the case. I approach every divorce, custody dispute, and property division with that in mind — not just what closes the file, but what protects my client when this is over. Preparation and honest counsel are the only way I know how to practice.

Our Philisophy

Embodying independence, strength, reliability and creativity, we deliver exceptional dispute resolution services on a global scale.

The Firm

I built this practice around a specific belief: that family law clients deserve an attorney who is fully present in their matter, not one who processes files between other obligations. Hartley Family Law Group handles a focused caseload by design. That focus is the service.

Our Work

Before building my litigation practice, I spent four years as a certified family court mediator. That experience changed how I evaluate every case — I understand how judges think, how disputes actually resolve, and which battles are worth fighting. That perspective shapes every decision we make together.

Our Values

Family law matters have consequences that outlast the case. I approach every divorce, custody dispute, and property division with that in mind — not just what closes the file, but what protects my client when this is over. Preparation and honest counsel are the only way I know how to practice.

Our Philisophy

Embodying independence, strength, reliability and creativity, we deliver exceptional dispute resolution services on a global scale.

The Firm

I built this practice around a specific belief: that family law clients deserve an attorney who is fully present in their matter, not one who processes files between other obligations. Hartley Family Law Group handles a focused caseload by design. That focus is the service.

Our Work

Before building my litigation practice, I spent four years as a certified family court mediator. That experience changed how I evaluate every case — I understand how judges think, how disputes actually resolve, and which battles are worth fighting. That perspective shapes every decision we make together.

Our Values

Family law matters have consequences that outlast the case. I approach every divorce, custody dispute, and property division with that in mind — not just what closes the file, but what protects my client when this is over. Preparation and honest counsel are the only way I know how to practice.

Testimonials

"Margaret was honest with me from day one about what to expect. That honesty was the most valuable thing she gave me."

A satisfied client

Kansas City, MO

Richard L.

Overland Park, KS

Samantha D.

Overland Park, KS

"Margaret was honest with me from day one about what to expect. That honesty was the most valuable thing she gave me."

A satisfied client

Kansas City, MO

Richard L.

Overland Park, KS

Samantha D.

Overland Park, KS

Stats

Real Results, Real Impact

14

Years in Practice

I was lost after my accident, but Rivera Law took over and handled everything. They treated me like family, not a case number, and fought for every penny I deserved. I’m finally back on my feet.

100+

Family Matters Resolved

I was lost after my accident, but Rivera Law took over and handled everything. They treated me like family, not a case number, and fought for every penny I deserved. I’m finally back on my feet.

$4.7M

Largest Negotiated Settlement

I was lost after my accident, but Rivera Law took over and handled everything. They treated me like family, not a case number, and fought for every penny I deserved. I’m finally back on my feet.

Stats

Real Results, Real Impact

14

Years in Practice

I was lost after my accident, but Rivera Law took over and handled everything. They treated me like family, not a case number, and fought for every penny I deserved. I’m finally back on my feet.

100+

Family Matters Resolved

I was lost after my accident, but Rivera Law took over and handled everything. They treated me like family, not a case number, and fought for every penny I deserved. I’m finally back on my feet.

$4.7M

Largest Negotiated Settlement

I was lost after my accident, but Rivera Law took over and handled everything. They treated me like family, not a case number, and fought for every penny I deserved. I’m finally back on my feet.

Stats

Real Results, Real Impact

14

Years in Practice

I was lost after my accident, but Rivera Law took over and handled everything. They treated me like family, not a case number, and fought for every penny I deserved. I’m finally back on my feet.

100+

Family Matters Resolved

I was lost after my accident, but Rivera Law took over and handled everything. They treated me like family, not a case number, and fought for every penny I deserved. I’m finally back on my feet.

$4.7M

Largest Negotiated Settlement

I was lost after my accident, but Rivera Law took over and handled everything. They treated me like family, not a case number, and fought for every penny I deserved. I’m finally back on my feet.

Practice Areas

Divorce

Divorce in Texas involves some of the most consequential legal decisions a person will make — and many of those decisions happen before the case ever reaches a judge. Whether the matter involves a long-term marriage, a complex asset structure, or a closely held business that needs to be valued and divided, the details of how property is characterized and negotiated determine outcomes that follow clients for years. I represent clients throughout the divorce process, from initial filing through final decree. My focus is on protecting your financial position at every stage — ensuring that what you signed, agreed to, and received is what you actually intended. For business owners and professionals, that often means working through valuations and offsetting structures that require both legal precision and practical judgment.

