Charlotte Hopkins — often called Charla Hopkins — is an American family attorney, author, and businesswoman who is best known to the public as the former wife of NFL legend Terry Bradshaw. Their marriage lasted almost sixteen years and produced two daughters, Erin and Rachel Bradshaw. But reducing her to that marriage alone would miss the point: Hopkins built a respected, award-winning career in Texas family law that stands entirely on its own.
This biography covers who Charlotte Hopkins is, her early life and education, her marriage to and divorce from Terry Bradshaw, her children, her legal career and achievements, and what her life looks like today.
Quick Facts About Charlotte Hopkins
- Full name: Charlotte Hopkins
- Also known as: Charla Hopkins
- Born: April 17, 1962, United States
- Nationality: American
- Famous as: Family attorney; ex-wife of NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw
- Children: Erin Bradshaw, Rachel Bradshaw
- Profession: Family law attorney, author, businesswoman
- Current spouse: Rick Hagen
Early Life and Education
Charlotte Hopkins was born on April 17, 1962, in the United States. Details about her childhood are relatively private, which is not unusual for someone who entered public attention through marriage rather than through a celebrity career of her own.
What is well documented is her path into law. Hopkins earned her law degree from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, one of the well-regarded law schools in Texas. That legal education became the foundation for a career that would span more than two decades of active practice in family law.
Marriage to Terry Bradshaw
Charlotte Hopkins came into the national spotlight through her marriage to Terry Bradshaw, the veteran American football quarterback who played fourteen seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League. Bradshaw won four Super Bowl titles with the Steelers, became the first quarterback to win three and four Super Bowls, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
Their union lasted almost sixteen years and was described as a fruitful one. It produced two children — daughters Erin and Rachel Bradshaw — before the couple divorced in 1999. After the divorce, Charlotte removed Bradshaw from her name, a quiet signal that she intended to rebuild her public identity on her own terms.
Being associated with a public figure of Bradshaw’s stature inevitably brings attention, but unlike many people in that position, Hopkins did not get overshadowed or sidelined by it. She returned her focus to her own profession — and that is where the more interesting part of her story begins.
Children: Erin and Rachel Bradshaw
Charlotte’s two daughters with Terry Bradshaw have each built their own lives in the public eye. Rachel Bradshaw has pursued music and television work, while Erin Bradshaw is known in the equestrian world. Both daughters have appeared alongside their father in the family’s television projects, and Charlotte has maintained a close relationship with them through the years.
Charlotte Hopkins’ Legal Career
Following her legal education, Charlotte Hopkins built a full-time practice as a family attorney, working with KoonsFuller Family Law. Her practice areas cover the core of family law:
- Divorce and legal separation
- Child custody and visitation
- Paternity matters
- Property division
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
Over more than two decades of active practice, she has taken on hundreds of cases. Beyond the courtroom, she has been a commentator for local and national media on high-profile family law issues and has appeared on NBC5-TV for on-air discussions, including the advantages and disadvantages of “nesting” — the practice of separated parents taking turns living in the family home with the children.
She has also been featured in magazines such as Lantana Living and ARGYLE Living, and her professional leadership roles include:
- Chair of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
- Member of the State Bar of Texas District 14 Grievance Committee
- Certified mediator
- Member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas
- Member of the Texas Family Law Council Legislative Committee (since 2009), contributing to family law legislation in Texas
Awards and Recognition
Hopkins’ professional achievements have been recognized repeatedly by the Texas legal community:
- Best Divorce Attorney (2019, Denton County)
- Top 100 Super Lawyers in Dallas–Fort Worth (2005, 2014, 2016–2017, 2020)
- Top 50 Female Attorneys in Texas (2005, 2014, 2016–2020)
- Top Rated Lawyers in Texas (2019–2020)
- Best Woman Lawyers in Dallas (2010)
- Listed among the Best Lawyers in America by Best Lawyers, LLC (2011–2021)
That record — sustained across more than a decade — is the strongest evidence that her reputation in the legal field was earned in courtrooms and conference rooms, not on television.
Charlotte Hopkins as an Author and Businesswoman
Alongside her legal practice, Hopkins is also described as an author and businesswoman. Her writing and commentary draw on her long experience with family law, covering the practical and emotional realities of divorce, custody, and family restructuring — subjects where her professional perspective carries real weight.
Life After Divorce: Charlotte Hopkins Today
After her 1999 divorce from Terry Bradshaw, Charlotte Hopkins rebuilt a life centered on her career and family. She is now married to Rick Hagen. She continues to be recognized as one of Texas’s established family law practitioners, and her public profile today rests far more on her professional accomplishments than on the marriage that first brought her attention.
People Also Named Charlotte Hopkins
Because the name is shared, a quick note for clarity: the Charlotte Hopkins most people search for is the Texas family attorney described above. Other public figures with the same name include Dr. Charlotte Hopkins, a Lecturer in Marine Biology at the University of Hull whose research covers marine protected areas and fisheries, and Charlotte Everett Hopkins (1851–1935), an American philanthropist and social reformer. If you arrived here looking for one of them, the profiles above should point you in the right direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Charlotte Hopkins?
Charlotte Hopkins (also known as Charla Hopkins) is an American family attorney, author, and businesswoman, born April 17, 1962. She is best known publicly as the former wife of NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
How long was Charlotte Hopkins married to Terry Bradshaw?
Their marriage lasted almost sixteen years, ending in divorce in 1999.
Does Charlotte Hopkins have children?
Yes — two daughters with Terry Bradshaw: Erin Bradshaw and Rachel Bradshaw.
What does Charlotte Hopkins do for a living?
She is a family law attorney in Texas, practicing in divorce, child custody, paternity, property division, and prenuptial agreements, with additional roles as a certified mediator, author, and legal commentator.
Is Charlotte Hopkins remarried?
Yes. She is currently married to Rick Hagen.
What is Charlotte Hopkins’ net worth?
Reliable public figures are not available. Most published estimates are speculative; her income derives from her long-standing legal practice and related work.
Why Charlotte Hopkins’ Story Matters
Charlotte Hopkins’ story is, at its core, a story about identity. She entered public awareness through a famous marriage, but she built her lasting reputation through her own work: hundreds of family law cases, leadership roles in Texas legal institutions, and a shelf of professional honors spanning more than a decade. For anyone researching her — whether out of curiosity about Terry Bradshaw’s family or interest in family law — that professional record is the part worth remembering.
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