Charla Hopkins Bradshaw is an American family-law attorney known professionally as Charla Bradshaw. Based in Denton, Texas, she has built a long legal career handling divorce, child custody, complex property division, mediation, and other family-law matters.
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw is a shareholder at KoonsFuller, a Texas firm focused on family law. She is board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has received professional recognition from legal publications and peer-review organizations.
She has also written and spoken extensively about divorce and family-court issues. Her published work includes the co-authored book Protecting Your Assets from a Texas Divorce and articles addressing pets, children, property, and relationships during divorce.
Outside the legal profession, Bradshaw is known as the former wife of retired NFL quarterback and broadcaster Terry Bradshaw. They have two daughters, Rachel and Erin Bradshaw.
Profile Summary
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Charla Hopkins Bradshaw |
| Professional name | Charla Bradshaw |
| Profession | Family-law attorney, mediator, author, and speaker |
| Law firm | KoonsFuller |
| Position | Shareholder |
| Primary location | Denton, Texas |
| Legal specialty | Family law |
| Board certification | Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization |
| Undergraduate education | Texas Woman’s University |
| Undergraduate degree | Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude |
| Law school | Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law |
| Law degree completed | 1993 |
| Licensed jurisdiction | Texas |
| Notable book | Protecting Your Assets from a Texas Divorce |
| Former spouse | Terry Bradshaw |
| Marriage | 1983–1999 |
| Children | Rachel Bradshaw and Erin Bradshaw |
Early Life and Background
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw is a native of Denton, Texas. Public professional biographies focus primarily on her education and legal work rather than on her childhood or private family background.
She attended Texas Woman’s University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987. She graduated summa cum laude, reflecting a strong academic record before entering law school.
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw later studied at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law. She completed her legal education in 1993 and was admitted to practice in Texas that year.
Her professional biography also notes additional education in marriage and family therapy. This background supports her understanding of the emotional and interpersonal issues that often accompany divorce, custody disputes, and other family-law proceedings. It does not, however, establish that she practices as a licensed therapist.
Career and Professional Journey
Beginning Her Legal Career
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw began practicing law in Texas in 1993. She chose family law as her primary area of specialization.
Family-law cases often involve a combination of legal, financial, and personal concerns. Bradshaw’s work has included matters involving spouses, parents, children, grandparents, business owners, and individuals with substantial or complicated assets.
Her practice covers both negotiated settlements and contested courtroom proceedings. Depending on the case, she may work through litigation, mediation, arbitration, or collaborative-law methods.
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Work at KoonsFuller
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw is a shareholder at KoonsFuller, a Texas law firm dedicated to family-law matters. She works primarily from the firm’s Denton office while representing clients across the state.
Her practice includes divorce, child custody, visitation, property division, modifications, enforcement proceedings, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
Complex property cases may require the identification and valuation of businesses, real estate, investments, retirement accounts, and other marital assets. Bradshaw’s work in this area combines legal analysis with negotiation and, when required, courtroom advocacy.
She also represents parties in disputes involving parents and grandparents. These cases may address conservatorship, possession schedules, support obligations, or changes to earlier court orders.
Board Certification in Family Law
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw is board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Board certification is a professional credential awarded to Texas attorneys who meet substantial experience requirements, receive favorable evaluations, complete continuing legal education, and pass a specialty examination.
The certification distinguishes her as a lawyer with demonstrated knowledge and experience in Texas family law.
Mediation and Collaborative Law
Not every divorce or custody case proceeds to a full trial. Bradshaw’s professional work also includes mediation and collaborative family law.
Mediation allows the parties to negotiate with the assistance of a neutral professional. Collaborative law provides a structured process in which the parties and their attorneys attempt to resolve disputes without traditional courtroom litigation.
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw is a certified mediator and a member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas. Her experience in both negotiation and litigation allows her to work within different dispute-resolution formats.
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Professional Organizations
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw is involved in several legal organizations connected to family and matrimonial law.
She is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers. These organizations bring together experienced attorneys who handle divorce, property, custody, and cross-border family-law matters.
She has also participated in the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section, the Texas Family Law Foundation, and the Denton County Bar Association.
Her community involvement has included service on the City of Denton Board of Ethics.
Legal Education and Public Speaking
Bradshaw has regularly presented at continuing legal-education programs for attorneys. These programs help lawyers remain informed about legislative changes, court decisions, professional responsibilities, and developing practices.
She previously served as director of the State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, a major educational program for lawyers practicing in the field.
Her speaking work has addressed topics relevant to divorce, children, property, litigation, and family-court procedure.
Books and Legal Writing
Protecting Your Assets from a Texas Divorce
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw co-authored an updated edition of Protecting Your Assets from a Texas Divorce. Her fellow authors included KoonsFuller attorneys Ike Vanden Eykel, Rick Robertson, and Heather King.
The book examines the financial and legal issues that can arise when a marriage ends in Texas. Its subjects include property characterization, business interests, real estate, retirement benefits, taxes, support, mediation, and enforcement of divorce orders.
It was designed as a practical guide for people seeking to understand how divorce may affect their financial position.
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw was credited in the published edition as Charla Bradshaw Conner, reflecting the professional name she used at that time.
“Who Gets the Family Pet in a Divorce?”