Services We Provide

  • Litigation & Court Representation
  • Negotiation & Settlement
  • Mediation & Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Document Preparation & Filing
  • Client Counseling & Advisory Services

Child Custody

Custody disputes require a different kind of precision than financial ones. Texas courts base conservatorship decisions on the best interest of the child — a standard that sounds straightforward until it meets the reality of two parents with competing positions, different living situations, and deeply held views about what their child needs. What matters is how those facts are organized, presented, and argued. I represent parents in contested and uncontested custody matters, including initial determinations, geographic restrictions, and post-decree modifications. Having served as a family court mediator for four years, I understand what judges look for and what drives resolution. That knowledge shapes how I build every custody case from the first consultation.

Services We Provide

  • Litigation & Court Representation
  • Trial Advocacy
  • Child support
  • Mediation
  • Motion Practice
  • Depositions
  • Appeals & Appellate Practice

Property Matters

When a divorce involves significant assets — investment portfolios, retirement accounts, multiple properties, or a family business — the legal work looks fundamentally different than a standard property division. Characterizing separate versus community property, obtaining accurate valuations, and structuring an agreement that actually holds up requires both technical fluency and careful documentation from the outset. I work with business owners, executives, and professionals whose marital estates involve complexity that general practitioners are not equipped to handle. My approach is to get ahead of the issues early — identifying what will be contested, commissioning the right experts, and building the kind of record that supports your position whether the matter settles or goes to trial.

Services We Provide

  • Legal Research & Analysis
  • Contracts
  • Depositions
  • Negotiation & Settlement
  • Divorce
  • Legal Consultation
  • Case Evaluation

Adoption

Adoption matters are among the most positive proceedings in family law — and among the most technically demanding. Whether the process involves a stepparent adoption, a private placement, or a contested termination of parental rights, the legal requirements are exacting and the consequences of procedural error can set back or derail the process entirely. The stakes are too high for shortcuts. I guide clients through every stage of the adoption process, including home studies, consent requirements, termination proceedings, and finalization. My goal is a proceeding that moves as efficiently as the court allows, with no missteps in documentation or timing that extend the process unnecessarily. For clients who have waited long enough, that matters.

Services We Provide

  • Document Preparation & Filing
  • Legal Consultation
  • Case Evaluation
  • Litigation
  • Court Representation
  • Client Counseling
  • Divorce
  • Advisory Services
Founder & Managing Attorney

Margaret Hartley

Margaret Hartley is the founder and managing attorney of Hartley Family Law Group in Austin, Texas. She earned her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 2010, having previously graduated cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Psychology. She was admitted to the Texas State Bar in 2010 and to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in 2011. Before building her litigation practice, Ms. Hartley served for four years as a certified family court mediator — an experience that fundamentally shaped how she evaluates cases, anticipates judicial reasoning, and advises clients on when to litigate and when to settle.

Ms. Hartley is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential held by fewer than three percent of Texas attorneys. Her practice focuses on divorce, child custody, high-asset property division, and adoption, with particular depth in matters involving closely held businesses and complex marital estates. She has been recognized by Texas Super Lawyers in the Family Law category each year from 2020 through 2024, and by Austin Monthly as a Top Lawyer in Family Law in 2019, 2021, and 2023. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section and serves on the Austin Bar Association's Family Law Committee.

Founder & Managing Attorney

Margaret Hartley

Margaret Hartley is the founder and managing attorney of Hartley Family Law Group in Austin, Texas. She earned her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 2010, having previously graduated cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Psychology. She was admitted to the Texas State Bar in 2010 and to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in 2011. Before building her litigation practice, Ms. Hartley served for four years as a certified family court mediator — an experience that fundamentally shaped how she evaluates cases, anticipates judicial reasoning, and advises clients on when to litigate and when to settle.

Ms. Hartley is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential held by fewer than three percent of Texas attorneys. Her practice focuses on divorce, child custody, high-asset property division, and adoption, with particular depth in matters involving closely held businesses and complex marital estates. She has been recognized by Texas Super Lawyers in the Family Law category each year from 2020 through 2024, and by Austin Monthly as a Top Lawyer in Family Law in 2019, 2021, and 2023. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section and serves on the Austin Bar Association's Family Law Committee.

