John E. Van Ness
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Family Law Attorney in Houston, TX
Selected to Rising Stars: 2004 - 2007
As a family law attorney with Lilly & Van Ness, LLP, in Houston, Texas, John E. Van Ness has practiced family law for more than 25 years. His firm represents individuals and families in all types of family law matters, including divorce; child custody, support and visitation; high-asset marital property division; post-divorce parental relocations and modifications; prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and mediation.
Mr. Van Ness earned his Juris Doctorate from the South Texas College of Law Houston in 1994. He subsequently received advanced mediation training from ADR Services International, Inc., Houston's number one ranked mediation and dispute resolution training organization. He ultimately received his board certification in Family Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2002.
Licensed to practice in all Texas state courts, Mr. Van Ness has extensive experience representing high net worth individuals such as professional athletes, television personalities, Fortune 500 Company CEOs, international business executives and other high-profile clients when they divorce or face complicated family law issues.
Mr. Van Ness is a respected member of the legal community, maintaining memberships in the Houston Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association, the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists and the Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists.
- 100%Family Law
Alimony & Spousal Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Prenuptial Agreements, Marital Property, Mediation & Collaborative Law
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2011, 2013 - 2015, 2017 - 2021
- Rising Stars: 2004 - 2007
Additional Sources of Information About John E. Van Ness
Visit my FindLaw® profile
About John E. Van Ness
First Admitted: 1995, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://www.lvfirm.com/john-van-ness/
Scholarly Lectures/Writings
- Author/Speaker, “Are you a Man or a Woman?” Gulf Coast Family Law Specialist Meeting
- Speaker/Presenter, South Texas College of Law, 2017
- Guest Lecturer for Pamela George, “Pre-Marital and Post-Marital Agreements and Enforcing the Same,” South Texas College of Law, 2017
- Author/Speaker, “Custom Fit Your Possession Order,” State Bar of Texas, Advanced Family Law Course, San Antonio, Texas, 2006
- Author/Speaker, “Enforcement of Settlement Agreements, including MSA, BSA, and Rule 11 Agreements,” HBA Family Law Luncheon
- Author and Speaker on various Family Law Topics in Texas
- Author/Speaker, “Arbitration and Other Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods,” South Texas College of Law, Family Law Conference for the General Practitioner and the Legal Assistant, 2003
- Moderator, South Texas College of Law, Family Law Conference for General Practitioners and Legal Assistants, 2002
- Speaker, “Drafting the Perfect Decree,” Family Law Seminar in Huntsville, Texas, 2001
- Author/Speaker, “Practical Pointers on Routine and Uncommon Property and Reimbursement Claims: Inventory Preparation and Related Ethical Considerations,” South Texas College of Law, Family Law Conference for General Practitioners and Legal Assistants, 2001
- Author, “Local Heroes: True Angels (Warren Cole and Mike Stocker),” The Houston Lawyer, 2000
- Author, “Dealing with Choice of Managing Conservator in a Custody Case,” State Bar of Texas, Advanced Family Law Course, 1995
Educational Background
- Stephen F. Austin State University, Bachelor’s Degree, Finance, 1990
Honors/Awards
- Texas Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow, 2019 - present
- Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow, 2018 - 2019
- Named Texas Super Lawyers by Texas Monthly Magazine, 2011, 2013 - 2015, 2017 - 2019
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2009 - 2018
- Named Rising Star with Texas Super Lawyers by Texas Monthly Magazine, 2004 - 2007
Bar/Professional Activity
- Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists, Treasurer, 2009 - 2010
- Texas
- Family Bar of Fort Bend, Member, 2020
- Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists, President, 2010 - 2011
- Houston Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member, 1995 - present
- Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists, Board of Directors, 2008 - 2009
- Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists, Member, 2002 - present
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Member, 2002 - present
- Burta Rhoads Raborn Inns of Court, Barrister, 2002 - 2005
- Burta Rhoads Raborn Inns of Court, Associate, 2000 - 2002
- College of the State Bar of Texas, Member, 2001 - 2003, 2019
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Member, 1995 - present
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member, 1995 - present
Last Updated: 6/18/2021