Finding the Right Fort Worth Divorce Attorney for Your Case
If you’re facing divorce in Fort Worth, you need an attorney who knows Tarrant County courts inside and out. Our Fort Worth divorce attorney will protect your assets, fight for time with your children, and guide you through one of life’s most difficult transitions. At Varghese Summersett, our family law team combines years of local experience with the trial-ready preparation that forces better outcomes, whether your case settles or goes before a judge.
Divorce changes everything. Your finances, your daily routine, your relationship with your kids. We understand the fear and uncertainty you’re feeling right now. That’s why our Fort Worth divorce lawyers treat every case with the seriousness it deserves, preparing from day one as if we’re going to trial.
Why Fort Worth Families Choose Varghese Summersett for Divorce
Not every divorce attorney is built for high-stakes cases. Some firms process divorces like an assembly line. We take a different approach. Our attorneys provide honest evaluations and creative solutions because you deserve to know exactly where you stand before making decisions that affect the rest of your life.
Here’s what that means in practice: We’ll sit down with you and realistically assess your situation. We’ll explain how the facts of your marriage, including mistakes made and advantages earned, will likely impact your case. We won’t promise outcomes we can’t deliver. Instead, we’ll tell you the truth, then fight like hell for the best result possible.
Our Fort Worth family law team handles the full spectrum of divorce-related matters:
- Divorce (contested and uncontested)
- Child custody and conservatorship disputes
- Child support calculations and modifications
- Property and debt division, including complex assets
- Visitation orders and enforcement
- Temporary orders for immediate protection
- Modifications of existing court orders
- Spousal support and maintenance
What sets us apart? A Best Law Firms Tier 1 ranking for family law in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, recognition as Gold Winner for Best Divorce Lawyer and Best Family Law Firm in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s DFW Favorites, and a team of family attorneys who consistently appear on Fort Worth Magazine’s Top Attorneys list, selected by their peers.
But credentials only matter if they translate to results. A quick example: in 2023, we represented a Fort Worth business owner whose spouse initially demanded 70% of a family-owned manufacturing company. Through aggressive discovery and expert business valuation testimony, we demonstrated the company’s true separate property nature and negotiated a settlement protecting 85% of our client’s business interest. That’s what trial-ready preparation delivers.
What Makes a Divorce “Contested” vs. “Uncontested” in Texas?
Texas recognizes two paths to divorce. An uncontested divorce happens when both spouses agree on all major issues: property division, child custody, and support. These cases move faster and cost less. A contested divorce means you and your spouse disagree on at least one significant issue, and a judge may need to decide.
Most divorces start contested and become uncontested through negotiation. The key is having an attorney skilled enough to secure favorable terms before trial while prepared enough to win if negotiations fail.
Under Texas Family Code Chapter 6, you can file for divorce on “no-fault” grounds (insupportability, meaning the marriage has become insupportable due to conflict) or fault-based grounds including adultery, cruelty, felony conviction, or abandonment. Fault grounds can affect property division and spousal support awards.
How Texas Divides Property in a Fort Worth Divorce
Texas is a community property state, meaning most assets acquired during marriage belong equally to both spouses. But “equal” doesn’t always mean “50/50.” Under Texas Family Code Section 7.001, courts must divide community property in a manner that is “just and right.” Factors like fault in the breakup, each spouse’s earning capacity, and who has primary custody of the children can shift the division.
Separate property belongs only to you and stays out of the division. This includes assets you owned before marriage, gifts, and inheritances. The challenge? Proving something is separate property when it’s been mixed with community funds over years of marriage.
Fort Worth families often have complex assets that demand specialized handling. Our attorneys are particularly skilled at:
- Business valuations for entrepreneurs and executives where company value is a marital asset
- Tracing assets through commingled funds, working with forensic accountants to untangle years of mixed finances
- Executive compensation packages including stock options, RSUs, restricted stock, and deferred bonuses
- Oil and gas interests, ranch land, and multigenerational wealth common to North Texas families
In a recent Tarrant County case, we represented a spouse whose partner had systematically moved community funds into accounts titled in his name alone. Our forensic analysis uncovered $340,000 in hidden transfers over three years, resulting in a significantly more favorable property division for our client. When assets are being hidden, you need attorneys with the resources and expertise to find them.
