Practice areas: Family Law, Appellate; view more
Licensed in Texas since: 1987
Education: Texas Tech University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2026 As a partner at Marvel Law Group, PLLC, in San Antonio, Texas, Karen Marvel embarked on her legal journey in 1987. With board certification in family law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, her practice spans the intricate realms of family law, mediation, divorce, complex property divisions, custody disputes and child support enforcement. She is a pragmatic attorney who grasps the challenges her clients endure.
Ms. Marvel also excels in collecting back child support, applying interest and enforcing these obligations. She is particularly attuned to cases involving children with special needs, drawing from her personal experience in this area. She discerns which battles are worth waging and which might be fruitless, offering innovative solutions that range from mediation to courtroom advocacy. Her approach is marked by compassion, humor and an unwavering commitment to honesty.
Caring for families during tough times is what drives Ms. Marvel. She advocates for sensible solutions to challenging cases, leveraging her extensive experience to navigate clients through the legal maze. Her notable achievements include representing clients in the courts of appeals and the Texas Supreme Court, where she played a pivotal role in a landmark case that reformed child support collection laws. This change now allows the collection of overdue child support, with interest, regardless of when the divorce occurred.
A native of San Antonio, Ms. Marvel earned her Juris Doctor from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1987, following her bachelor's degree from McMurry University in 1984. She is also a prolific writer and speaker, contributing extensively to continuing legal education on child support across the state.
Beyond her practice, Ms. Marvel is deeply involved in the legal community and public service. She contributes to the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas (serving on the 3rd Edition Checklist Committee and as a drafter), the Family Law Section of the San Antonio Bar Association (as a past president and board member) and the San Antonio Family Lawyer's Association for board-certified family law attorneys (as a past president and board member). She is also a life member of the Texas Family Law Foundation, a nonprofit committed to enhancing family law for all Texans.
Practice areas
Family Law, AppellateFocus areas
Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Appeals, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Father's Rights, Juvenile Law, Marital Property, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Name Change, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Same Sex Family Law
- 90% Family Law
- 10% Appellate
First Admitted: 1987, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://www.marvellaw.com/about-us/karen-l-marvel/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Family Law Bar Association of San Antonio - Board of Directors, 2023
- San Antonio Family Lawyer’s Association, President, 2013 - 2014
- Family Law Section of San Antonio Bar Association, Board of Directors, 2002 - 2010
- San Antonio Family Lawyer’s Association, Board of Directors, 2011 - 2012
- State Bar of Texas & Family Law Section
- Family Law Section of San Antonio Bar Association, President, 2007 - 2008
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2009 - Present
- College of the State Bar of Texas, 2012
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Holmes v. Williams, 355 S.W.3d 215 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, no pet.)
- In the Interest of S.C.S. 48 S.W.3d 831 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2001) pet. denied per curiam, sub. nom. Sprouse v. Sprouse, 92 S.W.3d 502 (Tex. 2002)
- Granado v. Meza, 398 S.W.3d 193 (Tex. 2013)
- In Re M.C.C., 142 S.W.3d 504 (Tex. 2006)
- In the Interest of A.D., 73 S.W. 3d 244 (Tex. 2002)
- Taylor v. Speck, 308 S.W.3d 81 (Tex. App. – San Antonio 2010, no pet.)
- In the Interest of D.T., No. 12-05-00420-CV, 2007 WL 4465250 (Tex. App.– Tyler 2007, no pet.)
