Patricia Nellenbach Carter

Patricia Nellenbach Carter, has over 14 years of dedicated Family Law litigation experience and is board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and in 2012 she was granted fellowship in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Texas Monthly magazine has named her as a Super Lawyer for four years and a "Rising Star" among Texas attorneys four years in a row. Patricia was born in Heidelberg, Germany, to a German mother and career-serviceman father. After spending much of her childhood moving between Europe and the United States, her family settled in Texarkana, Texas, where she graduated from East Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She obtained her law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1997. While at Texas Tech, Patricia was a member of the 1996 and 1997 TYLA National Mock Trial and 1996 AAJ Tournament of Champions Mock Trial teams. In 1997, she was an advocate on the first team from Tech to win the TYLA State Moot Court Competition. Patricia also received the Jurisprudence Award for Trial Advocacy and was inducted as a member of the Texas Tech Board of Barristers and the National Order of the Barristers. After graduation, Patricia served a Judicial Clerkship with Justice Ben Z. Grant of the Sixth District Court of Appeals. In 1998, Patricia married, moved to Houston, and joined a local law firm, becoming a partner in 2001. She joined Short Jenkins Kamin in 2004 and formed Short Carter Morris in 2008. Patricia has authored and presented numerous continuing legal education articles. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association - Family Law Section (member and board member), the State Bar College, Burta Rhodes Raborn Family Law Inns of Court, the Texas Association of Family Law Specialists and the Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists of which she was President from 2011-2012. Patricia is also trained in Collaborative Law, a member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas, and is a past chair of the Collaborative Law Section of the Houston Bar Association. In addition to practicing law, Patricia enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, and reading just about any book she can find. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Patricia Nellenbach Carter included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors "Super Lawyer", Texas Monthly Magazine, 2008 - 2012 "Rising Star", Texas Monthly Magazine, 2004 - 2008 TYLA State Moot Court Competition Recipient, Jurisprudence Award for Trial Advocacy Other Sources of Feedback About Patricia Nellenbach Carter Included on the 2025Texas Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2024 Texas Super Lawyers list 2023 Texas Super Lawyers list 2022 Texas Super Lawyers list 2021 Texas Super Lawyers list 2020 Texas Super Lawyers list 2019 Texas Super Lawyers list 2018 Texas Super Lawyers list 2017 Texas Super Lawyers list 2016 Texas Super Lawyers list 2015 Texas Super Lawyers list 2014 Texas Super Lawyers list 2013 Texas Super Lawyers list 2012 Texas Super Lawyers list 2011 Texas Super Lawyers list 2010 Texas Super Lawyers list 2009 Texas Super Lawyers list 2008 Texas Super Lawyers list 2007 Texas Super Lawyers list 2006 Texas Super Lawyers list 2005 Texas Super Lawyers list 2004 Texas Super Lawyers list

• Hon. Justice Ben Z. Grant, Sixth District Court of Appeals, Judicial Clerkship

• "Enforcement - A Mock Trial Presentation", Houston Bar Association Fall CLE, November, 2012
• "Spousal Support Per the Texas Family Code and Contractual Alimony", Houston Bar Association Spring CLE, April 2012 (co-authored with Candice Deyerle)
• "Assisting with Custody Cases", Half Moon Seminars - Texas Family Law Practice for Paralegals 2012, January 2012 (third year presenting)
• "Evaluating the Client and Enlisting the Client and Spouse in Collaborative Law", State Bar of Texas – Collaborative Law 101, March 2011
• "Suggestions for “Selling It” to Potential New Clients", Houston Bar Association – Collaborative Law Section, January 2011
• "Basics of Conservatorship and Possession: A Primer on the Rules of Joint and Sole Managing Conservatorship, and Presumptions Governing Parenting Time", University of Texas Parent-Child Relationships: Critical Thinking for Critical Issues, January 2011
• "Paying Special Attention to Children with Special Needs", AFCC Texas – Children Caught in the Conflict: A Multidisciplinary Perspective, Panel Discussion, October 2010
• "The ABCs of Preparing for a Hearing", Houston Bar Association 2010 Family Law Institute, April 2010
• "Effectively Trying Your Property Case", panel discussion participant, Houston Bar Association Family Law Conference, February 2007
• "Effectively Assisting in Custody Disputes," Texas Family Law Practice for Paralegals, May 2005
• "Financially Managing or Managing Financially?" How to Organize and Manage Your Family Law Practice, San Antonio, Texas, August 2004
• "Post-Judgment Credit Issues," Family Law Conference for General Practitioners and Legal Assistants, Houston, Texas, February 2003
• "Closing the File - It Ain't Over Til It's Over." Family Law Conference for General Practitioners and Legal Assistants, Houston, Texas February 2002
• Presenter with Inns of Court Team, "2002 SAPCR Olympics," Burta Rhodes Raborn Inns of Court, 2002

• Texas, 1998
• Specialties and Certifications
• Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

• State Bar of Texas (Member)
• Houston Bar Association - Family Law Section (Member and Board Member)
• State Bar College (Member)
• Burta Rhodes Raborn Family Law Inns of Court (Member)
• Texas Association of Family Law Specialists (Member)
• Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists (Member and Past President 2011-2012)
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
• Houston Bar Association, 2012 - 2014 (Treasurer)