Burnside Family Law PLLC

09/15/2026

One year down for Burnside Family Law!

A year ago, I decided to take a chance on myself and open my own firm. I was happy and comfortable in my career, but I decided I was done with being comfortable. I wanted to see what I could accomplish on my own. Not every day has been easy, but I love it. I am very proud of how far we have come in a year.

I have also been incredibly lucky to have Angela and Eliza take this leap with me. Asking Angela to join me on this adventure was easily one of the best decisions I made. I genuinely do not know how I would have made the transition to solo practice as seamlessly as I did without her. Angela is incredibly positive, hardworking, and invaluable to me and my practice. A few short months later, Eliza joined us at exactly the right time, when the workload was growing and I needed another person I could trust to help us stay on top of it. She fit into our little team immediately. Eliza works hard, keeps me laughing, and is always encouraging me to keep growing and thinking bigger.

I am excited to see where we go from here. Thank you to everyone who has given me advice, trusted me with your referrals, encouraged me, and supported this firm over the last year. And especially thank you to my husband, Marcus Burnside, who has been endlessly encouraging and has believed in me and this firm from day one.

On to year two!

Burnside Family Law PLLC

08/20/2026

I’m honored to be nominated for the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

I’m deeply grateful for the trust of my clients, the respect of my colleagues, and the privilege of helping families navigate some of life’s most important moments.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way.

07/08/2026

An understandable and important question every parent considering divorce asks is “what schedule will I have with my kids?”

In the majority of Texas cases, one parent gets a standard possession order and the other gets the rest of the time. Other possession schedules have become increasingly more common in households where the parental responsibilities are more evenly divided, but generally speaking, the standard possession order is still the most common since that is the only codified possession schedule in the Texas Family Code.

Custody cases are incredibly fact-specific. There is no formula that automatically determines which parent gets "more time" with the children. There is, however, one concept that influences almost every custody case:
The status quo.

Who takes the kids to school?

Who schedules doctor’s appointments?

Who communicates with the teachers?

Who helps with homework?

Who sets up the play dates?

Who generally manages the day-to-day responsibilities of raising the children?

If the parents have already been living separately, what schedule have they already been following informally?

These questions are not about judging either parent. They help identify the children’s existing routine because courts generally seek to preserve stability whenever possible.

That does not mean the status quo can never change. It can. But if someone is asking the court to significantly change the existing parenting arrangement, one of the natural questions becomes: Why should things change now?

In my newest article titled "Who Gets the Kids in a Texas Divorce? It Starts with Analyzing the Status Quo", I discuss why the status quo plays such an important role in Texas custody cases, when courts are more likely to depart from it, and what parents should understand if custody may become an issue.

By Haley K. Burnside

07/02/2026

Happy Fourth of July from Burnside Family Law!

We hope you have a fun, safe holiday spent with family, friends, and those who matter most. Wishing everyone a happy Independence Day! ❤️🤍💙

06/11/2026

People often wonder whether an attorney considers their divorce "contested" or "uncontested."

Many people assume those labels tell you exactly how a case will unfold. In reality, they are often better viewed as descriptions of where a case starts rather than where it ends.

When someone tells me their divorce is uncontested, I generally interpret that to mean, "We already have a deal for the most part, we just need help putting the legal paperwork together." The parties are largely on the same page regarding the children, property division, and the overall framework for resolving the case.

A contested case does not necessarily mean the parties hate each other or that trial is inevitable. More often, it simply means there is still work to be done. There may be unanswered questions about the children, uncertainty about assets or debts, concerns that information is being withheld, or disagreements that need to be worked through before meaningful settlement discussions can occur.

The important thing to remember is that most cases that start
contested do not stay that way. The litigation process is often about gathering information, creating certainty, and getting people into a position where they feel comfortable settling their case.

In my newest article, I discuss what these terms actually mean, why some issues are more difficult to resolve than others, and why understanding where your case is headed is usually more important than understanding where it starts.

By Haley K. Burnside

06/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who helped organize this year’s Family Law Essentials Seminar. I appreciate the opportunity to present on Temporary Orders Hearings and to be part of a program dedicated to supporting attorneys while giving back to our community.

06/01/2026

One of the most common questions I hear from potential clients is: “What does the divorce process look like?”

The honest answer is it depends. Every case is different.

To help people better understand what to expect, I wrote a new article: Understanding the Divorce Process in Texas: What to Expect from Start to Finish.

It covers the major stages of a divorce case, from filing and temporary orders to discovery, mediation, trial, and finalization.

Divorce is stressful enough. Not knowing what comes next shouldn’t add to it. Full article at: https://burnsidefamilylaw.com/understanding-the-divorce-process-in-texas-what-to-expect-from-start-to-finish/

05/28/2026

A lot of people make decisions during litigation based on anger, frustration, or wanting to “win” the moment. But family law cases are marathons, not sprints.

The message you send today may become Exhibit B at your next hearing. Make long-term decisions, not emotional ones. What feels satisfying today may feel very different when you are reading it aloud in court.

Assume everything you say and do is being documented. Because it usually is.

05/18/2026

Honored to have been invited to present at the Houston Paralegal Association event at Moody Gardens this past Friday on discovery organization.

Organization is one of the most important parts of effective legal work because it improves efficiency, reduces errors, strengthens case preparation, and helps ensure clients receive the attention and advocacy they deserve.

Grateful for the opportunity to share ideas, network, and be part of conversations that continue to strengthen our field. Thank you to everyone who attended and engaged so thoughtfully throughout the presentation. ⚖️

05/14/2026

Family law doesn't have to be confusing. Here are a few common terms explained simply.