Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Teresa Waldrop

I may not have been born in Houston, but I got here as fast as I could. I moved from San Antonio in January of 1996, and I’ve proudly called Houston home ever since.

My path to the courtroom started at the University of Texas at Austin, where I earned a degree in Political Science in 1987. I went on to earn my law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio in 1991. One of the most formative experiences of my legal education was student interning for Justice Oscar Mauzy at the Texas Supreme Court—an opportunity that took me back to Austin and UT for my final law school semester.

After passing the bar, I spent several years in San Antonio handling civil litigation before making the move to Houston, where I expanded my practice to include complex divorce cases. By the end of 2000, I chose to leave civil litigation behind and focus fully on family law—a decision I’ve never regretted.

Opening my own practice allowed me to dedicate myself to the families I serve and to build a career rooted in compassion, advocacy, and practical problem-solving. In 2009, after nearly two decades in the courtroom, I sat for (and passed!) the board certification exam in family law.

I became Presiding Judge of the 312th Family District Court on January 1, 2023. In 2024, the 312th achieved the highest overall clearance rate for family law cases in the district. While that’s just one metric, it reflects my commitment to moving cases forward efficiently and thoughtfully—because timely resolution matters deeply to the families we serve. I genuinely love serving as the presiding judge of the 312th, and it’s an honor I don’t take for granted—I’m running to continue this work because I truly believe I’m making a difference.

Outside the courtroom, I enjoy book clubs, legal mentoring organizations, spending time with family & friends, and long walks with Mary Catherine and Pippa—both rescues from the BARC animal shelter.

At a Glance