Parker County Divorce Attorneys

Call (817) 497-8148 to Speak with a Parker County Divorce Lawyer

If you are faced with the prospect of divorce, you likely have many questions that are keeping you up at night. Will I still be able to see my children? What will happen to my finances and property? At the Law Offices of Mark M. Childress, PLLC, our attorneys in Parker County can help you find the answers you need to move forward. As you begin the next phase of your life, you can rely on our firm to provide you with top-notch legal services tailored to your unique needs.

Discuss your goals with our Parker County divorce attorneys by calling (817) 497-8148 today.

Retain a Cost-Conscious Attorney for Your Divorce

Divorce can put spouses through an emotional wringer. We strongly believe that our clients should also not feel overwhelmed by the financial costs of dissolving a union. Our clients’ desired outcome is our guiding light. Our tailored approach aims to achieve their goals at the lowest cost possible.

No matter what issues you are facing, our Parker County firm prepares for every twist and turn to make sure that we are able to serve our clients' interests. Whether your divorce can be settled amicably or it is in your best interest to go to trial, our lawyers will be your strongest advocates every step of the way.

Asset Division and When the Property Is in Another Country

Complex property issues can become even more difficult when assets are located internationally.

A Texas trial court may not have jurisdiction to divide property located in another country. That does not necessarily mean the international property is irrelevant to the Texas divorce.

For example, community funds may have been used to purchase, maintain, or improve international property. That can create potential reimbursement, waste, or fraud claims involving domestic community assets.

Handling these cases can require tracing payments, deposits, and other transactions throughout the marriage and working with forensic experts to reconstruct the financial history.

The legal issue becomes more than simply asking, "Who owns the property?"

It can require asking:

• Where did the money come from?
• How was it used?
• What community funds were involved?
• What claims can be pursued in the Texas proceeding?

These are the types of questions that can make a significant difference in a complex property dispute.

Business Valuation Is Only Part of the Problem

A business can be one of the most valuable assets in a divorce, but determining its value is not always the central question.

A business owner may have built the company before the marriage. The business may be separate property, while the community estate may have reimbursement claims based on contributions made during the marriage.

Goodwill can also affect the valuation.

Even after determining the community value of a business, another question remains: How does the spouse receive the community portion of that value?

A buyout may require cash or other assets. If payment is made over time, the agreement may need appropriate security provisions and interest to protect the spouse receiving the award.

Our attorneys have litigated these issues and understand that a business valuation is only one piece of a larger financial problem.

The objective is to develop a structure that works beyond the day the divorce decree is signed.

A $26 Million Estate and a Closely Held Business

In another divorce, the marital estate included a wholly owned company valued at approximately $26 million.

The husband was the primary sales and performance element of the business. The wife handled the office and human resources functions. Dividing the company presented a problem: simply placing a value on the business did not necessarily provide the best solution for either party.

The case was resolved by restructuring the company into two related businesses, allowing both parties to continue earning from their respective areas.

One of the most important issues involved the absence of a non-compete agreement. Rather than treating that as a minor detail, the legal team recognized that the husband's ability to continue operating in the same industry could be more valuable than the company's existing structure.

The result was a resolution that addressed both the value of the business and the realities of how that business actually operated.

Complex business divorces require looking beyond the valuation number to understand what actually creates the value.