Ronald W. Nelson

Ronald W. Nelson is the principal of Nelson & Yarnell and president of Ronald W Nelson PA in Overland Park, Kansas. He represents clients in complex family law trial and appellate matters, including divorce, child custody, parentage, support, and post-decree modifications. His practice also addresses nonmarital property questions and interstate or international child abduction matters. He assists families confronting contested legal questions affecting children, property, and future parenting arrangements.

Ronald earned a J.D., with honors, from Washburn University School of Law in 1981. He received a B.S. in Political Science, with a minor in Biology, from Kansas State University in 1978. After law school, he began in a trial and appellate practice focused on tort defense. He opened his own firm in 1987 and later concentrated his legal work on family law litigation and appeals.

Ronald has participated in more than 100 appellate cases and has handled complex child custody and support disputes in Kansas courts. He advises on cases involving the return of children after interstate or international abduction and is board certified in Family Law Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has also helped draft statewide Kansas family law forms and contributed to legislative revisions affecting custody, parentage, and procedure.

Ronald is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He has written chapters for the Practitioner’s Guide to Kansas Family Law and spoken frequently on domestic relations law. His service includes leadership in the Kansas Bar Association’s Family Law Section and participation in family law reform committees. Ronald W. Nelson combines courtroom representation, appellate experience, and professional involvement in Kansas family law development.

Law Office Affiliations

• Principal, Nelson & Yarnell
• Member, Kansas Bar Association
• Member, Family Law Section, Kansas Bar Association
• Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
• Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers
• President, Kansas Bar Association Family Law Section (2000)
• Member, Governing Council, American Bar Association Family Law Section (2000-2006)
• Chair, Johnson County Bar Association’s Family Law Bench–Bar Committee (2017)
• Board Member, Board of Managers, U.S.A. Chapter of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (2020-2024)
• Member, Family Law Section, American Bar Association
• Member, Johnson County, Kansas Bar Association
• Founding member, The Johnson County, Kansas Family Law American Inn of Court
• Member, Kansas Judicial Council’s Family Law Advisory Committee
• Member, Kansas Judicial Council Forms Review Committee

Licensed State

• Kansas

Education

• Washburn University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Kansas State University
  Bachelor of Science (BS) in Political Science, Minor in Biology

Awards & Badges