Child Custody in Tarrant County: How Judges Decide
Texas law calls custody “conservatorship.” Most parents become Joint Managing Conservators, sharing decision-making rights for major issues like education, medical care, and religious upbringing. The parent with the right to determine the child’s primary residence typically has the children most of the time.
When parents can’t agree on custody, a Tarrant County judge will decide based on the child’s best interest. Under Texas Family Code Section 153.002, the court considers factors including each parent’s ability to care for the child, the child’s emotional and physical needs, any history of family violence, and (for older children) the child’s own preferences.
Judges in Tarrant County follow somewhat predictable patterns, and our attorneys know these tendencies from decades of practice in local courts. Some judges favor geographic restrictions keeping children close to Fort Worth. Others focus heavily on each parent’s work schedule and availability. This local knowledge shapes how we present your case and what custody arrangement we pursue.
For custody disputes involving domestic violence allegations, our firm brings unique capability. Our criminal defense background means we understand how to challenge false accusations and, when representing victims, how to document patterns of abuse that courts will credit.
How Long Does a Fort Worth Divorce Take?
Texas requires a minimum 60-day waiting period from the date you file until your divorce can be finalized. This is mandatory. Even if you and your spouse agree on everything, you cannot be divorced in Texas in less than 60 days.
Realistically, most contested divorces in Tarrant County take 6 to 12 months. Complex cases involving business valuations, hidden assets, or bitter custody disputes can extend to 18 months or longer. Uncontested divorces typically finalize within 60 to 90 days.
The timeline depends on several factors: how quickly you and your spouse can exchange financial information during discovery, whether you need expert witnesses for business valuation or custody evaluations, court availability for hearings, and how willing both sides are to negotiate.
Temporary Orders: Protection While Your Divorce Is Pending
Divorce cases don’t resolve overnight, but life doesn’t pause while you wait. Temporary orders establish rules for the period between filing and final decree. These court orders address immediate concerns: Who stays in the house? What happens to the children’s schedule? Who pays which bills? Can either spouse sell assets or empty bank accounts?
Under Texas Family Code Section 105.001, courts can issue temporary orders regarding child custody, child support, spousal support, possession of the family home, and use of property. These orders remain in effect until the final divorce decree replaces them.
Temporary orders hearings often set the tone for the entire case. The schedule established in temporary orders frequently becomes the permanent arrangement, because judges hesitate to disrupt children’s routines. Similarly, temporary spousal support can establish expectations that carry into final negotiations. We prepare for temporary orders hearings with the same intensity we bring to final trial.
What Will a Fort Worth Divorce Cost?
Divorce costs vary dramatically based on complexity and conflict level. At Varghese Summersett, we believe in transparent pricing. During your initial consultation, we’ll assess your situation and provide realistic cost expectations. We structure our representation to be efficient, not to run up bills. Our goal is the best outcome for you, not the longest case.
Factors that increase costs include: high conflict between spouses, complex assets requiring expert valuation, custody disputes requiring psychological evaluations, spouse hiding assets (requiring forensic accounting), and cases that go to trial rather than settling.
Protecting High-Profile Clients During Divorce
Fort Worth’s business and social communities are tightly connected. For executives, medical professionals, and prominent families, privacy during divorce is paramount. A contested divorce becomes public record, and allegations made in court filings can end up in the news or around dinner tables.
Our firm offers Collaborative Divorce, a private alternative to litigation. Both spouses and their attorneys commit to resolving issues without going to court. Discussions happen in private conferences, not public courtrooms. Financial details, personal struggles, and family conflicts stay confidential.
We also have an in-house media relations director who can manage press inquiries if a divorce involves high-profile allegations. When your reputation matters, both personally and professionally, you need lawyers who think beyond just the legal strategy.
Why Tarrant County Experience Matters in Your Divorce
Every Texas county has its own court culture. Tarrant County judges have individual preferences for how cases are presented, what evidence they find persuasive, and how they approach issues like custody and property division. A Dallas attorney unfamiliar with Fort Worth courts faces a learning curve that can hurt your case.
