Melinda Eitzen is a founding partner of the Dallas-Fort Worth area-based family law

practice of Duffee + Eitzen. Among her many recognitions are “Best Lawyers- Family

Law”, Best Lawyers- Collaborative Law”, D Magazine’s “Best Lawyer in Dallas”, “Best

Family Law Mediator in Dallas”, and “Texas Super Lawyer”. Eitzen is credentialed as a

Master in collaborative practice by Collaborative Divorce Texas, a distinction held by

only eight attorneys in Dallas. She is a mediator as well.

Eitzen is highly experienced in all facets of family law, managing custody modifications,

paternity cases, and premarital agreements for high-profile cases. 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 demonstrates an ongoing commitment to excellence in the practice of Family

Law by penning lectures, articles, and two co-authored books on the subject- “Divorce

The Collaborative Way: Is It The Way For You?” and “Considering Divorce? Critical

Things You Need to Know.”

Actively involved with the community, Eitzen has served as: president of the Collin

County Bar Association, board member of Texas Lawyers for Children, president of the

Plano Bar Association, 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.

She also is a member of the philanthropic organization, Altrusa International. Pursuant

to the passion for helping others, Duffee + Eitzen is a Donor to Dallas Volunteer

Attorney Program- in honor of Judge Merrill Hartman, and a founding supporter of the

SMU VanSickle Family Law Clinic.