Founder & Managing Attorney

Margaret Hartley

Margaret Hartley is the founder and managing attorney of Hartley Family Law Group in Austin, Texas. She earned her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 2010, having previously graduated cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Psychology. She was admitted to the Texas State Bar in 2010 and to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in 2011. Before building her litigation practice, Ms. Hartley served for four years as a certified family court mediator — an experience that fundamentally shaped how she evaluates cases, anticipates judicial reasoning, and advises clients on when to litigate and when to settle.

Ms. Hartley is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential held by fewer than three percent of Texas attorneys. Her practice focuses on divorce, child custody, high-asset property division, and adoption, with particular depth in matters involving closely held businesses and complex marital estates. She has been recognized by Texas Super Lawyers in the Family Law category each year from 2020 through 2024, and by Austin Monthly as a Top Lawyer in Family Law in 2019, 2021, and 2023. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section and serves on the Austin Bar Association's Family Law Committee.

Attorney Bio

Experience you can rely on

Experience you can rely on

Board Certification in Family Law is not a default credential — it requires a separate examination, a demonstrated record of trial experience, and peer review. It is held by fewer than three percent of Texas attorneys and signals a level of technical competence that goes beyond years of practice alone.

Board Certification in Family Law is not a default credential — it requires a separate examination, a demonstrated record of trial experience, and peer review. It is held by fewer than three percent of Texas attorneys and signals a level of technical competence that goes beyond years of practice alone.

Board Certification in Family Law is not a default credential — it requires a separate examination, a demonstrated record of trial experience, and peer review. It is held by fewer than three percent of Texas attorneys and signals a level of technical competence that goes beyond years of practice alone.

I bring that standard to every client matter, whether it involves a straightforward uncontested divorce or a multi-year contested custody proceeding. The credentials below reflect a deliberate investment in this area of law — not a general practice that happens to include family matters.

Bar Admissions

Texas State Bar

2010

U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas

2011

Education

University of Texas School of Law, J.D.

2010

University of Texas at Austin, B.A. in Psychology, cum laude

2007

Board Certification

Board Certified — Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

2017

Recognition

Texas Super Lawyers — Family Law

2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Austin Monthly — Top Lawyers, Family Law

2019, 2021, 2023

Austin Bar Association — Outstanding Young Lawyer Award

2015

Professionl Memberships

State Bar of Texas — Family Law Section

Austin Bar Association — Family Law Committee

We are committed to advising our clients throughout all crucial stages of a dispute: we engage with our clients before a dispute reaches its peak to evaluate all options before initiating a claim or anticipating a potential claim against them.

Education

SuperLawyers Rising Star

2020

Law School: Oklahoma City University School of Law

2020

SuperLawyers Rising Star

2020

Bar Admissions

SuperLawyers Rising Star

2020

SuperLawyers Rising Star

2020

SuperLawyers Rising Star

2020

Professional Recognition

Dean's Honor Roll (all years)

1L Merit Scholar 

2L Merit Scholar

2L Merit Scholar

2020 Best Appellate Brief Award 

Ranked 20th out of 144

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a divorce take in Texas?

Do I need an attorney if my spouse and I agree on everything?

How is child custody determined in Texas?

What happens to a business owned by one spouse during a divorce?

How do you charge for your services?

What should I bring to my first consultation?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a divorce take in Texas?

Do I need an attorney if my spouse and I agree on everything?

How is child custody determined in Texas?

What happens to a business owned by one spouse during a divorce?

How do you charge for your services?

What should I bring to my first consultation?

Resource Library

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident

Download PDF

Dealing with Insurance Adjusters: Do's and Don'ts

Download PDF

Child support in 2026

Download PDF

Resource Library

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident

Download PDF

Dealing with Insurance Adjusters: Do's and Don'ts

Download PDF

Child support in 2026

Download PDF

Our Details

Phone: (512) 847-3300


Email: mhartley@hartleyfamilylaw.com


Location: 917 Washington Blvd

Suite 222

Austin, Texas

60678

Send us a Message

Let's discuss how I can help

Reach out to schedule a consultation. All consultations are confidential and obligation-free.

Our Details

Phone: (512) 847-3300


Email: mhartley@hartleyfamilylaw.com


Location: 917 Washington Blvd

Suite 222

Austin, Texas

60678

Send us a Message

Let's discuss how I can help

Reach out to schedule a consultation. All consultations are confidential and obligation-free.

Our Details

Phone: (512) 847-3300


Email: mhartley@hartleyfamilylaw.com


Location: 917 Washington Blvd

Suite 222

Austin, Texas

60678

Send us a Message

Let's discuss how I can help

Reach out to schedule a consultation. All consultations are confidential and obligation-free.

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