High Net Worth Divorce Lawyer in Southlake, TX

A high net worth divorce in Southlake involves dividing substantial assets, often including business interests, real estate portfolios, retirement accounts, and investments accumulated over years of marriage. Texas is a community property state, which means courts presume that most assets acquired during the marriage belong to both spouses equally. When significant wealth is at stake, the margin for error is slim, and the consequences of a poorly handled divorce can follow you for decades.

Southlake is home to successful professionals, business owners, and executives who have worked hard to build their wealth. The affluent neighborhoods surrounding Southlake Town Square, the country clubs, and the custom homes represent more than financial success. They represent your life’s work. A divorce attorney who understands complex asset division can help protect what you’ve built while positioning you for a stable financial future.

Schedule a consultation with a Southlake divorce attorney who handles complex financial matters.

What Makes a Divorce “High Net Worth”?

While there’s no official legal threshold, a high net worth divorce generally involves a marital estate valued at $1 million or more. In Southlake and the surrounding areas of Northeast Tarrant County, these cases frequently involve estates worth several million dollars or more.

High net worth divorces typically include one or more of the following:

• Ownership interests in private businesses or professional practices
• Stock options, restricted stock units, and executive compensation packages
• Multiple real estate holdings (primary residence, vacation homes, rental properties)
• Substantial retirement accounts, pensions, and deferred compensation plans
• Investment portfolios, brokerage accounts, and alternative investments
• Cryptocurrency holdings and digital assets
• Collectibles, art, jewelry, and other valuable personal property

The complexity of these assets is what sets high net worth divorces apart. A family home can be appraised in an afternoon. A privately held business might require months of forensic analysis to value accurately.

How Texas Law Divides Property in Divorce

Under Texas Family Code § 7.001, courts must divide the community estate in a manner that is “just and right.” This does not mean an automatic 50/50 split. Judges have considerable discretion to award a disproportionate share of the estate to one spouse based on factors like fault in the breakup of the marriage, disparities in earning capacity, and the needs of any children.

The first step in any property division is characterizing each asset as either community property or separate property. Under Texas Family Code § 3.001 and § 3.002, community property includes virtually everything acquired during the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the title. Separate property includes assets owned before marriage, inheritances, and gifts received by one spouse alone.

In high net worth cases, the lines between community and separate property often blur. A business started before marriage may have grown substantially using marital labor and community funds. An inheritance might have been deposited into a joint account. These issues require careful tracing and documentation.

Talk to a lawyer about protecting your separate property claims.

Business Valuation in High Net Worth Divorce

For many Southlake couples, a family business or professional practice represents the largest single asset in the marital estate. Valuing a business in divorce is both an art and a science, and the methodology used can dramatically affect the final number.

Common valuation approaches include the income approach (based on projected future earnings), the market approach (comparing the business to similar companies that have sold), and the asset approach (calculating the value of tangible and intangible assets). Each method can produce vastly different results, and spouses often hire competing experts who reach different conclusions.

Beyond the headline value, courts must consider whether the business is community property, separate property, or a mixture of both. Personal goodwill (the value tied to an owner’s individual reputation and relationships) is typically treated differently than enterprise goodwill (value that would transfer to a new owner). In Texas, personal goodwill is often excluded from the community estate, which can significantly reduce the value subject to division.

If you own a business or professional practice, having legal counsel who understands these valuation issues is not optional. It’s essential.

Hidden Assets and Financial Discovery

High net worth divorces occasionally involve one spouse attempting to hide or undervalue assets. This might include transferring funds to family members, underreporting income from a cash business, hiding cryptocurrency in undisclosed wallets, or failing to disclose offshore accounts.

Texas law provides robust discovery tools to uncover hidden assets. These include formal interrogatories, requests for production of documents, subpoenas to financial institutions, and depositions. In complex cases, forensic accountants can trace funds, analyze tax returns for inconsistencies, and identify red flags that suggest concealment.

Courts take asset concealment seriously. A spouse caught hiding assets may face sanctions, and the court may award a disproportionate share of the estate to the other spouse as a result.

Spousal Maintenance in Texas

Texas is not a state that awards generous alimony. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 8, spousal maintenance is limited in both amount and duration. The maximum amount is the lesser of $5,000 per month or 20% of the paying spouse’s gross monthly income, and the maximum duration ranges from five to ten years depending on the length of the marriage.

To qualify for spousal maintenance, a spouse must demonstrate that they lack sufficient property to meet minimum reasonable needs and meet one of several qualifying conditions (such as a marriage lasting ten years or more, disability, or family violence). Given these restrictions, property division often matters more than spousal support in high net worth cases.

