Few issues in a Texas divorce are as tricky to navigate as the division of marital property. For this reason, we highly recommend you have an experienced divorce attorney on your side. They will be able to help you move through the process and will ensure that asset division is fair. If your property is divided unfairly, then it could make your new life more difficult than it needs to be.
Our Sugar Land divorce lawyers, here at Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers, can help you and your ex-spouse come to an amicable arrangement, saving you time, stress and energy. If this is not possible, then we will protect your interests in court proceedings. Here at Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers, we take the time to get to know your individual case, protect the attorney-client relationship and are committed to fighting for your rights and interests. Our goal is to give you the tools to move on to your new life with confidence.
Call us today at (713) 229-8855 to schedule a consultation with an experienced property division attorney.
Texas is one of nine community property states. This means that all property and debts are divided into personal and community (or marital) assets. Community property is presumed to belong equally to each party and may be subject to a 50/50 split. However, either party can fight for an equitable division if they have a “just and right” justification. A Sugar Land divorce lawyer will be important in helping you gather evidence for this.
As a community property state, assets in a Texas divorce are split into personal or community property.
Separate property continues to belong to each individual after marriage, it includes:
Community property is everything that was acquired during the course of the marriage. There is a presumption in Texas that community property should be divided evenly upon divorce. However, this presumption can be rebutted and the Judge may divide assets equitably if they see fit. You will need convincing evidence, and high-quality legal representation to fight your case. If you try to do this yourself, it could result in costly mistakes.
If there are assets that you don’t believe should be divided evenly, then you can fight to keep them. Contested divorce cases involving property division can quickly become complicated, so it is a good idea to seek an initial consultation with a law firm. Justifications for an equitable division include:
You deserve your fair share of bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, and other jointly owned property. However, while these assets are relatively straightforward, other assets are more difficult to divide. This is one of the areas where a Sugar Land property division lawyer can become invaluable, they will ensure you get your equal share of assets such as:
A common area of contention in divorce proceedings is splitting up retirement accounts and pension benefits. You will need to work out what should be considered marital property. A Judge will not approve your agreement if they do not believe it is “just and fair”, which could drag your divorce on for longer and wind up costing you further legal fees.
Spousal maintenance, often referred to as alimony, is another contested issue that could have a big impact on your future. In Texas, the court doesn’t automatically grant alimony, there needs to be a justification for it. Justification could include:
Even when one or more of these factors apply to your divorce, the requesting spouse will still need to make an effort to become self-supporting. Alimony is a complex matter, and the court may consider each spouse’s education, earning capacity, the health of all involved, who has custody of the children, and the length of the marriage. Whether you are fighting for alimony, or don’t believe that you should have to pay it, our Sugar Land property division lawyers at Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers can help.
“I can’t imagine I would have made it through my divorce, mentally or emotionally, without her. She is insanely intelligent and astute, she is on top of absolutely everything family law related, responsive, reassuring, and gives you confidence in a very unfamiliar world. She’s prompt, factual, strategic, and exactly what you hope for in a lawyer if not more. You can depend on her. Tina is also phenomenal in court. She found so many discrepancies in my ex’s attorney’s work. It was not only impressive, but revealed how detrimental things can be without a truly thorough lawyer like Tina.”
“Not one detail missed and with the situation where my children were at risk, the extra care and attention made all the difference to get full judgement in my favor. I highly recommend Matt and his team!”
“Skillern Firm is the best attorneys in Houston. He genuinely cares about his clients and his firm is diligent, hardworking and very through. I highly recommend him and do not have enough words to thank him for his extraordinary performance in getting justice for my family.”
“I have used several family law attorneys in the 10-17 years and my ex takes me back to court every year. I have worked with Matt Skillern, Caitlyn Thorpe, and Stacy Sawyer. I would never go elsewhere. If you want it done, and done right, do not hesitate to contact them. I have had terrible experiences with all of the family law attorneys I have dealt with outside of them. I only provide positive reviews so my bad experiences are not noted. If you want a positive and good experience, pls go there!”
“The communication is top notch from her to her staff. Her responses were quick at all times, and never left any questions unanswered. I always felt how important my case was to her. Caitlin is an amazing, trustworthy, brilliant, and beautiful human who truly cares about her clients and will fight hard for them. Caitlin isn’t scared to speak out and won’t sugarcoat anything. She knows family law extremely well and during trial always knew the facts of my case very well, was familiar with all details and effectively fought for my kid's rights. I couldn't have been happier with Caitlin and the outcome of my case. I only wish I would’ve hired her sooner, right when the divorce started. Anyone would be so lucky to have her as their attorney.”
Sugar Land property division lawyers are invaluable when it comes to negotiating the terms of an agreement, drafting the divorce decree, and ensuring court approval. It is essential that your interests are protected during a divorce, as these issues could affect you for the rest of your life. You need an attorney who is skilled in mediation but isn’t afraid to use litigation where necessary. At Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers, we are committed to protecting your rights and will move your divorce along as quickly as possible, without compromising.
Our Sugar Land property division attorneys at Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers have the skills, resources, and experience necessary to protect your future. Our practice areas include property division, child custody, high-asset division, and more. We also cover post-divorce issues such as divorce modification and contempt proceedings.
Give us a call today at (713) 229-8855 and arrange an initial consultation with a divorce attorney who is committed to your best interests.