Complex Property Division

Your Houston Attorney in Divorces Where Property Division Is Contested

Couples with significant assets or complex marital estates have a lot at stake in a divorce. Absent any premarital agreement, the couple is left with Texas' community property laws to determine how their property should be distributed.

I have been practicing as divorce lawyer for more than 25 years, and I am board certified as a family law attorney by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I have the knowledge, skill and judgment to effectively handle both contested and uncontested divorces with complex marital estates.

If you have questions about marital property division in Texas or need an experienced attorney to advocate for your interests in divorce, contact my Houston law office to set up an appointment. Or, call 888-837-2157 for a free phone consultation.

Property Division: Dividing Complex Marital Estates

In Texas, if divorcing spouses do not have a premarital agreement and cannot negotiate a property settlement agreement, the court will divide marital property — community property — in a manner that it deems fair and just.

Any property owned before the marriage began is generally considered still to be owned separately — unless it was "comingled" with marital property. On the other hand, property acquired by either spouse during the marriage is typically considered marital property — with the exception of gifts or inheritances given to one spouse. There are exceptions to each of those rules.

Any type of property could be determined to be either community or separate property:

• Business interests
• Real estate interests
• Vacation homes
• Rental income
• Stock options
• Deferred incentives
• Dividends
• IRAs, 401k plans, other retirement or pension plans
• Personal property (collections, artwork, jewelry, vehicles, etc.)
• Other significant assets

Questions of how to categorize individual items are only magnified in more complex marital estates. Frequently each spouse brought significant assets to the marriage. They may have started a professional practice or a family owned partnership before the marriage but continued to build it during the course of the marriage.

If your divorce involves questions of substantial or complex property division, I can provide sound advice and skilled representation. I have handled divorces that involved intense negotiations as well as in cases that proceeded to trial.

I have used my experience over the years to ensure my clients' interests are fully protected by locating hidden assets, obtaining proper business valuations and property appraisals, and utilizing other resources to make certain that all assets are carefully considered and assessed. Additionally, I am skilled in resolving disputes over the determination of assets as separate or community property.

Contact Us

For sophisticated divorce representation, contact my Houston law firm by e-mail to set up an appointment. Or, call 888-837-2157 or my after-hours voicemail at 281-506-0047.