Family Law
Protecting Children, Parents & Caregivers on Every Side of the Bench
When family matters turn into legal challenges, you need more than just representation—you need an advocate who understands what’s at stake from every angle. As an experienced family law attorney in Houston, Mike Schneider has spent decades representing and advising parents, foster parents, relative caregivers, and families across Texas and the United States in complex cases involving divorce, custody, adoption, child support, and parental rights.
Your case may range from a simple divorce and child custody matter to a complex dispute involving Child Protective Services (CPS), but our firm approaches every situation with the same commitment to strength, strategy, and compassion.
Family Law Services
- Divorce & Property Division
- Child Custody & Visitation Rights
- Child Support & Enforcement
- Parental Rights & Adoption
- CPS & Child Welfare Defense
- Post-Judgment Modifications
- Prenuptial & Marital Agreements
Every family is unique, and so is every case. As a Texas family law attorney, Mike Schneider approaches each matter with the understanding that behind every legal issue lies a deeply personal story.
What Makes Mike More Than A Family Lawyer?
Mike Schneider’s experience as a respected family lawyer is shaped by decades spent on both sides of the bench—as a trial lawyer, former judge, expert witness and consultant. Mike’s unique expertise gives the firm a distinct advantage: we don’t just react to cases, we anticipate them. From investigations to administrative hearings to the courtroom and through appeals, we fight for clients at every stage—preventing cases from escalating to litigation or appeals whenever possible. Family cases can be emotionally charged and legally complex. Our team takes time to listen, explain the process in plain language, and build a strategy designed to protect your rights and your family’s well-being. We combine legal authority with empathy because resolving a family dispute requires both.
When Mike is on your side, you get More Than a Lawyer.
- Former State District Court Judge
- Former Assistant Harris County Attorney
- Seasoned Trial Attorney with Years of Courtroom Advocacy on Behalf of Caregivers
- Expert Witness & Consultant
- Court-Appointed Amicus in Child Custody Cases
- CPS Administrative Insider
- Child Welfare Researcher & Policy Analyst
- CLE Trainer & Educator for Lawyers
Deep Knowledge of Child Welfare Investigations and Administrative Hearings
The goal is to keep clients out of the courts. The moment CPS or law enforcement investigations begin, parental rights—and those of foster parents, grandparents and other caregivers—are in immediate jeopardy, and the risk of criminal prosecution is heightened. Mike’s experience navigating this complex maze of law enforcement and child welfare investigators, pediatric hospitals, social workers, and often the media is unmatched.
Most caregivers, including those accused of neglect, abuse, and crimes against children have no idea how to protect their rights in situations where they or a family member are being investigated or accused of wrongdoing. They don’t know who to talk to, what to share, or what to say when they are aggressively targeted by an entire system with which they are unfamiliar. How these events unfold will impact a caregiver’s legal rights—and freedom—for years to come.
Decades of Diverse Trial Experience
Mike has successfully tried hundreds of trials as a lawyer and state district judge, ranging from thorny child custody battles to felony criminal investigations and capital murder.
Early in his judicial tenure, the Houston Chronicle praised his “demonstrated competency” in handling high-profile cases and consistently endorsed him his entire judicial career, noting, “Schneider has devoted his career to protecting children‚ both as an assistant Harris County attorney and as general counsel of Houston’s renowned Children’s Assessment Center.”
History of High-Profile Success
Judge Schneider is known for his aggressive defense of the most consequential criminal and CPS investigations and in the courtroom at every stage—with clients across the United States. Mike has protected mothers, fathers, foster and adoptive parents, grandparents, siblings and anyone accused in countless high-profile cases featured in national media and across the globe.
Due to his deep understanding of the child welfare systems and agencies, he has an 80–90% success rate in preventing CPS lawsuits through his involvement in administrative and investigation cases.