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Board Certified - Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2008 - Present
Pro bono / Community Service
- Texas Family Law Foundation - Legislative Review Committee: 2009, 2011; 2013
- Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, President of Board, 1994-1999
- Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, Corporate Board, 1994-2002
- Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, Senior Staff, 1992-2002
- GOLD Youth Leadership Foundation (Giving Opportunities for Leadership Development), Board of Directors, 2003- 2006
- GOLD Youth Leadership Foundation (Giving Opportunities for Leadership Development), Program Chair 2003
- Autism Society of Greater San Antonio, Board Member, volunteer General Counsel 2005 - 2008
- Harmony Hills Elementary PTA, San Antonio, 3rd VP, 2010-2011
- Eisenhower MS PTA, Executive Board, 2011-2014
- First Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, Godly Play Teacher 2005-2019; JOY Ministry; Shawl Ministry (Circle 5); Deacon on Rotation
- Band Parents Association of Winston Churchill HS Vice President – Corporate Fundraising, 2016-2018
- Fiesta Especial (fiestaespecial.com) – Guardian for King (2021) and Duke (2019) Carter Shute Leadership Program for the special needs community
- DisABILITYsa.com, Chair for Purse -sue Ability Fundraiser, 2022
- State Bar Pro Bono Law Project Speaker: 9/2005 Eagle Pass; 6/2007 Kerrville; 9/2007 Big Spring, 9/2010, Kingsville; 8/2012 Corpus Christi
- Mentor, Community Justice Project, San Antonio Bar Association, 2002
Educational Background
- McMurry University, Abilene, Texas, B.A., Major: English (Writing), Major: Psychology, 1984
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- "Setting & Collecting Child Support"; with Hon. Conrad Moren; State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, Paper author & Speaker, texasbarcle.org, 2007
- "Dealing with Children with Special Needs" with Sally Holt Emerson, State Bar of Texas Marriage Dissolution Institute, Paper author & Speaker, texasbarcle.org, 2008
- "Obtaining Child Support"; with Barry Brooks at Parent Child Relationships: Critical Thinking for Critical Issues; University of TX Law School CLE, Speaker/Author, utcle.org, 2009
- "Unique Child Support Remedies", Paper author & Panelist, Texas Bar CLE Webcast, 2009
- Acknowledged Contributor, O'Connor's Texas Family Law Handbook 2009; 2010, Jones McClure Publishing, www.jonesmcclure.com, 2009
- Money Matters -- Child Support Remedies, Paper author & Speaker, SA Bar Assoc. Extreme Family Law Makeover, 2009
- Creative Ways to Collect & Enforce Child Support Claims, Marriage Dissolution Institute, Author/Speaker, texasbarcle.org, 2009
- "Dividing Assets with Fluctuating Values -- Slicing the Pie on a See Saw", State Bar of Texas, Webcast Panelist, texasbarcle.org, 2009
- Author/Panelist, Child Support Workshop, 35th Annual Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar Of Texas, 2009
- Author/Speaker, Judicial & Administrative Remedies for Enforcing Child Support, Trial Institute, Texas Academy Of Family Law Specialists, 2010
- Family Law Section, Author/Speaker, Both Made the Baby, Both Gotta Pay!, Extreme Family Law Makeover, San Antonio Bar Assoc., 2010
- Essay featured in Women Attorneys Speak Out! by Judi Craig, Ph.D., MCC, (Thomson-West 2008)
- Creative Ways to Collect & Defend Child Support Claims (selected by Pro Bono Project of Texas Bar Family Law Section for distribution in Family Law Essentials), TX Bar CLE Marriage Dissolution Institute, 2009
- Child Support Enforcement – Medical Support, QDROs & Liens, Oh My!, 41st Advanced Family Law Course, 2015
- Child Support & the Special Needs Child, 2012 State Bar College Summer School
- Creative Ways to Set Child Support, 2011 State Bar College Summer School
- Creative Ways to Enforce Child Support Claims, 2010 State Bar College Summer School
- Caution! Watch Out for Acronyms on the Interstate Case Highway (with Chris Nickelson), 2010 UT Parent-Child Relationships: Critical Thinking for Critical Issues
- Show Me the Money – Creative Child Support Remedies, 2009 Corpus Christi Bar Assoc. Family Law Seminar
- Trial Treasures in Tampa, Trial Brief Author & planning committee, 2009, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Trial Institute
- Contributing Editor, How to Do Your Own Divorce in Texas, Nolo Press-Occidental, 1993-2001
Honors
- Texas Super Lawyers Family Law, 2008 - 2017
- San Antonio’s Best Lawyers – Family Law, Scene in SA magazine 2005; 2007 – 2017
- Named Top 50 Family Attorneys by S.A. Scene Magazine, 2017
- Texas Life Member, Harmony Hills Elementary PTA, 2010
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2026
