BNI Preston CenterDallas, TX Visit us!

Mediator·Dallas, TXFor homes

John Polk

Polk Law Office4.710 Google reviews

Settle a divorce or custody case without a year in court

Attorney, mediator and parenting facilitator at Polk Law Office in Dallas. More than 25 years in Dallas family law, settling divorce and custody cases.

In business
More than 25 years
Service area
Dallas–Fort Worth
Licensed
Attorney and parenting facilitator
Member
since 2025

What John does

  • Divorce mediation
  • Child custody mediation
  • Parenting facilitation and coordination
  • Civil case mediation
  • Collaborative law
  • Family law representation
All services →

Problems John solves

  • A high-conflict divorce that will not settle
  • A custody dispute heading toward trial
  • Orders exist, but the co-parents keep fighting
  • Your lawyer needs a mediator who can hold a toxic case together
  • A civil dispute both sides would rather close than litigate

Who should call

  • Lawyers with a family or civil case that needs settling
  • Spouses worn down by a divorce or custody fight
  • Co-parents who need help making an existing order work

The best introductionA family law attorney with a toxic divorce or custody case that needs a mediator who can get both sides to sign.

10 guides by John

Answers John gives clients every week

All mediator guides
Mediator Your divorce or custody case has dragged on for a year: how mediation ends it Most family cases do not end in a courtroom. They end in a conference room, or on a Zoom call, when both sides decide the fight has cost enough. Here is how mediation works, what to bring, and how to tell whether your case is ready. 8 min read What questions should I ask a family law mediator before we book mediation? Before you book a family mediator: questions that show who can settle your case 7 min read Will a Dallas County family court order us to mediation before trial? Dallas County family courts and mediation: what the judge will expect before trial 7 min read Can we do divorce mediation without lawyers in Texas? Mediating a Texas divorce without lawyers: what works and what can go wrong 7 min read Can mediation work if my ex is high-conflict or there has been family violence? Mediating with a high-conflict ex: when it can work and when it should not 7 min read What is the difference between a parenting facilitator and a parenting coordinator in Texas? Parenting facilitator or parenting coordinator: which one fits your family 7 min read Is it true that a mediator decides the case, or that agreeing to mediate means giving in? Six things people believe about divorce mediation that are not true 7 min read Can we use mediation to change a custody or child support order in Texas? The custody order no longer fits: mediating a modification instead of a new fight 7 min read How much does divorce mediation cost in Dallas, and who pays the mediator? What divorce mediation costs in Dallas, and who pays the mediator 7 min read What happens after we sign a mediated settlement agreement in Texas? You signed a mediated settlement agreement: what happens before the final decree 7 min read

Why clients choose John

Proof, not promises

  • Attorney, mediator and parenting facilitator
  • More than 25 years practicing Dallas family law
  • More than 25 years of mediation experience
  • Parenting facilitator and coordinator for DFW families since 2012
  • Named a Rising Star by Texas Monthly
  • Featured as a divorce expert by NBC5 and WFAA
In business
more than 25 years

What clients say

Excerpts from public Google reviews of The Law Offices of John B. Polk. Read all 10 on Google.

★★★★★11 months ago

John Polk is professional, experienced, and extremely knowledgeable in every aspect of family law. His tenacity is unwavering when it comes to reaching a successful outcome for his clients, whether in consultations, mediations, or the courtroom. He is compassionate, committed, and driven, especially with regard to the safety and well being of his clients. I have and will continue to recommend his services to family and friends.

— Adrienne Coe
★★★★★11 months ago

Over the last ten years of emotional pain and crippling depression from having to fight for even FAIRNESS, John Polk not only helped me win a life that's best for my daughter, but he became a friend and trusted advisor. He truly cares about justice and I would not trust my children's future to anyone else. Without him I would still be getting overlooked by the Courts, the OAG, and would still be under the Mom's thumb because - it's TEXAS. Mr. Polk fought for my rights and have seen him fight for countless others. Thanks, John Polk. We need more Family Lawyers like you, sir.

— Jonathan Gates
★★★★★11 months ago

I have recommended John to many friends and family members over the past 25 years. He has helped with divorces, custody issues, wills and estate planning. The feedback is always that he is professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cares about getting the best possible outcome for them. If you need an attorney who will fight for you and get the job done right, this is the one to call.

— Jennifer Matison
Show 2 more reviews
★★★★★11 months ago

The legal expertise and guidance our family received from John was exceptional. His deep knowledge of the court system, combined with his strong moral and ethical approach, made us feel confident and supported throughout the process, ensuring that every decision was handled with both professionalism and compassion.

— Jenn Pison
★★★★★2 years ago

John is a phenomenal lawyer! He went to bat for me and got me everything I wanted and more. He truly cares about his clients and does everything in his power to ensure you receive a fair outcome. I trusted John and the process from day one and he did not disappoint. He has truly mastered his craft as a lawyer and I'm honored to have him in my corner representing me. It was an absolute pleasure working with him. I highly recommend!