That said, spouses can agree to contractual alimony (sometimes called “spousal support”) that exceeds these statutory limits. A skilled negotiator can sometimes secure more favorable support terms through settlement than would be available through litigation.

Discuss your options with a Southlake family law attorney.

Retirement Accounts and Deferred Compensation

401(k) plans, IRAs, pensions, and deferred compensation packages are frequently among the most valuable assets in a high net worth estate. These accounts require special handling in divorce.

Dividing a qualified retirement plan like a 401(k) or pension requires a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), a court order that directs the plan administrator to pay a portion of the benefits to the non-employee spouse. QDROs must meet specific federal requirements, and errors in drafting can result in tax penalties or lost benefits.

Stock options and restricted stock units present additional challenges. Courts must determine whether unvested options are community or separate property (often using a time-rule analysis) and decide how to divide them. In some cases, the employee spouse keeps the options and compensates the other spouse with different assets. In others, the court orders division of the proceeds when the options vest or are exercised.

Protecting Your Interests During the Process

A high net worth divorce can take a year or longer to resolve. During that time, you need to protect your financial position without violating court orders or damaging your case.

Key steps include:

• Gathering and copying financial records (tax returns, bank statements, investment statements, business records)
• Creating an inventory of all assets and debts
• Establishing individual credit in your own name
• Avoiding large purchases or asset transfers that could be challenged
• Maintaining the status quo on joint accounts pending court orders

In contentious cases, the court may issue temporary orders that freeze assets, establish temporary support, and set ground rules for the divorce. These orders are legally binding, and violating them can have serious consequences.

The Divorce Process in Tarrant County

Southlake sits in Tarrant County, and divorce cases are heard at the Tarrant County Family Courts in downtown Fort Worth. The process typically follows this timeline:

First, one spouse files an Original Petition for Divorce with the court. Texas has a mandatory 60-day waiting period before a divorce can be finalized, though high net worth cases almost always take longer.

Next comes discovery, where both sides exchange financial information through formal requests. This phase can take several months in complex cases. During this time, temporary orders may govern issues like support, use of the marital home, and interim possession of assets.

Most cases resolve through negotiation or mediation rather than trial. Mediation involves a neutral third party who helps the spouses reach a settlement. If mediation fails, the case proceeds to trial, where a judge decides all contested issues.

Throughout the process, having an attorney who understands both family law and the financial complexities of high net worth estates is critical. The legal strategy and the financial strategy must work together.

Talk to a lawyer who handles complex divorce cases in Tarrant County.

Why Choose Varghese Summersett for Your High Net Worth Divorce

Varghese Summersett is a full-service law firm with offices in Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston, and Southlake. Our family law team handles complex divorce cases involving substantial assets, business interests, and high-stakes negotiations.

We work with forensic accountants, business valuation experts, and financial planners to build a complete picture of the marital estate. We understand that every dollar matters and that protecting your financial future requires both legal expertise and strategic thinking.

Our firm has more than 70 team members across four Texas offices, and we bring the resources of a large firm with the personal attention of a smaller practice. We handle cases across North Texas, including Southlake, Keller, Colleyville, Westlake, Trophy Club, and the surrounding communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a high net worth divorce take in Texas?

While the minimum waiting period is 60 days, most high net worth divorces take six months to two years or longer. Complex asset valuation, discovery disputes, and contested issues can extend the timeline significantly.

Can I protect assets I owned before marriage?

Yes. Assets you owned before marriage are generally your separate property and are not subject to division. However, you must prove the asset’s character through documentation and tracing. Commingling separate property with community funds can complicate these claims.

What if my spouse is hiding assets?

Texas law provides extensive discovery tools to uncover hidden assets, including subpoenas, depositions, and forensic accounting. If your spouse is caught concealing assets, the court may impose sanctions and award you a larger share of the estate.

Will I have to go to trial?

Most divorces settle before trial through negotiation or mediation. However, if you and your spouse cannot agree on key issues, a judge will make the final decisions. Having an attorney who is prepared for trial can improve your negotiating position even if you ultimately settle.

How is a business divided in a Texas divorce?

The court first determines whether the business is community or separate property. Then, experts value the business using income, market, or asset approaches. The court may award the business to one spouse and compensate the other with different assets, or it may order other arrangements depending on the circumstances.

Protect What You’ve Built

A high net worth divorce is not the time to take chances. The decisions made during this process will shape your financial future for years to come. If you’re facing divorce in Southlake or the surrounding areas, talk to an attorney who understands complex property division and has the resources to handle sophisticated financial matters.

Call (817) 203-2220 to schedule a consultation with a high net worth divorce attorney today.