Southlake Divorce Attorney | Varghese Summersett

If you’re considering divorce in Southlake, you’re facing one of the most challenging decisions of your life. A Southlake divorce lawyer can help you understand your rights, protect your financial interests, and guide you through the process with as little conflict as possible. At Varghese Summersett, our family law team has helped hundreds of Southlake families resolve even the most difficult divorce cases.

Divorce in Texas involves dividing everything you’ve built during your marriage, from your home and retirement accounts to decisions about your children’s future. The stakes are high, and the decisions you make now will shape your life for years to come. You don’t have to face this alone.

Why Southlake Families Choose Varghese Summersett

Varghese Summersett has become Southlake’s trusted divorce law firm by combining highly sought-after legal talent with genuine community roots. Our Southlake office, located at 3120 Sabre Dr., Suite 110, serves families throughout Northeast Tarrant County who need skilled representation in high-stakes divorce and custody matters.

We’ve been honored as a Southlake Style Readers’ Choice “Top Law Firm” multiple years running, a recognition that comes directly from the residents we serve. This award isn’t something you can buy. It reflects what happens when a law firm consistently delivers results for local families.

Our team actively supports Carroll ISD and attends Dragon events throughout the year. We’re proud members of the Southlake Chamber of Commerce, and we sponsor cultural events that bring our diverse community together. When you hire a Southlake divorce attorney from Varghese Summersett, you’re hiring neighbors who care about this community’s families.

What Makes Divorce in Southlake Different

Southlake is not your average Texas suburb. The median household income ranks among the highest in the state, and many residents are business owners, executives, physicians, and professionals with complicated financial pictures. This creates unique challenges in divorce proceedings that require specialized knowledge.

Texas is a community property state, meaning assets acquired during marriage are generally divided equally. But “equal” doesn’t mean “simple.” When a spouse owns a business, holds unvested stock options, or has deferred compensation, determining what’s actually community property requires forensic accounting and valuation expertise. Our attorneys work with financial experts to ensure nothing is overlooked or undervalued.

Privacy matters deeply in communities like Southlake. Many of our clients know their neighbors, serve on school boards, coach youth sports, and participate in local organizations. The last thing they want is their personal matters becoming public knowledge or courthouse gossip. We structure our approach to protect your reputation while fighting for your interests.

How Texas Divorce Law Works

Texas is a “no-fault” divorce state, which means you don’t have to prove your spouse did something wrong to end your marriage. Under Texas Family Code § 6.001, you can file for divorce on the grounds of “insupportability,” meaning the marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict that cannot be resolved.

However, Texas also recognizes fault-based grounds for divorce, including adultery, cruelty, abandonment, felony conviction, and living apart for at least three years. While fault is not required, it can influence how property is divided and whether spousal maintenance is awarded. If your spouse’s conduct contributed to the breakdown of your marriage, a Southlake divorce lawyer can help you understand whether pursuing fault-based grounds makes sense for your situation.

To file for divorce in Texas, at least one spouse must have been a resident of the state for six months and a resident of the county where the divorce is filed for at least 90 days. Most Southlake residents file in Tarrant County, though some areas of Southlake fall within Denton County.

High-Net-Worth Divorce in Southlake

When substantial assets are at stake, you need attorneys who understand complex property division. Our team has handled divorces involving business valuations in the millions, intricate stock option calculations, and multi-property real estate portfolios across Texas and beyond.

Business Valuation and Division

Many Southlake residents own businesses or hold significant ownership stakes in companies. Under Texas Family Code § 3.002, a business started during marriage is generally community property, but determining its value requires expertise. Is the business worth its book value? Its market value? What about goodwill? Our attorneys work with certified business valuators to answer these questions and protect your interests.

In a recent case, we represented a Southlake business owner whose spouse claimed the company was worth $4 million. After our forensic analysis revealed accounting irregularities and market conditions that reduced the realistic value, we negotiated a settlement based on $2.1 million, saving our client nearly $1 million in the property division. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, but this case illustrates why proper valuation matters.

Executive Compensation Packages

Stock options, restricted stock units, deferred compensation, and retirement benefits create complicated division questions. Which portions are community property? How do you value unvested options? Can you transfer retirement funds without tax penalties?

Our attorneys have extensive experience with executive compensation in divorce. We understand the vesting schedules, tax implications, and transfer rules that govern these assets. This knowledge prevents costly mistakes that could affect your financial security for years. For more information, visit our high net worth divorce page.

