Melinda Eitzen, founding partner of Duffee + Eitzen, is highly experienced in all facets of family law. She focuses on high net worth divorces, custody modifications, paternity cases, premarital agreements, mediations, and collaborative law. On the forefront of the collaborative law movement in Texas, she is credentialed as a Master in collaborative practice by Collaborative Divorce Texas.
Her numerous recognitions include SuperLawyers, Law Dragon, Best Lawyers of America- Collaborative Law -Family Law – Mediation, D Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas 2023, Best Lawyers of Plano, and Best Family Law Mediators in Dallas.
Eitzen has utilized her expertise in the practice of Collaborative Law to pen lectures, articles, and books on the subject including co-authoring the books “Divorce The Collaborative Way: Is It The Way For You?” and “Considering Divorce? Critical Things You Need to Know.” In addition, she has presented dynamic lectures on many family law issues. She is the daughter of beloved deceased Judge, Merrill Hartman, who was a Dallas District Judge for 22 years on both the Civil bench and Family bench.
Eitzen is the recipient of numerous awards, particularly for her pro bono work and for teaching others how to do pro bono work. She served as President of the Collin County Bar Association, on the Board of Directors for Texas Lawyers for Children, chair of the Collaborative Law Alliance of Collin County, director of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, director of Texas Young Lawyers Association, and chair of the Family Law Section of the Collin County Bar Association. Duffee + Eitzen is a Donor to Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP)- in honor of Judge Merrill Hartman, and a founding supporter of the SMU Van Sickle Family Law Clinic. She received her B.A. from Texas Christian University and J.D. from University of Houston Law School.
