Holly Draper

Bar / Professional Activity

• Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2023
• State Bar of Texas
• State Bar of Texas Law Firm Management Committee, 2020
• Texas Family Law Foundation, Member, 2018
• Family Law Section, Collin County Bar Association
• Curt B. Henderson American Inn of Court
• Collin County Women Lawyer’s Association, Member
• Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists (member)

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• In re C.J.C., 603 S.W.3d 804 (Tex. 2020)  - The Texas Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in favor of Ms. Draper's position in what is possibly the most significant parental rights case in Texas history.  Ms. Draper argued on behalf of a fit father that the trial judge violated his constitutional rights under the due process clause when she awarded rights and possession to a non-parent over the father's objections.  The Court agreed.  Nine organizations, including the State of Texas, have filed briefs as amicus curiae in support of Ms. Draper's position. Due to COVID-19, Ms. Draper participated in oral argument via zoom on April 22, 2020., 2020
• Sargent v. Sargent, No. 02-24-00470-CV (Tex. App. - Fort Worth 2025) - Ms. Draper successfully defended the Husband in a divorce appeal filed by the Wife. Wife claimed she had revoked her consent to an agreement despite the parties' reading the agreement into the record and the court rendering on that agreement. The trial court's judgment was affirmed., 2025
•  In re D.M.L., 2022 WL 17841837, No. 02-22-00451-CV – Ms. Draper successfully overturned an award of interim attorney’s fees because the wife failed to meet her burden of showing the requested fees were necessary to protect the safety and welfare of the children., 2022
•  In re S.B., 2023 WL 8112897, No. 02-23-00390-CV – Ms. Draper successfully overturned an order where the  trial court improperly ordered intensive reunification counseling because it effectively changed the designation of the person who had the exclusive right to designate the child’s primary residence without meeting the requirements of the Texas Family Code., 2023
•  In re. A.W., 2024 WL 804662, No. 02-24-0018-CV – Ms. Draper successfully overturned contempt findings against a father issued without proper notice of the alleged violations as required by law., 2024
• In re N.A., 2024 WL 4624639, No. 04-24-00145-CV – Ms. Draper represented the prevailing mother in a mandamus related to an improper parentage finding for a non-parent., 2024
• Interest of J.A. and B.A., 2022 WL 2353096, No. 02-21-00140-CV – Ms. Draper represented the prevailing father in overturning a trial court’s improper granting of summary judgment., 2022
• In re S.B., 2023 WL 8112897, No. 02-23-00390-CV – Ms. Draper represented the prevailing mother in a mandamus where the trial court’s order did not meet the requirements of the Texas Family Code., 2023
• In re S.W., 2022 WL 325385, No. 02-21-00409-CV – Ms. Draper represented the prevailing mother in this parent vs. non-parent child custody appeal., 2022
• Interest of N.H., 652 S.W.3d 488 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2022) – Ms. Draper represented the prevailing mother in this parent vs. non-parent child custody appeal., 2022
• Interest of A.V., 2022 WL 2763355, No. 05-20-00966-CV – Ms. Draper represented the prevailing mother in this parent vs. non-parent child custody appeal., 2022
• Stary v. Ethridge, 712 S.W.3d 584 (Tex. 2025) - Ms. Draper represented the prevailing mother in a protective order case challenging the constitutionality of a lifetime protective order against a mother as to her children as a de facto termination of parental rights. She prevailed in the Texas Supreme Court 9-0., 2025
• In re Clay, No. 02-18-00404-CV We filed this petition for writ of mandamus on behalf of a father related to standing issues.  The child's mother had died.  The maternal grandparents intervened seeking joint managing conservatorship with father or, alternatively, seeking grandparent access.  The mother's fiance, who had lived with mother and the child for less than a year, also intervened seeking joint managing conservatorship with father.  The Fort Worth Court of Appeals granted the petition with respect to the grandparents, finding they lacked standing.  , 2018

Videos

• Holly Draper participated in oral argument with the Texas Supreme Court on April 22, 2020 in In re C.C., a landmark parental rights case.  The oral argument occurred by zoom due to the COVID-19 crisis.  Ms. Draper shared time with an attorney representing the State of Texas and one from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, both of whom filed amicus curiae briefs in support of Ms. Draper's position., Oral Argument before the Texas Supreme Court in In re C.J.C., 2020
• Podcast episode discussing grandparent access cases., Understanding Grandparent Access Cases, 2023
• Podcast discussing the Stary v. Ethridge oral argument in the Texas Supreme Court, De-Briefing the Stary v. Ethridge Oral Argument, 2024
• Podcast episode discussing the opinion released in Ms. Draper's Texas Supreme Court case, Stary v. Ethridge., Breaking Down Stary v. Ethridge, 2025
• Podcast episode discussing the 2025 legislative updates in non-parent custody cases., Parental Rights Gain Ground in New Custody Laws, 2025
• Ms. Draper presented oral argument in the Texas Supreme Court in the case of Stary v. Ethridge. She argued a lifetime protective order issued against a mother as to her children violated the mother's constitutional rights because it constituted a de facto termination without the legally required clear and convincing evidence standard., Stary v. Ethridge Oral Argument, 2025

