Ronald W. Nelson was born at Salina, Kansas, July 12, 1956. (See full curriculum vitae)

Ronald W. Nelson is the principal of Ronald W Nelson PA, which has its offices in Lenexa, Kansas. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1978 (B.S. Political Science, minor in Biology) and from Washburn University School of Law in 1981 (J.D., with honors). He began practicing law in 1981 with the law firm of Alder, Nelson & McKenna. He opened his own law practice in 1987 and associated with various other attorneys before establishing the current firm.

Mr. Nelson is recognized throughout Kansas and the United States as an expert in family law. He regularly writes articles for regional and national legal publications and he frequently presents seminars on complex issues in family law for local, regional, and national legal groups. He is a contributing author to the Practitioner’s Guide on Kansas Family Law, published by the Kansas Bar Association (1997 & supplements) with chapters on “Divorce, Separate Maintenance and Annulment” [Chapter 2], and “Child Custody, Parenting Time and Visitation” [Chapter 6]. He frequently testifies to the Kansas Legislature on issues effecting families in Kansas and on family law legislation. He was instrumental in significant revisions to Kansas child custody law and has helped improve family law practice and procedure in Kansas. In addition, Mr. Nelson works to improve access to the courts and has participated in the drafting of family law forms for Kansas statewide use.

Mr. Nelson is engaged in a civil trial and appellate practice that emphasizes client representation in complex divorce, non-marital, parentage and post-decree matters in addition to helping parents who seek the return of their children from interstate and international child abduction. Mr. Nelson has an extensive appellate practice and has participated in over eighty appellate cases.

Mr. Nelson practices law before all trial and appellate courts in the State of Kansas. He is admitted to practice before the Kansas Supreme Court (1981), the United States District Court for the District of Kansas (1981), the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri (2004), the Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals (1986), and the United States Supreme Court (1992). He is a member of the Johnson County, Kansas Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section), The Kansas Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section; Member, Legislative Committee 1991-present), and the American Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section; Member Law Practice Management Section; Member, Litigation Section; Member, Council of Appellate Lawyers) and he is a Fellow in both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Mr. Nelson served as President of the Kansas Bar Association Family Law Section for three terms between 2000 and 2004, and served on the Governing Council of the American Bar Association Family Law Section from 2000-2006.

Published Appellate Cases:

Teepak v. Learned, 237 Kan. 320 (1985) (comparative negligence and indemnity – inclusion of later tortfeasors in initial action)

Gould v. Taco Bell, 239 Kan. 564 (1986) (comparison of intentional fault)

Summers v. Montgomery Elevator, 243 Kan. 639 (1988) (attorneys fees –standards for assessment in frivolous civil action)

Santaniello v. Santaniello, 18 Kan. App. 2d 112 (1992) (grandparent visitation-burden of proof requirement)

Ellis v. Berry, 19 Kan. App. 2d 105 (1993) (non-marital property division and trial procedure)

Marriage of Welliver, 254 Kan. 801 (1994) (service of process requirements and considerations in granting default judgment)

Barnett v. Barnett, 24 Kan. App. 2d 319 (1997) (protection from abuse standards for children)

Marriage of Scott, 263 Kan. 638 (1998) (child support – imputing of income to residential parent)

Sokol v. Kansas S.R.S., 267 Kan. 740 (1999) (administrative standards on allegations of child abuse)

Marriage of Gordon-Hanks, 27 Kan.App.2d 987 (2000) (domestic relations case management standards)

Johnson v. Stephenson, 28 Kan.App.2d 275 (2000) (child custody – binding effect of parental agreement when there is a later dispute)

Marriage of Ronen, 29 Kan.App.2d 443 (2001) (child support – defining expenses included in basic child support amount)

Trolinger v. Trolinger, 30 Kan.App.2d 192 (2001) (protection from abuse standards for adults)

Marriage of Kopac, 30 Kan.App.2d 735 (2002) (spousal support – considerations in termination on basis of “cohabitation”)

Marriage of Jennings, 30 Kan.App.2d 860 (2002) (child custody – binding effect of parental agreement when there is a later dispute)

DeGraeve v. Holm, 30 Kan.App.2d 865 (2002) (grandparent visitation – burden of proof, upholding grandparent visitation)

Skillett v. Sierra, 30 Kan.App.2d 1041 (2002) (child support – financial considerations and adjustment; award of retroactive child support in parentage cases)

State ex rel. SRS v. Strotkamp, 30 Kan.App.2d 1143 (2002) (grandparent visitation – burden of proof, upholding grandparent visitation)

Graham v. Cirrocco, 31 Kan.App.2d 563 (2003) (physician non-competition agreements – validity and standards for court review)

Magstadtova v. Magstadt, 31 Kan.App.2d 1091 (2003) (International Child Abduction – standards for assessment of attorneys fees and expenses under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction of 25 October 1980)

Marriage of Ehinger, 34 Kan.App.2d 583 (2005) (spousal support – statutory power to modify spousal support)

Marriage of Hall, – Kan.App.2d – (2010) (insurance – court’s power to order cooperation with person seeking insurance on former spouse’s life)