Dallas Property Division Attorney

Results-Driven Lawyer Eager to Fight, if Necessary

In Texas, it is very important to be sure all marital asset division issues in your divorce case are thoroughly analyzed and investigated before dissolving the marriage and finalizing settlement agreement. If you believe that your spouse is hiding assets in contemplation of divorce, has established procedures to make it appear that a business or professional income is substantially less than it is, or has failed to identify property that is under his or her sole control, you need to hire an attorney who is knowledgeable, experienced, and capable of identifying and bringing these issues to light. Dallas property division attorney Ellen Schutz will get you what you are entitled to according to the law.

Ellen has been practicing family law exclusively for more than two decades. She also has a Master of Law degree in federal income tax, which enables her to provide informed guidance for property division. She can review your assets and debts to determine appropriate classification.

To talk to a lawyer about your questions and concerns regarding the division of assets in your divorce, call (214) 301-3418.

Property Classification in Divorce

Married couples seeking divorce will be faced with the task of classifying their estate and dividing assets. Ellen possesses sophisticated knowledge of Texas community property laws. She will thoroughly analyze and investigate issues to ensure your divorce settlement is fair and equitable. The firm is also experienced in handling complex property divisions and high net worth divorces.

In Texas, property is divided into three categories:

• Separate property: assets owned before you married or received as a gift or inheritance during the marriage and is not subject to division during divorce
• Community property: assets owned or acquired during your marriage, regardless of how the assets are titled
• Co-mingled property: assets that fall into both categories, such as separate property that was co-mingled with marital assets during the marriage and used to purchase additional assets during the marriage

The Law Office of Ellen Schutz can help you understand Texas community property laws, identify proper classification of your property, and advise you through the process of negotiating a fair property settlement or aggressively representing your interests in trial in Dallas and beyond.

Texas Alimony Guidance

Contractual alimony payments are intended to provide limited support for the spouse after the divorce. It is provided to protect long-term homemakers, disabled spouses, spouses who care for disabled children, and spouses affected by family violence.

Parties requesting alimony must have been married for more than 10 years. There must be insufficient property for requesting individuals to support themselves, or they cannot support themselves because of a disability, a child’s disability, or a lack of earning capacity. The amount cannot exceed $2,500 per month or 20 percent of the paying spouse’s average monthly gross income. Additionally, receiving spouses may be eligible for spousal support by proving the other spouse was convicted of or received deferred adjudication for a criminal offense that constituted an act of family violence. Until recently, the general rule was that the duration of alimony was limited to three years. However, Texas alimony laws changed in 2011. Duration of alimony is now based upon many factors, including the duration of the marriage.

In some cases, parties may negotiate property in lieu of alimony or alimony in lieu of property. Typically, alimony is classified as taxable income and tax deductible whereas marital transfers of property in divorce are not taxed. However, when alimony is awarded in lieu of property, it is not taxed either. Careful consideration and consultation with an experienced lawyer should go into any negotiations regarding alimony and property division in divorce.

For a phone consultation regarding your property division matter, call (214) 301-3418. We proudly serve clients in Dallas, Collin, and Denton counties.