Chris Merritt

I am a child of divorce. My parents divorced when I was a very young child. I was born in California and shortly after, my mother returned to southern Louisiana with me to go live with my Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw (Louisiana grandparent names).  My parents divorced shortly thereafter. After a few years, my mother met my dad (stepfather) and they eventually got married. My dad raised me as his own.  Both in love and discipline.  He taught me right from wrong and never let me forget I was loved. He passed a few years ago and I think of the lessons he thought me often.

During my childhood, we moved a lot. My father was in the oil industry and between kindergarten and 12th grade I went to 18 different schools in southern Louisiana, the Houston area and even overseas for a bit.

This moving around as a child made me want to find a community that I felt at home in to live as an adult.  In 1985, I moved to Austin to come to college. Like most who come here, once here, I never wanted to leave. I left for three years to go to law school in San Antonio and returned the day after I graduated.

When I returned, I opened my law firm in Austin and wanted to serve the community I loved.  I was drawn to divorce as it allowed me to feed my desire to show that kids can still have a good life even with divorce. Divorce law also spoke to me in that I was able to help people that are dealing with one of the most difficult times of their lives and the uncertainty that divorce brings and the enjoyment I get helping them through such hard times and showing them how good things can be on the other side.

Since my return to Austin after law school, I got married at the Cathedral downtown, had three children (ok, my wife HAD them), identical twin girls and a boy all born at Seton and a wonderful Covid golden retriever, Mille. I have served many positions with the schools that my children have attended, and my wife and I have volunteered and been on boards with many community organizations such as the Helping Hand Home. It has been important to me to give back to the community that has given my family so much. It is also important for us that our children see us give back and understand that we go further together than alone.

My firm’s vision is for us to help 1000 local families through legal services and community involvement that is made possible because of those legal services.

When not work, I am often at one of my children’s activities such as tennis, soccer, or other sport. It is important to me to be there for their activities. My parents were not always there as were many parents during the 70’s and 80’s. It was just the times. I understand when a client says how important these things are to them because they are that important for me. We also enjoy the Austin FC games and UT games. We love to travel as a family.

Now that you know a little about me, here is the regular attorney information about me:

BAR ADMISSIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

  • Admitted: 1996, Texas
  • Board Certified in Family Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2001, Recertified 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021

MEMBERSHIPS

  • Texas State Bar (Member, Family Law Section)
  • Austin Bar Association Family Law Section (Member and Past Chair/Vice-Chair/Treasurer/Director, Family Law Section)
  • Williamson County Bar Association
  • Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Austin Family Law Advocates
  • The Robert W. Calvert American Inn of Court – Austin, TX

EDUCATION

  • St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas – J.D., 1996
  • St. Edward’s University, Austin, Texas – B.B.A. Marketing, 1992

COMMUNITY ACTIVITES

  • Helping Hand Home – Community Advisory Board West
  • O’Henry Middle School, Campus Advisory Council
  • Member, St. Austin Catholic Church