Mary Johanna McCurley
Among the state’s most respected Family Law attorneys, Mary Johanna McCurley has the experience to knowledgeably address all matrimonial issues, including asset tracing; family-owned business entities and corporate involvement; interspousal torts; and family psychological issues related to divorce and custody, including interactions with experts.
A widely published author and frequent lecturer, she has appeared before such forums as the State Bar of Texas, New York Bar Association, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, American Bar Association, National Business Institute, and law schools throughout Texas.
Mary Johanna has earned recognition on every Texas Super Lawyers listing since its inception in 2003, receiving special recognition among the Top 50 Female Lawyers in Texas for eight consecutive years, as well as being included five times in the listing of the Top 100 attorneys in Dallas/Fort Worth. She also has been recognized for her law practice by D Magazine, Lawdragon, The Best Lawyers in America, Who's Who in the World and Who's Who of American Women.
A leader among her peers, she is a Past Chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. She is also an active member of a number of other professional organizations, and has served as national Vice President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, President of the Texas Chapter of the AAML, Secretary/Treasurer of the Annette Stewart American Inn of Court, Co-Director of the 2005 State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, and was an adjunct member of the Family Law Council for three years before becoming a member in 1987.
Mary Johanna has chaired the Mediation Study Committee and the Special Concerns for Children Committee for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and has been Co-Coordinator of the organization's continuing legal education program on multiple occasions. For nearly a decade, she shared editing responsibilities for the Family Law Practice Manual, a publication of the State Bar of Texas. In keeping with her concern for children, Mary Johanna was Co-Chair of the Child Support and Child Visitation Guidelines Committee for the Supreme Court of Texas for 1992-93 and served on the committee in 1997.
She is certified as a life coach by the College of Executive Coaching and recently co-authored, along with four other experts in women’s health and wellness, A Happy Healthy You: A Woman’s Guide to Happiness, Health & Harmony. The book offers advice and counsel on nutrition, exercise, menopause, spirituality, relationships, and other wellness issues for women in the second half of their lives. In 2010 and 2011, Mary Johanna was invited to participate in Renaissance Weekends®. Bringing together preeminent authorities and noted innovators in their fields of expertise from around the country, these invitation-only retreats are dedicated to personal and national renewal.
Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1984, Mary Johanna began her distinguished career after graduating from St. Mary's University School of Law in 1979, where she was Student Body Vice President and President of the Senate. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Centenary College, where she served as Student Body President.
Year Joined Firm
- 1992
Areas of Practice
- 100% Family Law
Certified Legal Specialties
- Board Certified Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1984
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1979
Education
- St. Mary's University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas
- J.D. - 1979
- Honors: Student Body Vice President
- Honors: President of the Senate
- Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, Louisiana
- B.A. - 1975
- Honors: Student Body Vice President
Published Works
- A Happy, Healthy You: A Woman’s Guide to Happiness, Health & Harmony, (Co-Author), 2010
- Parenting Plans - Who, What, Where & Why, (Co-Author), State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, 2006
- Dealing with Ad-Litems, (Co-Author), State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, 1997
- Pensions, Stock Options and Other New Sources of Wealth, Annual Divorce Conference of the Dallas Chapter, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, 1997
- Gender Bias in Our Courts and Practice - Fact or Fiction?, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, 1995
- Peculiar Characterization Issues, 18th Annual State Bar of Texas Marriage Dissolution Course, 1995
- An Overview of Psychological Testing, Illinois State Bar Association, Family Law Handbook, 1994
- Overview of Psychological Testing, American Bar Association Family Law Conference, 1993
- Psychological Testing and Expert Witnesses, The Practical Lawyer, October, 1994
- An Overview of Psychological Testing, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Utah Chapter, 1994
- An Overview of Psychological Testing, American Bar Association Family Law Conference, 1993
- Discovery, State Bar of Texas, Marriage Dissolution Course, 1993
- Social Studies and Psychological Evaluations: Their Use in Evidence and How to Cross Examine, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Family Law Course, 1993