— Rosza Brown

How it works

What happens after you reach out

  1. Book mediation Parties or their attorneys schedule a session through the contact page or by phone. Sessions are set around the parties' availability and the needs of the case.
  2. Mediate in person or over Zoom John works between the parties and their counsel toward a settlement that both sides can sign.
  3. Sign a final agreement A mediated settlement agreement is irrevocable. It cannot be altered or ignored, which ends the litigation.

In John's words

Situations John handles every week

A high-conflict divorce that will not settle

Two sides who cannot be in the same room still need a signed agreement. John has spent more than 25 years in Dallas family law and has resolved hundreds of cases through mediation, as an attorney and as the mediator. He takes the cases other approaches have failed to settle.

A custody dispute heading toward trial

Trial is public, slow and expensive, and the judge decides. Mediation is private, scheduled around the parties, and far less costly than a full trial. Any agreement reached in mediation is final and cannot be altered or ignored, which ends the litigation.

Orders exist, but the co-parents keep fighting

Bedtimes, activities and medical choices are rarely spelled out in a final order. As a parenting facilitator and coordinator since 2012, John helps co-parents resolve these day-to-day disputes, often in one or two Zoom meetings, before they turn into a new modification case.

A lawyer needs a mediator who can hold a toxic case together

Attorneys refer their hardest family matters to a mediator with the temperament and the trial background to keep both sides at the table. John has been described as a calm, solutions-focused attorney with the tenacity for high-conflict cases, and has been featured as a divorce expert by NBC5 and WFAA.

A civil dispute that both sides would rather close than litigate

Mediation is not limited to family cases. John also mediates other civil lawsuits for parties who want a confidential, flexible path to a settlement instead of a trial date.

Services

Everything John offers

Divorce mediationConfidential mediation aimed at a final, enforceable settlement of property, support and parenting issues.
Child custody mediationResolving conservatorship, possession and child support disputes outside the courtroom.
Parenting facilitationHelping co-parents resolve routine child-rearing disputes that court orders do not address, often in one or two Zoom meetings.
Parenting coordinationOngoing coordination for parents who struggle to make everyday decisions together after a divorce or breakup.
Civil case mediationMediation for parties in other civil lawsuits who want to settle rather than try the case.
Collaborative lawA series of confidential four-way meetings between both parties and their attorneys to reach agreement without court.
Family law representationDivorce, child custody and support, property division, spousal support, paternity, grandparent rights, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and interstate orders.
Simple wills and estate planningBasic wills and estate documents for families.

Service area: Dallas, Dallas–Fort Worth

About

John Polk

John Polk is an attorney, mediator and parenting facilitator at Polk Law Office on Turtle Creek Boulevard in Dallas. He has practiced Dallas family law for more than 25 years, with as many years in mediation, and has resolved hundreds of cases through mediation, as counsel and as mediator.

He takes the high-conflict divorce and custody cases other approaches have failed to settle, working toward a final, enforceable agreement in person or over Zoom. As a parenting facilitator and coordinator since 2012, he helps co-parents resolve the day-to-day disputes a court order does not spell out, often in one or two meetings, before they become new litigation.

Why clients choose John

  • More than 25 years in Dallas family law and hundreds of cases resolved through mediation
  • Takes the toxic, high-conflict divorce and custody cases that need settling
  • Mediated agreements are final and enforceable, and sessions run in person or over Zoom

Works alongside: Works with family law attorneys and civil litigators, and with friends and family of people in litigation who want to resolve their case amicably.

Member of BNI Preston Center since 2025.

FAQ

Questions people ask John

Does mediation work when the other side refuses to cooperate?

That is the kind of case John takes. He has resolved hundreds of family law matters through mediation, including high-conflict divorces and custody disputes, and more than 90 percent of family law matters are resolved through settlement or other alternative dispute resolution rather than trial.

Is a mediated agreement binding?

Yes. Any agreement reached in mediation is irrevocable. It cannot be altered or ignored, which is what ends the litigation.

Do we have to meet in person?

No. John mediates in person or over Zoom, and schedules around the parties' availability and the needs of the case.

What does a parenting facilitator do?

A parenting facilitator or coordinator helps co-parents resolve day-to-day child-rearing issues that final orders often do not address, such as bedtimes, activities and medical choices. Many issues are handled in one or two Zoom meetings. If the parents cannot agree, the facilitator can testify so the judge can decide what serves the child.

Can my attorney refer my case to John for mediation?

Yes. Lawyers in family and civil cases book mediation directly through the contact page or by calling 214-599-2020.

Contact

Reach John

CompanyPolk Law Office
Office2911 Turtle Creek Blvd., Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75219

Email goes through the referral form so the chapter can record the introduction.

Other members who also work for homes