Texas Family Law & Criminal Defense Attorney

When a marriage is ending or your time with your children is in question, the road ahead can feel overwhelming. A contested divorce or a custody dispute in Montgomery County or northern Harris County puts your home, your finances, your future, and your relationship with your children in front of a judge.

Underneath the paperwork sits a harder fear. A general family lawyer may fold once the other side refuses to settle and the case moves toward trial. When the stakes are this high, you want someone who has stood in a courtroom and performed under pressure.

We handle contested family law matters for parents and spouses across The Woodlands and the surrounding counties, including high-conflict divorces and custody disputes that involve serious allegations. Matt Horak brings more than 23 years of Texas trial experience to these cases, and our team prepares each one to be ready for court from the first meeting.

Why Families Across Montgomery County Choose Horak Law

Choosing a family lawyer is one of the most personal decisions you will make during a divorce or custody case because the person you hire will speak for you at the hardest moments. You want someone who treats you as a capable adult, explains your options in plain language, and has the courtroom record to support a strong position when negotiation stalls.

From your first case review, we focus on what you need to protect, whether that is time with your children, a fair share of the marital estate, or your safety. We then build a strategy around those priorities and keep you informed at every step.

A Trial-Tested Lawyer Who Performs Under Pressure

Matt Horak has spent more than 23 years in Texas courtrooms and has tried more than 100 contested cases. That experience includes earlier service as a Harris County prosecutor, which gave him a working understanding of how judges think, how evidence is tested, and how a case is won or lost at trial.

Texas Super Lawyers named Matt Horak to its list in both 2025 and 2026. We bring that same trial discipline to family law, whether your case settles at the negotiating table or goes the distance in front of a judge.

Alongside Matt Horak, our family law team includes associate attorney Nicole Maldonado and two senior paralegals with more than 14 and more than 20 years of family law experience. We provide support in both English and Spanish.

Client Testimonials

“I could spend hours talking about how incredible Matt Horak and his team are. From my very first phone call with Matt, I knew I was in the best hands. He was on top of everything—and I mean everything—right down to filing notices with the court just to inform them of his brief vacation. We were up against an attorney who seemed inexperienced and unresponsive, leaving us hanging for months. Despite that, Matt never let up. He fought hard—submitting motions to compel, motions for sanctions, and doing whatever was needed to move things forward. He even checked in on me emotionally, telling me how well I handled mediation when I was overwhelmed. I will forever be grateful. My kids won today—and that’s because of Matt. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.” — Brooke

“Mr. Horak and his team are truly exceptional and I’m very grateful for their expertise! I was embarking on a very tough divorce journey, and Matt and all the others at Horak law made the experience as smooth as possible with a positive outcome. His team is very responsive to messages and they were always willing to set up a meeting to discuss in more detail if I had questions or didn’t understand something. I would absolutely recommend Matt Horak and his team for a family law matter.” — Emily

What Courtroom Experience Brings to a Contested Family Law Case

Most family law cases settle. The ones that do not tend to involve the highest stakes: a parent fighting for primary custody, a spouse hiding assets in a high-net-worth divorce, or a contested divorce where neither side will give ground. In those cases, the difference between a lawyer who is comfortable in a courtroom and one who is not can shape the result.

Trial work builds skills that carry directly into contested family law. Years of examining witnesses, testing evidence, and reading how a judge responds in real time prepare a lawyer to present your case clearly and to hold the other side accountable when the facts are in dispute.

A trial background brings practical strengths to a contested case:

• Cross-examination that exposes inconsistencies in the other side’s testimony
• Calm, prepared advocacy when a hearing becomes tense
• A practiced sense of how Texas judges weigh evidence and credibility
• The judgment to know when to push for trial and when a settlement protects you better

We bring that courtroom preparation to every contested matter we take, so your position is ready to be heard whether your case resolves in mediation or in front of a judge.

How We Handle a Contested Family Law Case

Every case begins with a confidential case review, where we learn what happened, what you want to protect, and what the other side is likely to do. From there, we build a plan that fits your situation rather than a standard template.

Preparation starts early. We gather financial records, communications, and other evidence while the facts are fresh because a case that is ready for trial is also a case that negotiates from strength. Many matters resolve through divorce mediation or negotiated agreements, which can save time, expense, and stress for everyone involved, especially children.

When the other side will not agree to fair terms, we are prepared to take your case to court. A spouse who knows the opposing lawyer is ready for trial is often more willing to settle on reasonable terms. If trial becomes necessary, you will have a lawyer who has stood before Texas judges many times and who knows how to present evidence and argument clearly.

Throughout the process, we keep you informed and involved. You will understand the options in front of you at each decision point, so the choices about your family and your future stay in your hands.

Protective Orders and Family Violence in Texas Custody Cases

Some of the most urgent family law cases involve allegations of family violence. When safety is a concern, a protective order can restrict contact, set boundaries around a shared home, and put court-ordered protections in place quickly while a divorce or custody case moves forward.

Texas law defines family violence in Section 71.004 of the Texas Family Code, and Title 4 of the code governs how protective orders are requested and issued. These cases move fast, and what happens in the first days can affect both your safety and your case.

Timing carries real weight here. A court can issue a temporary ex parte order quickly when there is a clear and present danger, and a longer protective order can follow after a hearing. We help you understand which protections apply to your situation and how they work alongside a divorce or custody case.

Family violence allegations also carry weight in custody decisions. Under Section 153.004 of the Texas Family Code, a court must consider a history of family violence when it decides conservatorship, and credible evidence of a pattern of violence can bar a parent from being named a joint managing conservator. A finding can also lead to supervised visitation or other limits on a parent’s time with a child.

Because a family violence finding can shape custody for the length of a case and beyond, the evidence on both sides deserves careful handling. We work to document what happened, respond to allegations with facts, and protect your standing as a parent.

These cases cut in two directions. You may need a protective order to keep your family safe, or you may be answering an allegation that threatens your relationship with your children. Either way, we handle protective orders and the child custody questions that come with them across Montgomery County and northern Harris County.

Family Law Matters We Handle in Montgomery County and Northern Harris County

Our practice covers the full range of Texas family law, with a focus on the contested and high-stakes matters where courtroom experience makes a difference. We represent clients across The Woodlands, Conroe, Spring, Tomball, Magnolia, and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County and northern Harris County.

• Divorce and contested divorce: Guidance through every stage of a Texas divorce, including cases where the other side will not agree to terms.
• High-net-worth divorce: Protection of complex assets, business interests, and property when the marital estate is substantial.
• Child custody and possession: Conservatorship and visitation arrangements built around the best interest of your child.
• Child support: Support calculated under Texas guidelines, including cases above the statutory cap.
• Custody and support modifications: Changes to existing orders when circumstances shift in a meaningful way.
• Alimony and spousal maintenance: Eligibility and amounts under Chapter 8 of the Texas Family Code.
• Paternity: Establishing legal parentage and the rights and duties that follow.
• Premarital agreements: Clear terms agreed before marriage to protect both spouses.
• Protective orders: Court-ordered protection in family violence situations.

If your matter falls outside this list, we can talk through it during a case review and point you toward the right next step.

Request a Confidential Case Review in The Woodlands

If you are facing a divorce, a custody dispute, or a family violence matter in Montgomery County or northern Harris County, the next step is a confidential case review with our team. We will listen to your situation, explain how Texas law applies, and lay out your options.

A clear understanding of where you stand is the first step toward protecting your family and your future. Call us at 713-225-8000, or contact us online to schedule your review at our office in The Woodlands. With more than two decades of Texas trial experience behind every case we take, we are prepared to protect your interests at every stage.