Special Licenses / Certifications

• Holly Draper became board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2016

Pro bono / Community Service

• During the COVID-19 crisis, Holly Draper spearheaded a group of over 300 Texas attorneys who volunteered to provide free basic will packages for front line medical personnel and first responders., 2020
• Rock Hill High School Mock Trial Attorney Advisor, 2024
• Coach of 8th Grade Mock Trial Team, 2023

Educational Background

• The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 2004
• Plano East Senior High, 1997
• Texas Tech, summa cum laude, B.A., Public Relations, 2001

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• Presented to Texas judiciary regarding C.J.C., Presenter, Parents vs. Non-Parents Post CJC, Texas Center for the Judiciary - 2021 Family Justice Conference, 2021
• Ms. Draper spoke to the family law section about her recent Stary v. Ethridge victory in the Texas Supreme Court and the constitutional issues surrounding protective orders in Texas., Speaker, The Constitutionality of Texas Protective Orders, Collin County Bar Association Family Law Section, Family Law, 2025
• Ms. Draper spoke to the Dallas-area legal aid attorneys regarding the latest updates in parent vs. non-parent child custody litigation., Speaker, Non-Parent Custody Litigation, Legal Aid of North West Texas, Family Law, 2025
• Ms. Draper spoke to the Annette Stewart Inn of Court on the significant changes to the family code in 2025, specifically related to parent vs. non-parent child custody litigation., Speaker, 2025 Non-Parent Legislative Update, Annette Stewart Inn of Court, 2025
• Ms. Draper spoke to new family lawyers on the topic of evidentiary exclusion at the annual Family Law 101 seminar., Speaker, Avoiding Evidentiary Excusion, Family Law 101, Family Law, 2025
• Ms. Draper spoke to other family law attorneys regarding the then-pending Texas Supreme Court case, In re C.J.C.  , Presenter, CLE Presentation for San Antonio Family Law Bar Association, Family Law, 2020
• CLE seminar on the C.J.C. case and its impact on parental rights in Texas., Speaker, C.J.C. and its Impact on Parental Rights in Texas, North Dallas Bar Association, 2020
• The State Bar of Texas put on this CLE featuring a panel of the attorneys involved in the C.J.C. case for the father, the fiance, the State of Texas, and the Family Law Section.  , Presenter, C.J.C. and the Fit Parent Presumption in Non-Parent Custody Cases, Family Law, 2020
• Presentation discussing the landmark parental rights case where we represented the father and won 9-0 in the Texas Supreme Court.  Presented multiple times for the following groups:  Collin County Bar Association Family Law Section, Hidalgo County Family Law Section, Curt B. Henderson Inn of Court, and Rockwall County Bar Association., Presenter, C.J.C. and the Future of Parental Rights in Texas, Family Law, 2020
• Because our firm has been largely virtual for years, our firm presented (via zoom) a state bar approved CLE on running a virtual law practice for other attorneys during the COVID-19 pandemic.  , Presenter, Running a Virtual Law Practice: Through Coronavirus and Beyond, Lawyers, 2020
• "Marketing on a Shoestring," Collin County Bar Association Making Your Practice Work Seminar, Speaker, 2017
• Speaker at the Collin County Bar Association's Making Your Practice Work Seminar, Speaker, Top Ten Tips for Building a Six-Figure Law Practice, 2018

Other Outstanding Achievements

• Ms. Draper regularly speaks at CLE events throughout Texas on topics ranging from constitutional parental rights, parent vs. non-parent custody litigation, legislative updates, evidence, and protective orders.

Honors

• Holly Draper was recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer in the area of family law., Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
• Best Lawyers - Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2025
• Top 50 Women Lawyers in Texas, SuperLawyers, 2025
• Top 100 Lawyer DFW, SuperLawyers, 2025
• Top 100 Lawyer in Texas, SuperLawyers, 2025
• Holly Draper was recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer in 2019 in the area of family law., Super Lawyer in Family Law, Super Lawyers, 2019
• Recognized as Rising Star, Family Law, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2016, 2017 and 2018
• Top 50 Up and Coming Women Lawyers in Texas in 2017 by Super Lawyers Magazine

“Holly is a very good lawyer who is very diligent and gets good results for her clients.”

“The go-to on parental rights”

“I continuously refer to Holly. She has great bedside manner to put the client to ease while vigorously defending their interests in trial. She is honest and fair.”