Houston High Net Worth Divorce Lawyer

As experienced Houston high-net-worth divorce lawyers, the attorneys at Grimes & Fertitta have direct knowledge of the complexities inherent in a high-net-worth divorce in Houston. If you are a high-net-worth individual, hiring the right lawyer is the first crucial step in the divorce process. Divorce as a whole is a very complex and emotional process – you need an attorney who will both fight in your corner for what you deserve and be compassionate towards your situation. Divorce can be a long process, so you must have an expert on your side. Grimes & Fertitta is here to help you through your high net worth divorce in Houston. 

To learn more about the processes for high-net-worth divorces, call Grimes & Fertitta at (713) 224-7644 today.

Keep reading: How long does a divorce take in Texas?

What is a high net worth divorce? 

A high-net-worth divorce has traditionally been defined as a divorce involving more than one million dollars in net liquid assets – nowadays, it is more common for high-net-worth divorce cases to involve multiple millions of dollars.

Simply put, the more assets involved in a divorce, the more complicated filing for divorce in Texas gets — even if the separate parties are on good terms. A high-net-worth individual needs an experienced attorney to keep things smooth in even the most highly-contested divorce cases.

The Grimes & Fertitta attorneys are seasoned and skilled negotiators with a proven track record of successful divorce litigation. A close-knit and thorough firm, we work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for clients going through a high-net-worth divorce in Houston.

Protecting assets in a high-net-worth divorce in Houston

Texas is a community property state. This means that any property acquired after you and your spouse got married belongs to both spouses equally. Gifts given to just one spouse and damages earned in a personal injury settlement are two common exceptions to this rule.

Additionally, property acquired before the marriage may be viewed as separate property, meaning that it would not need to be split during a divorce.

​​Our Houston high-net-worth divorce lawyers can help protect the following assets:

• Bonds, stocks, and trusts
• Businesses
• Cars, motorcycles, boats, and other vehicles
• Cash assets
• Inherited wealth
• Investments, including investment real estate
• Marital homes, vacation homes, and other property
• Offshore assets
• Professional practices
• Retirement savings and pensions
• Valuables (art, family heirlooms, jewelry)

Of course, it’s impossible to “halve” an asset like a house or a car, so you and your attorney will need to work together to identify which assets you wish to fight for and which you may be willing to concede. Once these have been identified, you and your high-net-worth divorce lawyers in Houston can begin negotiations with the other party until a split each party finds suitable is found.

Common divorce issues: How your Houston high-net-worth divorce lawyer can help

When clients begin the search for divorce attorneys, they may look for a lawyer who has experience handling particular elements of divorce. For example, a dad in need of aggressive representation might look for a Houston fathers’ rights attorney, or high-net-worth individuals with more property than the average individual may look for property division attorneys in Houston to help handle their case.

The divorce attorneys at Grimes & Fertitta know the ins and outs of all these common divorce issues in addition to their valuable insight into issues particular to high-net-worth divorce in Houston.

In other words, while we are highly equipped to handle such issues as spousal support, child custody, child support, grandparents’ rights, we are also adept in more complex matters, including:

Splitting trusts

The issue of trusts is a particularly complex one when it comes to divorce. Whether you are seeking access to a partner’s trust or trying to protect your own, both attacking and protecting trust assets requires skill and, in many cases, longevity. Since many assets can be tied up in trusts, the stakes for this particular aspect of divorce can be particularly high.

Splitting businesses

The splitting up of a business can quickly become contentious and complicated. From determining the value of a business to establishing company assets to selling or keeping shares, every aspect of dividing a business requires knowledge of both the law and finances.

Issues with non-disclosure

High-net-worth divorces often involve one party attempting to downplay or hide their assets in an effort to get or save more money for themselves. For example, a spouse may attempt to move assets into a non-disclosed account or move their money offshore. In the event of a high-net-worth divorce, a prenuptial agreement can reduce complications involving finances.

A knowledgeable high-net-worth divorce lawyer can help their client uncover, track down, and (if necessary) freeze non-disclosed assets. In some cases where not all non-disclosed assets can be discovered, a lawyer can help convince a judge that such non-disclosed assets exist.

Other common issues include handling assets in multiple states or countries and issues regarding inheritance. For more information regarding issues with high-value assets, please see our article: “High-Asset Divorce: Mistakes to Avoid.”