Matthew Skillern - Houston Divorce & Separation Lawyer Reviews & Ratings

Matthew A. Skillern is the founder and lead family law attorney at The Skillern Firm. Matthew is a strong and successful trial attorney known for dominating the opposition in court. In highly contested divorce and child custody cases, his skills in strategy and effective performance in the courtroom set him apart.. Matthew believes being an effective advocate requires aggressiveness tempered with reason, logic, and compassion. In his opinion, blindly going forward out of anger and emotion does not get good results. He handles all cases with professionalism, courtesy, and compassion for his client. Although Matthew has been successfully litigating cases for years, he believes the courtroom is not the only place to resolve the complex and sensitive issues commonly found in family law matters. Recognizing that every client and case is different, Matthew advocates the use of negotiation and mediation to resolve marital and custody disputes. However, when a dispute cannot be resolved through such means, Matthew is unafraid to take the matter to trial.. Matthew grew up in Stafford, Texas with humble beginnings. Upon graduation from high school, he played football at Tyler Junior College, and went on to graduate from Baylor University with a degree in Political Science. He obtained his juris doctorate from South Texas College of Law in Houston. Matthew is a first generation college graduate, and often worked three jobs at once to finance his education. His tenacity, work ethic, and drive are evident in his firm, case management, and advocacy skills. While Matthew started his legal career as a prosecutor for the Smith County District Attorney’s Office in Tyler, Texas, handling a wide range of criminal matters and trying cases to juries, upon moving home to Houston, he switched to the other side of the courtroom, honing his trial and courtroom skills at one of Houston’s premier criminal defense firms.. Matthew is dedicated to his family and passionate about children and child related issues. Clients, colleagues and friends respect him for his dynamic courtroom skills and presence, all the while recognizing his kind heart and compassionate nature. Thus, Matthew founded The Skillern Firm with the idea that he could utilize his strong advocacy skills for the good of others – because it is not just “family law,” it is someone’s life.. Matthew was selected as a Rising Star by the Texas Super Lawyers in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015, a distinction awarded to the top attorneys under 40.  Only 2.5% of all lawyers in the State of Texas are selected as Rising Stars. Matthew has also been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. In addition, he currently maintains a 10.0 superb rating by AVVO. He is admitted to practice law in all Texas state courts and the United States Distict Court for the Southern District of Texas.