- Tracing, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Family Law Course, 1992
- Child Support Issues - Modification, Second Family and Other Significant Problems, South Texas College of Law, 1992
- Ethics, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Family Law Course, 1992
- Modification, From Sole to Joint and Back Again, South Texas College of Law, Annual Family Law Institute, 1992
- Managing Stress, New York Bar Association, 1991
- Attorney and Guardian Ad Litems, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Family Law Course, 1991
- Divorce Taxation, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1991
- Dealing with Experts and Psychological Tests, State Bar of Texas, Marriage Dissolution Course, 1991
- Alimony, (Co-Author), State Bar of Texas, Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, 1990
- Innovative Ideas for Setting and Collecting Attorney Fees, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1991
- Managing Stress, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Family Law Course
- Psychological Testing: An Update, State Bar of Texas, Marriage Dissolution Course, 1989
- Enforcement - Support and Visitation, State Bar of Texas, Marriage Dissolution Course, 1986
- Jury Selection in Custody Cases, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Family Law Course, 1987
- Evidentiary Issues in Child Support, Texas Revolution in Child Support: Perspective, Pleading and Practice, State Bar of Texas, 1986
Classes/Seminars
- Advanced Family Law Course (Course Co-Director), State Bar of Texas, 2005
- "Don't Forget the Child" Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2003
- Advanced Family Law Course (Assistant Course Director), State Bar of Texas, 2000
- "Art and Advocacy of Family Law" (Course Director), State Bar of Texas, 1997
- "Pensions, Stock Options and Other Sources of Wealth", Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, Dallas Chapter, Annual Divorce Conference, 1997
- "Life, Lawyering and the Pursuit of Happiness" (Course Director), State Bar of Texas, 1995
Honors and Awards
- Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2011
- Best Lawyers in America, Family Law, 2005 - 2011
- Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, 2003 - 2010
- Top 50 Female Lawyers in Texas, Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, 2003 - 2010
- Best Women Lawyers, D Magazine, 2010
- Top 100 Lawyers in Texas, Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, 2009
- Top 100 Lawyers in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Legal Division, 2005-2006, 2008-2010
- Best Personal Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2009
- Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon, 2006 - 2007
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow
- Who's Who in the World
- Who's Who of American Women
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section, Past President
- Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member
- Texas Academy of Family Specialists, Member
- State Bar of Texas, Family Law Section, Member
- Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, Member
- Annette Stewart American Inn of Court, Master and Secretary/Treasurer, 2003 - 2004
- State Bar of Texas, Family Section, Chair, 2003 - 2004
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, National Vice President, 2003
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Special Concerns for Children Committee, Co-Chair, 2001 - 2002
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Secretary, 2000 - 2002
- Associate Judge's Training, Chairman, 1998 - 1999
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Board of Governors, Member, 1998 - Present
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Interdisciplinary Relations - Mental Health, Member, 1997 - Present
- Special Concerns for Children Committee, Member, 1997 - Present
- Continuing Legal Education, Co-Chairperson, 1995 - 1998
- Dallas Alliance of Collaborative Family Lawyers, Member
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, President, 1997 - 1998
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, President - Elect, 1996 - 1997
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, Secretary, 1995 - 1996
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Texas Chapter, Treasurer, 1993 - 1995
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Stepfamilies Rights and Adoption Committee, Member, 1994
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Mediation Study Committee, Chairperson, 1993
- Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Board of Directors, 1990 - 1992
- Family Law Council, Member, 1987 - Present
- Dallas Family Law Section, Past Chairman, 1986
- Dallas Family Law Section, Chairman, 1985
- Family Law Council, Adjunct Member, 1982 - 1985
- Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section, Vice-Chairman, 1984
- Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section, Secretary/Treasurer, 1983
- Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section, Board of Directors, 1981 - 1982
Fraternities/Sororities
- Chi Omega
- Delta Theta Phi