Our experience in Tarrant County allows us to know which judges prefer detailed written briefs versus oral argument. We know how local court coordinators schedule hearings and what the realistic timeline looks like for your type of case.
The Varghese Summersett family division operates out of our Fort Worth headquarters, supported by a firm of 70+ legal professionals. When your case needs a forensic accountant, a private investigator, or a child custody expert, we have established relationships with the best in the region.
Our Trial-First Approach to Divorce Cases
Most divorce cases settle. But the terms of your settlement depend entirely on what would happen if the case went to trial. If the other side believes your attorney isn’t prepared to try the case, they’ll offer worse settlement terms. Period.
Varghese Summersett was built on trial work. Our firm has handled over 600 jury trials across criminal, civil, and family matters, backed by more than 100 years of combined courtroom experience. That litigation DNA shapes how we approach every divorce case. We prepare as if we’re going to trial, because that preparation produces better settlements.
Many of our family law attorneys came from criminal prosecution backgrounds, which gives us a significant advantage in contested divorces. We are seasoned cross-examiners. This matters when deposing a difficult spouse about hidden assets, questioning their financial expert’s valuation methods, or challenging a custody evaluator’s recommendations. The other side’s lawyer knows whether your attorney can perform in court. When they know your lawyer has the skills and willingness to win at trial, they negotiate far more seriously.
This trial-ready posture often forces better settlement offers from opposing counsel who would rather negotiate than face our team in open court. You get the benefit of trial preparation without necessarily having to endure a trial.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Worth Divorce
Can I file for divorce in Fort Worth if I just moved here?
To file for divorce in Texas, you must have lived in the state for at least six months and in your county for at least 90 days. If you recently moved to Fort Worth, you may need to wait before filing in Tarrant County, or you may need to file in your previous county of residence.
Will I have to go to court during my divorce?
In an uncontested divorce, only one spouse typically needs to attend a brief “prove-up” hearing to finalize the divorce. In contested cases, you may need to attend multiple hearings for temporary orders, discovery disputes, and potentially a final trial.
Can my spouse and I use the same attorney?
No. Texas law prohibits an attorney from representing both spouses in a divorce because your interests conflict. However, one spouse may be unrepresented while the other has counsel. We strongly recommend both parties have their own attorney to protect their rights.
What happens to our house in the divorce?
The marital home is typically community property. Options include: one spouse buys out the other’s interest, you sell the home and split proceeds, or one spouse (often the custodial parent) remains in the home temporarily while ownership is decided later. What’s “just and right” depends on your specific circumstances.
How is child support calculated in Texas?
Texas uses a formula based on the paying parent’s net resources. For one child, the guideline amount is 20% of net monthly income; for two children, 25%; three children, 30%; and so on. Courts can deviate from guidelines based on the child’s special needs, the parents’ resources, and other factors outlined in Texas Family Code Chapter 154.
What if my spouse is hiding assets?
Hidden assets are more common than people realize, especially in high-income divorces. Warning signs include sudden “business losses,” unexplained transfers to family members, and cash businesses with inconsistent records. Our firm works with forensic accountants who specialize in tracing hidden funds. Texas courts take asset concealment seriously and can award a disproportionate share of property to the innocent spouse as a penalty.
Get Help from an Experienced Fort Worth Divorce Attorney
Divorce is one of life’s hardest chapters. The decisions you make now affect your finances, your children, and your future for years to come. You deserve an attorney who will fight for the best outcome while guiding you through the process with clarity and compassion.
Varghese Summersett’s family law team has earned recognition as a Best Law Firms Tier 1 practice for family law in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. We’ve been voted Gold Winner for Best Divorce Lawyer and Best Family Law Firm in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s DFW Favorites. Our attorneys consistently appear on Fort Worth Magazine’s Top Attorneys list for family law, selected by their peers.
But awards don’t resolve your divorce. Results do. Our team combines local court experience, trial-tested skills, and the resources of a 70+ person firm to protect what matters most to you.
Call (817) 203-2220 today for a confidential consultation. We’ll listen to your situation, explain your options, and help you take the first step toward your next chapter. The call is free. The advice could change everything.