Bradshaw wrote the article “Who Gets the Family Pet in a Divorce?” for Good Life Family Magazine in 2019.
The piece explains that pets are generally treated as personal property under Texas divorce law. It also discusses disputes over separate and community property, shared arrangements between former spouses, expenses associated with animals, and the inclusion of pets in protective orders.
Despite being described as a book in some online biographies, “Who Gets the Family Pet in a Divorce?” is a magazine article.
Other Publications
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw has written about a range of family-law and post-divorce subjects.
Her work has addressed child-custody decisions, holidays after family-court proceedings, dating following divorce, legal disputes during the COVID-19 period, and the effects of adult conflict on children.
In a Texas Bar Journal article about holidays after family court, she emphasized planning, respectful communication, and the importance of protecting children from disputes between adults.
Her articles translate legal principles into practical guidance for parents, spouses, and families navigating separation or court orders.
Marriage to Terry Bradshaw
Charla Hopkins married Terry Bradshaw in 1983. He had already completed his professional football career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and had become one of the most recognized quarterbacks in NFL history.
Terry Bradshaw won four Super Bowls with Pittsburgh and was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Following his playing career, he became a prominent sports broadcaster and television personality.
Charla and Terry Bradshaw were married for approximately 16 years. Their divorce was finalized in 1999.
Reliable public sources do not provide a complete account of their private relationship or the circumstances surrounding the divorce. Those matters should not be interpreted through speculation or later entertainment coverage.
Children and Family
Rachel Bradshaw
Charla and Terry Bradshaw welcomed their first daughter, Rachel Bradshaw, in 1987.
Rachel later pursued a career as a country singer and songwriter. She attended Belmont University and appeared on the reality programs Nashville and The Bradshaw Bunch.
In 2014, Rachel married Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas. He died in a car crash several months after their wedding.
Rachel subsequently returned to music and released a self-titled EP in 2022. She married Chase Lybbert in 2023.
Erin Bradshaw
The couple’s second daughter, Erin Bradshaw, was born in 1989.
Erin became a competitive equestrian and has earned recognition in the horse industry. She married horse trainer Scott Weiss in 2017, and they work with horses together.
Erin also appeared with her father and sister on The Bradshaw Bunch. She and Weiss later welcomed a daughter.
Family Privacy
Although Rachel and Erin have public careers, Charla Bradshaw has generally kept her own family life separate from her legal work.
Her professional profiles focus on her qualifications, publications, clients, and service to the legal community rather than on reality television or celebrity coverage.
Major Achievements and Recognition
Long-Term Recognition by Best Lawyers
Bradshaw has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for family law over multiple years.
She was also named the publication’s Lawyer of the Year for Family Law Arbitration in the Dallas–Fort Worth region for 2024.
These recognitions are based on peer-review processes within the legal profession.
Texas Super Lawyers
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw has been selected repeatedly for the Texas Super Lawyers list.
She has also appeared on its lists of leading women attorneys, Texas lawyers, and Dallas–Fort Worth practitioners. The selections reflect peer nominations and professional evaluations rather than court-awarded titles.
Martindale-Hubbell Rating
Bradshaw holds an AV Preeminent peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
The designation is the organization’s highest rating for legal ability and professional ethics.
Professional Leadership
Her leadership work includes continuing legal education, participation in specialist family-law organizations, and service within the Texas legal community.
Bradshaw’s work as a speaker and writer has allowed her to contribute beyond her individual client practice. Her publications provide guidance on both technical property issues and the personal consequences of family disputes.
Independent Professional Identity
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw is frequently mentioned in general-interest media because of her former marriage to Terry Bradshaw.
Her professional record, however, is independent of that relationship. Her board certification, legal practice, publications, mediation work, organizational leadership, and peer recognition form the principal basis of her career.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Charla Hopkins Bradshaw?
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw is a Texas family-law attorney professionally known as Charla Bradshaw. She is a shareholder at KoonsFuller and is board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Where did Charla Bradshaw study?
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, from Texas Woman’s University in 1987. She completed her law degree at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law in 1993.
What type of law does Charla Bradshaw practice?
Bradshaw practices family law. Her work includes divorce, child custody, complex property division, mediation, collaborative law, marital agreements, and enforcement or modification proceedings.
What books has Charla Bradshaw written?
She co-authored Protecting Your Assets from a Texas Divorce. “Who Gets the Family Pet in a Divorce?” is a magazine article written by Bradshaw, not a separate book.
Who are Charla Hopkins Bradshaw’s children?
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw and her former husband, Terry Bradshaw, have two daughters: country singer-songwriter Rachel Bradshaw and equestrian Erin Bradshaw.
Conclusion
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw is an experienced Texas family-law attorney whose career includes litigation, negotiation, mediation, legal education, and professional writing.
After graduating summa cum laude from Texas Woman’s University, she earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University in 1993. She later became a board-certified family-law attorney and a shareholder at KoonsFuller.
Her publications include the co-authored book Protecting Your Assets from a Texas Divorce and the article “Who Gets the Family Pet in a Divorce?” She has also written and spoken about custody, children, property, and life after divorce.
Charla Hopkins Bradshaw was married to former NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw from 1983 to 1999. They have two daughters, Rachel and Erin. While that marriage contributed to public interest in her life, Bradshaw’s legal qualifications and decades of work in Texas family law define her independent professional career.
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