Real Estate Portfolios

Southlake families often own multiple properties, including primary residences, vacation homes, and investment real estate. Each property requires proper valuation and strategic consideration about whether to sell, buy out a spouse’s interest, or retain for investment purposes.

Texas homestead laws add another layer of complexity. The family home receives special protection under Texas law, and decisions about the marital residence affect not just the divorce but potentially your property taxes and legal protections going forward.

If you have concerns about property division in your Southlake divorce, call (817) 203-2220 to speak with an attorney who understands the financial complexities involved.

Collaborative Divorce: A Private Path Forward

For Southlake couples who want to end their marriage without a courtroom battle, collaborative divorce offers a powerful alternative. This process keeps your family’s private matters out of the public court record while allowing both spouses to reach fair agreements on property division, custody, and support.

In collaborative divorce, both spouses hire specially trained attorneys and commit to resolving all issues through negotiation rather than litigation. If the process breaks down, both attorneys must withdraw, giving everyone a strong incentive to work toward solutions. Our Southlake attorneys include certified collaborative law practitioners who have helped dozens of local families transition through divorce with dignity intact.

Collaborative divorce works especially well when children are involved. Parents who will be co-parenting for years to come benefit from a process designed to preserve respect and communication. Rather than treating each other as adversaries, collaborative divorce treats you as partners solving a problem together.

The process typically takes three to six months and costs significantly less than a contested divorce. For Southlake families who value privacy, efficiency, and preserving relationships, it’s often the best path forward.

Child Custody for Southlake Families

When children are involved, custody (called “conservatorship” in Texas) will likely be your primary concern. Texas courts make custody decisions based on the best interest of the child, considering factors such as each parent’s relationship with the children, stability of proposed living arrangements, and the children’s own preferences if they are old enough to express them.

Southlake families often have specific concerns about maintaining their children’s stability. Your kids attend excellent schools in Carroll ISD, participate in competitive sports and activities, and have established friendships in the community. Our attorneys understand how to structure custody arrangements that protect these parts of your children’s lives.

Standard Possession Orders vs. Custom Schedules

Texas has a Standard Possession Order that serves as the default custody schedule. But Southlake families often need something different. Maybe both parents work demanding jobs with unpredictable schedules. Perhaps one parent travels frequently. Or you simply want more equal time than the standard order provides.

Our attorneys craft custom possession schedules that fit your family’s actual life. We’ve created arrangements that account for travel schedules, accommodate children’s extracurricular commitments, and maximize both parents’ meaningful time with their kids. Learn more about child custody in Southlake.

Child Support Calculations

Texas uses a formula to calculate child support based on the paying parent’s net monthly income. Under Texas Family Code § 154.125, the guideline amount is 20% of net resources for one child, 25% for two children, 30% for three children, 35% for four children, and 40% for five or more children.

However, these guidelines apply only to the first $9,200 of monthly net resources (as of 2024). For higher-income families, which are common in Southlake, the court may order additional support above the guideline amount if the child’s needs require it. Private school tuition, travel sports, tutoring, and enrichment activities all factor into what children actually need.

Our attorneys know how to present evidence of your children’s lifestyle and needs to ensure support orders reflect reality. For more information, visit our child support page.

Spousal Maintenance in Texas

Texas is more restrictive than many states when it comes to spousal maintenance. Under Texas Family Code § 8.051, a spouse may be eligible for maintenance only if they will lack sufficient property after the divorce to provide for their minimum reasonable needs and meet one of several specific criteria. These include marriages lasting at least 10 years where the spouse lacks earning ability, situations involving disability, or cases where the paying spouse was convicted of family violence.

Even when maintenance is awarded, Texas caps the amount at the lesser of $5,000 per month or 20% of the paying spouse’s gross income. The duration depends on the length of the marriage, ranging from five years for marriages lasting 10 to 20 years to 10 years for marriages lasting 30 years or more.

Because court-ordered maintenance is difficult to obtain in Texas, many divorcing couples negotiate contractual alimony as part of their settlement. Unlike court-ordered maintenance, contractual alimony can be for any amount and duration the parties agree upon. This is often a significant negotiating point in Southlake divorces where one spouse sacrificed career opportunities to support the family. Learn more about alimony and spousal support.

