Attorney Profile

Bruce D. Bain, shareholder, is a board certified specialist in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a member in the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, and a former Director for the State Bar of Texas Family Law Council. He limits his practice to complex family law issues which range from complicated custody and conservatorship issues to complex property concerns relating to property characterization and reimbursement. Bruce also handles multi-state jurisdictional issues for out-of-state litigants and foreign nationals as well as grandparent access and custody.

Bruce has spoken on several occassions providing continuing legal education to fellow attorneys. The issues range from discovery rules and procedures to new legislation regarding property division to modifications and enforcement of custody issues. Look below for a complete list of his papers and presentations.

Bruce is a founding member of the Smith County Bar Association Family Law Section, and he is past President of both Smith County Bar Association and Smith County Bar Foundation. Bruce donates some of his time by providing pro bono representation for indigent clients. Bruce was past president of the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Northeast Texas, Inc..

Married to Martha for more than 20 wonderful years and a full-time father of three great boys as multiple sport’s assistant, homework helper, reader, listener, video game time arbitrator with binding unappealable authority. He finds himself being an outdoorsman more and more as the boys grow and learn.

Bruce’s office is in Tyler, Texas, the county seat of Smith County, but he regularly practices all over East Texas. He makes regular court appearances in Longview, Gregg County; Palestine, Anderson County; Rusk, Cherokee County; Henderson, Rusk County; Quitman, Wood County; Athens, Henderson County; and Canton, Van Zandt County. He also takes cases in Rains County, Hopkins County, Franklin County, Camp County, Upshur County, Panola County, Angelina County, Houston County, and Freestone County.

  • Borad Certificate
  • Texas-Bar-Foundation
  • avvo-logo

Areas of Practice

  • Family Law 100%

Litigation Percentage

  • 85%

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2001

Bar Admissions

  • Texas, 1994
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1995
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1995
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1995
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1995
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2013

Education

  • South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas
    • J.D. – 1994
    • Honors: Moot Court Teams
  • University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi
    • B.B.A. – 1990
    • Major: Business

Published Works

Classes/Seminars

  • Economic Contribution and Valuation, Texas Center for the Judiciary, 2007
  • Ethics: Paralegals and You, State Bar of Texas – Marriage Dissolution Boot Camp, 2005
  • Ethics: Paralegals and Lawyers, Rural Association for Court Administrators, 2007
  • Post Judgment Issues, Ultimate Trial Notebook, State Bar of Texas, 2006
  • Motions in Limine, Family Law Boot Camp, State Bar of Texas, 2005 – Present
  • When Disaster Strikes, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas, 2003
  • Economic Contribution, Family Law Section, Smith County Bar Association, 2007
  • New Grievance Procedures, Family Law Section, Smith County Bar Association, 2004
  • New Cases and Legislation, Family Law Section, Smith County Bar Association, 2002, 2003
  • Economic Contribution, Smith County Bar Association, 2007
  • Child Support Accountability Program, Texas Attorney General & Probation Officers, 2003
  • Family Law Issues and School Responsibility, Texas Private Schools, Texas Private Schools, 2002
  • Family Law Issues and School Responsibility, All Saints Episcopal School, 2002
  • Economic Contribution, Texas Panhandle Family Law Association, 2002
  • Modification of Custody, State Bar of Texas, Pro Bono Project, 2001
  • The New Discovery Rules, Smith County Bar Association, 1998
  • Co-Chair, Parenting Plans: Visitation and Custody, UT Law School Fall CLE, 2007
  • Co-Course Director, Family Law Boot Camp, Family Law Advanced Course, State Bar of Texas, 2008
  • Co-Course Director, The Definitive Short Course on Parent-Child Relationships,, University of Texas Law School CLE, 2007
  • Economic Torts, Marriage Dissolution Institute, State Bar of Texas, 2008
  • Getting It In and Keeping It Out, State Bar of Texas Family Law Essentials, 2008
  • Economic Torts, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 2008
  • Child Support and the Failing Economy, University of Texas CLE, 2009
  • Parent-Child Relationships – Critical Thinking on Critical Issues, University of Texas CLE, 2007
  • Post-Divorce Medical Benefits (Now You See it, Now You Don’t), ProBono Committee of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, Family Law Essentials, 2012
  • Getting What You Want Through Negotiation (or at least Getting What You Need), State Bar of Texas, Advanced Family Law, Panel Speaker, 2012
  • Family Law – Top 10 Things You Can’t Live Without, Smith County Bar Association, 2011
  • Parentage and Paternity Fraud, Smith County Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2012
  • Child Support – Statutory and Contractual, State Bar of Texas, Marriage Dissolution, 2012

Honors and Awards

  • Young Lawyer of the Year, Smith County Bar Association, 2004
  • Pro Bono Service Recognition, Smith County Bar Association, 2002 – Present, Volunteer Mentor

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Texas Academy Family Law Specialists, 2001 – Present (Member)
  • State Bar of Texas Family Law Pattern Jury Charge Committee, 2001 – 2009
  • State Bar of Texas, Grievance Committee District 2A, 2003 – 2009
  • Texas Supreme Court, 2001 – 2009 (Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee)
  • Smith County Bar Association, 2005 – 2006 (President)
  • Smith County Bar Association, 2004 – 2005 (Vice-President)
  • Smith County Bar Association, 2002 – 2003 (Secretary)
  • Smith County Bar Association Family Law Section, 2003 – 2004 (President)
  • Smith County Bar Foundation, 2004 – 2006 (Director)
  • American Bar Association, National Appellate Advocacy Competition, 1993 – 1994 (National Student Director)
  • State Bar of Texas, Texas Family Law Practice Manual Formbook Committee, 2007 – 2009
  • State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee, District 2A, Chairman, 2005 – 2007
  • State Bar of Texas Family Law Council, (2011 – 2016) Board of Directors
  • Texas Family Law Bar Foundation (Sustaining Life Member)
  • Texas Bar Foundation (Life Fellow)
  • Texas Academy Family Law Specialists, 2004 – 2007 (Director)
  • Smith County Bar Foundation, 2007 – 2008 (President)

Pro Bono Activities

  • Lone Star Legal Aid, 1998 – Present
  • Volunteer Mediator During Settlement Week, Smith County Bar, 2002 – Present

Fraternities/Sororities

  • Kappa Sigma