Advocacy Founder & Leader
Mike has founded or served as a leading member of numerous advocacy courts, programs and organizations including:
- Commissioner, Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families (Children’s Commission), Austin (2015-21)
- Founder of first Juvenile Drug Court in Harris County
- Founder, Harris County Juvenile Human Trafficking Court, Creating Advocacy Resilience and Empowerment (“CARE” formerly “GIRLS” Court)
- Founder, Juvenile Sealing Program, with Houston Bar Association and University of Houston Law Center Juvenile and Capital Advocacy Program
- Founder, org, an Online Resource for Children in Texas Foster Care
- Council & Founding Member of Child Welfare Section, State Bar of Texas, Austin
- Board Member, The Way Home Adoption, Inc. (2019-24)
- Chair, Officer, Juvenile Law Section, State Bar of Texas, Austin
- Board of Directors, Center for Science and Law, Palo Alto, California
- Board Member, Criss Cole Children’s Foundation, Houston
- Member of Data Committee, Children’s Commission, Austin
Understands Every Side of the Bench & Bar
Mike joined the Harris County Attorney’s Office in 1999, serving as Chief of the 313th District Court and managed and tried thousands of child custody cases involving the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (CPS).
In 2001, he became Deputy Division Chief of the office’s Children’s Protective Division, and from 2004 until he took the bench in 2006, served as General Counsel to the world-renowned Children’s Assessment Center in Houston’s Rice Village.
He proudly served as Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission and Chair of the State Bar of Texas Juvenile Law Section.
Trained & Educated Thousands of Lawyers
Mike has created and taught Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs that have trained thousands of lawyers on topics including CPS and child abuse, substance use, complex custody litigation, ethics, expert witnesses, human trafficking, record sealing, and many more at the following institutions:
- Advocacy University
- Healing Specialties Texas
- Houston Bar Association
- University of Houston Law Center Juvenile & Capital Advocacy Program
- Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison, Sing Sing Correctional Facility
Conducted Years of Legal Research & Policy Analysis
In 2017, Mike was appointed Adjunct Research Scientist in the Psychology Department of Columbia University in the City of New York by Dr. Carl Hart and in 2022 to the Board of the Center for Science and the Law.
In 2019 Mike served the Texas Legislature as Policy Analyst on child welfare issues for State Representative Gene Wu.
Mike has a deep understanding of the policies that affect his clients the most.
Other Practice Areas
Child Welfare & CPS Defense
We fight for clients at every stage of child custody battles, including CPS involvement—preventing cases from escalating to litigation or appeals whenever possible.
Administrative Law
Navigating complex state and agency proceedings impacting families and children, including CPS investigations, licensing actions, and regulatory disputes.
Criminal Law
Strategic defense in state and federal cases, including felony and juvenile matters impacting or triggered by child custody investigations and litigation.
Family Law
Custody, divorce, adoption, and parental rights representation for spouses, families, grandparents, foster parents, and caregivers fighting for the children in their care.
Civil Rights Law
Advocacy for caregivers, professionals, and individuals facing agency investigations or constitutional rights violations.
Guiding Families Through Difficult Transitions
As a family lawyer in Houston, Mike Schneider and his team serve clients across Harris County and the surrounding Texas communities. From young parents seeking custody clarity to families facing CPS intervention, our goal is the same: to help you navigate the system with dignity, confidence, and a plan.
We work closely with families to:
Protect
parental rights and secure safe custody arrangements
Negotiate
fair financial outcomes and property divisions
Defend
against overreach by Child Protective Services
Resolve
disputes through mediation or litigation when necessary
Press & News
Over the years, Mike’s involvement in countless high-profile cases has earned him national and global recognition in news and media:
Your Advocate in and Beyond the Courtroom
When you or a loved one’s future and freedom are on the line, you need More Than a Lawyer— you need someone who’s been involved in every aspect of the legal system.
Judge Mike Schneider (Ret.) brings decades of courtroom, judicial, agency, and policy experience to defend your family with unmatched insight and compassion.
Fill out our form below to schedule a free consultation and get started with Mike now.
Schedule Your Consultation Today!
Every moment counts when facing CPS, criminal, or family law issues. It is essential that we build your defense strategy as soon as possible. Let’s schedule a confidential, complimentary consultation.