Sachse, TX Divorce Attorney

Texas Divorce Lawyer Guiding Dallas and Collin County Clients Through Every Stage of Divorce

Divorce can affect your property, finances, and relationship with your children. The decisions you make early will shape your final agreement or court order. At Moore Family Law, P.C., we want to help you understand what Texas law allows and what information you need to protect your interests.

Sachse sits in both Dallas and Collin counties. Your divorce will generally be filed in a county where you or your spouse has lived for at least 90 days, as long as one of you has also lived in Texas for at least six months. Our Sachse divorce attorney has more than 20 years of legal experience. Philip W. Moore will walk you through property division, parenting issues, support, and other disputes that may arise during your divorce.

How Does Texas Law Divide Marital Property?

In general, Texas law says that anything you obtained during the marriage is community property. To prove that an asset is separate property, such as something you owned before marriage or received as a gift or inheritance, you will need strong proof.

Any property categorized as community assets or debts will be divided in a way that is just and right. That does not always mean a 50/50 split. The judge will look at several factors when considering how to split assets. Examples include your earning ability, health, fault in the breakup of the marriage, and the size of each spouse's separate estate.

How Do Hidden Assets and Financial Misconduct Affect Divorce in Texas?

Financial disputes become harder when your spouse controls records or moves money without your knowledge. If your spouse improperly gives away, spends, or transfers community property, the court may find fraud on the community.

The court can calculate what your marital estate would have been worth without the misconduct. You may then receive a larger share of the remaining property, a money judgment, or both.

Unexplained withdrawals, transfers to relatives, or sudden changes in business income can raise concerns about hidden assets. However, we can use discovery to obtain bank records, tax returns, business records, and other financial information.

How Are Child Custody and Child Support Handled?

If you have children, your divorce will address child custody, known in Texas as conservatorship and possession and access, and child support. Conservatorship covers your rights and responsibilities as a parent, while possession and access determines when your child spends time with each parent.

You and your spouse may agree on a parenting plan, or the court can create one based on your child's best interests. Your order may address where your child primarily lives, how major decisions are made, holiday schedules, and transportation.

Child support is generally based on the paying parent's net resources and the number of children being supported. Your order may also address health insurance, medical expenses, and other child-related costs. Because these terms can affect your family for years, you want an experienced lawyer working with you to ensure the final order is clear and workable.

What Makes a Divorce More Complex?

Some divorces involve assets that require more investigation. For example, a divorce for business owners may require you to determine what part of a company is community property, what the business is worth, and whether income has been reported accurately.

A high-net-worth divorce may involve investment property, retirement accounts, stock options, deferred compensation, and other valuable assets. We often work with financial experts in these cases to value the business, trace property, and determine how an asset should be divided.

These cases often take longer because you need a complete financial picture before you can make informed decisions.

Contested and Uncontested Divorce Cases in Texas

If you and your spouse agree on property, parenting, support, and the other terms of your divorce, an uncontested divorce can usually be resolved with less time and expense. Even when you agree, your final decree should clearly state both sides' rights and obligations.

Your divorce may become contested when you disagree about finances, children, or other important issues. If your spouse refuses to provide records, ignores temporary orders, or will not negotiate reasonably, a high-conflict divorce may require discovery, hearings, and other court action.

Spousal maintenance may also become an issue. Texas limits who qualifies for court-ordered maintenance and places limits on the amount and duration, although you and your spouse may negotiate different support terms by agreement.

A same-sex divorce may involve the same issues, although disputes can arise over when your marriage or property rights began.

Talk to Our Sachse, TX Divorce Lawyer Today

At Moore Family Law, P.C., we prepare divorce cases as though they will be tried, because that preparation is what produces realistic settlements. Our award-winning attorney has earned more than 100 five-star reviews from clients across Dallas and Collin counties. Contact our Sachse, Texas divorce attorney at 214-764-8033 to schedule a consultation.