O'Neil, Michelle May

Lawyer Overview

Ms. O'Neil founded the firm based on her desire to provide clients with high-quality representation in a personalized atmosphere. She has over 18 years of experience representing men, women, and children related to family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and complex property division. Described by one lawyer as "a lethal combination of sweet-and-salty", Ms. O'Neil exudes genuine compassion for her client's difficulties, yet she can be relentless when in pursuit of a client's goals.

Ms. O'Neil became a certified family law specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1997 and has maintained her certification since that time. Representing clients in litigation before the trial court is an important part of her practice. In addition, family law appellate matters are a niche of Ms. O'Neil's practice. Lawyers frequently consult with Ms. O'Neil on their litigation cases about specialized legal issues requiring particularized attention both at the trial court and appellate levels.

Most recently, Ms. O'Neil was asked to participate in co-authoring a book entitled All About Texas Law and Kids, scheduled for publication by Texas Lawyer Press in the Fall of 2009. The State Bar of Texas and other providers of continuing education for attorneys frequently enlist Ms. O'Neil to provide instruction to attorneys on topics of her expertise in the family law arena. She has, further, been honored by her peers with an "A-V" peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directories for the highest quality legal ability and ethical standards, as well as selection as a Barrister in the Annette Steward Inns of Court, an organization devoted to the professionalism of the practice of law.

In addition to her service to the legal profession, Ms. O'Neil actively serves the community. Altrusa International Inc. of Dallas, Texas, a professional women's community service organization, selected Ms. O'Neil to serve as president from 2005 to 2007. During her term, the group received the Nina Fay Calhoun Award for International Relations for their work with Refugee Services. She also founded the project D.U.N.K. - Dallas Uniforms for Needy Children - providing donated uniform clothing to underprivileged children in the Dallas Independent School District.

Frequent Case Types

• Business Valuation and Divorce in Dallas, TX
• Family Law Appeals in Dallas, TX
• Same Sex Custody in Dallas, TX

Areas of Practice

• Family Law 100%
• Divorce
• Child Custody & Visitation
• Complex Marital Property Division
• Business Owners Divorce
• Child Relocation Modification
• Modification & Enforcement of Family Law Orders
• Paternity Establishment
• Premarital & Postmarital Agreements
• Domestic Partner Litigation
• LGBT Custody Litigation

West Practice Categories

Divorce, Family Law

Bar Admissions

• U.S. Supreme Court, 1999
• Texas, 1992

Certification/Specialties

• Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1997

Education

• Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas, August, 1991
  Juris Doctor
• Baylor University, Waco, Texas, U.S., December, 1989
  Bachelor of Business Administration
  Major: Business/Law

Accepts Credit Cards

Published Works

• “Advice from a Divorce Lawyer: Whether or Not You Are Thinking About Getting a Divorce”, Today’s Dallas Woman Magazine, January , 2002
• “Family Law Appeals Distinguished”, Appellate Advocate, Vol. XV, No. 4, Winter , 2003
• “Ground Rules: Annulment”, Texas’ Divorce Magazine, Vol. I, No. 1, Fall , 2003
• “Challenges and Rewards of Solo Practice”, Texas Lawyer, October, 2003
• “Alimony/Maintenance Enforcement By Contempt”, Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, April, 2004
• “If I move out of the family home, do I lose my rights to it?”, Frequently Asked Questions, Divorce Magazine, 2007
• “I’m not happy with the outcome of my divorce. Can I appeal it? If so, how?”, Frequently Asked Questions, Divorce Magazine, 2007
• "How do we decide whether sole custody or joint custody is best for our family?", Frequently Asked Questions, Divorce Magazine, 2007
• "Should I ask for a divorce based on fault or no-fault grounds?", Frequently Asked Questions, Divorce Magazine, 2006
• "What happens if I disagree with the outcome of my case?", Frequently Asked Questions, Divorce Magazine, 2006
• "I want to change the division of my property in my divorce.", Frequently Asked Questions, Divorce Magazine, 2005
• "In divorce litigation, can you change the judge's decision?", Frequently Asked Questions, Divorce Magazine, 2005
• "How does a joint custody agreement usually work?", Frequently Asked Questions, Divorce Magazine, 2004
• "If I move out of the family home, do I lose my rights to it?", Frequently Asked Questions, Divorce Magazine, 2004
• “Do You Know The New Law On AJ Appeals?”, Family Law Section Report, Vol. 2007-4, 2007
• “Family Law Appeals Distinguished”, Family Law Section Report, Vol. 2007-4., 2007
• All About Kids and the Law in Texas, Texas Lawyer Press, 2009
• The Basics of Texas Divorce, LuLu Press, 2010
• Dissecting Parenting Time in Texas, LuLu Press, expected, 2011

Address

5420 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy
Suite 500
Two Lincoln Centre
Dallas, TX 75240-1075

Office Hours

Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Phones

972-499-4558
866-959-4330

Faxes

972-852-8001

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.themayfirm.com