Elizabeth Durso Branch

In serving as an advocate for her clients in all matters of Family Law, Elizabeth Durso Branch draws on her experience as a former Bexar County Assistant District Attorney and a former Assistant County Attorney in Guadalupe County.  Honing her trial skills in the criminal courts, Elizabeth eventually began relying on those skills to obtain protective orders in the civil district courts for the family violence victims in the assault cases she prosecuted.  Her commitment to assist crime victims included speaking to volunteers at family shelters and to victim’s advocates about the cycle of family violence and its impact on children.  Her tenure as a prosecutor also provided her with valuable insight into the nexus between substance abuse issues, family relationships, and financial matters.  While serving as a prosecutor in Guadalupe County, she maintained a private divorce practice.  A successful prosecutor and appellate attorney, Elizabeth wrote the brief that resulted in the adoption of the community caretaking exception by the 4th Court of Appeals in Ortega v. State, 974 S.W. 2d 361 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 1998).

Elizabeth also has a unique perspective on cases involving children’s issues, having served for more than four years as an Assistant Attorney General in the Child Support Litigation Division of the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2006, Elizabeth is a frequent author and speaker, writing and speaking on a wide range of Family Law issues, including valuation of assets and asset location.  As a single mother of two young boys, Elizabeth attended Mississippi College School of Law, where she graduated in 1990 and was on Law Review.  She attended the University of Texas and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Lamar University in 1987.  She has been happily married since 1992.  Since 2005, Elizabeth has participated each year in the Texas Mock Trial Competition for high school students sponsored by the Dallas Bar Association as a judge and as a coach.