Wills, Trusts, and Estates Attorney in Austin

If your marital estate exceeds $1 million or involves sophisticated financial instruments, it’s generally classified as high-asset. A high-asset divorce typically involves one or both spouses with substantial assets. This may include business ownership, investment portfolios, multiple properties, retirement accounts, or high incomes. These cases often require expert valuations, complex financial disclosures, and strategic planning to ensure that the property is fairly divided.

Texas is a community property state, which means most assets acquired during the marriage are divided equally. However, equal does not always mean a 50/50 split. Courts will consider factors like earning potential, contributions to the marriage, and fault in the breakup. In high-net-worth cases, a thorough inventory of community and separate property is essential to ensure a fair and enforceable outcome.

If you suspect your spouse is hiding assets, notify your attorney immediately. We can initiate formal discovery, subpoena financial records, and work with forensic accountants to uncover undisclosed property or accounts. Hiding assets is illegal and can result in serious legal consequences. Courts in Travis and Williamson Counties take asset concealment seriously and may award a disproportionate share to the wronged spouse.

Community property includes most income and assets acquired during the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the title. Separate property includes assets acquired before the marriage, gifts, and inheritances. In high-asset divorces, disputes often arise over whether certain holdings are truly separate or have been commingled. We help clients trace assets and protect what’s rightfully theirs.

Business valuation involves analyzing financial records, market comparisons, and expert appraisals. Courts may classify the business (or a portion of its value) as community property and divide it accordingly. We work with valuation experts to determine the fair market value of your business and develop strategies for division—whether through buyouts, offsets, or co-ownership arrangements.

Retirement accounts and investments acquired during the marriage are generally considered community property. Dividing them often requires a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) and careful planning to avoid tax penalties. We coordinate with financial experts to ensure accurate valuations and division strategies that preserve long-term financial stability for our clients.

Yes. While Texas typically favors a 50/50 split of community property, courts may award an unequal division based on several factors, including:

• Unequal earning capacity

• Fault in the breakup (e.g., infidelity or abuse)

• Wasteful spending or hidden assets

• Future financial needs of each spouse

In high-net-worth divorces, judges have more discretion due to the complexity and value of the estate. At Law Offices of Sachee Nahata Arroyo, P.L.L.C., we advocate for fair outcomes that reflect the financial realities and legal rights of our clients.