The Divorce Process in Tarrant County

Understanding the timeline and procedures helps reduce anxiety during an already stressful time. The divorce process begins when one spouse files an Original Petition for Divorce with the district court. The other spouse must be formally served with the petition and has until the first Monday after 20 days to file an answer.

Texas requires a minimum 60-day waiting period from the date a divorce petition is filed until the divorce can be finalized. This waiting period gives couples time to reconcile if they choose, but it also means even an uncontested divorce takes at least two months.

Most contested divorces in Tarrant County take six months to a year to resolve. Cases involving complex property division or custody disputes can take longer. Throughout the process, temporary orders may establish who lives where, how bills get paid, and how parenting time is divided while the divorce is pending.

Our attorneys have appeared before every family court judge in Tarrant County. This experience gives us insight into each judge’s preferences, procedures, and tendencies. We know which arguments resonate with specific judges and how to present your case most effectively in their courtroom.

Protecting Your Interests from Day One

The decisions you make early in a divorce affect everything that follows. Before filing or responding to a divorce petition, take these steps to protect yourself.

Gather financial documents including tax returns, bank statements, investment accounts, retirement statements, and business records. Texas law requires both spouses to disclose their finances, but having your own copies ensures nothing gets “lost” or overlooked.

Understand your household’s finances. Many spouses handle different aspects of the family’s money, and one spouse may have limited knowledge of the complete picture. Before separating, learn about all accounts, debts, and financial obligations.

Avoid making major financial changes. Large purchases, account closures, or asset transfers after separation create problems in divorce. Courts look unfavorably on spouses who dissipate assets or hide money, and such actions can affect the final property division.

Consider your children’s stability. If possible, keep their routines consistent while you and your spouse work through the divorce process. Courts notice which parent prioritizes the children’s wellbeing.

What to Expect From Varghese Summersett

At Varghese Summersett, we understand that divorce is more than a legal matter. It’s a life transition that affects every aspect of your well-being. Our family law team approaches every case with compassion, discretion, and a commitment to achieving results that allow our clients to move forward with confidence.

We have the resources to handle complex high-asset divorces involving business valuations, forensic accounting, and sophisticated property tracing. We also have the experience to guide families through custody disputes with sensitivity to the children’s needs.

Varghese Summersett has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing American companies three times. We’ve received the Richard L. Knight Rotary Minority Business Award for ethical leadership. D Magazine and Fort Worth Magazine have recognized us as “Best Law Firm” and “Best Place to Work.” These honors reflect our professional approach to running a law firm, and our growth comes from results and referrals, not advertising gimmicks.

We believe in providing honest assessments and realistic expectations from the start. We won’t make promises we can’t keep, but we will work tirelessly to protect your interests and help you achieve the best possible outcome given your circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a divorce take in Texas?

Texas requires a minimum 60-day waiting period from the date the divorce petition is filed. Uncontested divorces where spouses agree on everything can be completed shortly after this period. Contested divorces typically take six months to over a year, depending on the complexity of property division and custody issues.

How is property divided in a Texas divorce?

Texas is a community property state, meaning assets acquired during marriage are generally divided equally. However, “equal” requires accurate valuation of all assets, including businesses, retirement accounts, and real estate. Separate property (owned before marriage or received as gifts or inheritance) remains with the original owner.

Can I keep my divorce private in Southlake?

Collaborative divorce offers the most privacy because most matters are resolved outside the courtroom. For litigated divorces, certain records can be sealed, but court proceedings are generally public. Our attorneys help clients understand their privacy options and structure their cases accordingly.

What’s the difference between collaborative divorce and mediation?

In mediation, a neutral third party helps spouses negotiate, but each spouse may or may not have their own attorney. In collaborative divorce, both spouses have trained collaborative attorneys, and often work with neutral financial specialists and family counselors. Collaborative divorce provides more comprehensive support and professional guidance throughout the process.

What happens to our house in a divorce?

The marital home can be sold and the proceeds divided, one spouse can buy out the other’s interest, or the home can be awarded to one spouse as part of the overall property division. The best option depends on your financial situation, whether children are involved, and whether keeping the home is affordable for one spouse alone.

Divorce is one of life’s most stressful experiences. The uncertainty about your finances, your children, and your future can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to face it alone. At Varghese Summersett, we’ve helped hundreds of Southlake families through divorce. Call (817) 203-2220 today to schedule a confidential consultation with a Southlake divorce lawyer.