If you’re a high-net-worth individual who is preparing for divorce in Texas, you may face an uphill battle with your soon-to-be ex. Dividing assets can be one of the most difficult parts of divorce. Both parties want to get their fair share, but if you’re the main wage earner, you may feel anger toward your ex if you feel that they are trying to take advantage of you financially. Likewise, your spouse may think that you’re trying to cheat them out of what they believe rightfully belongs to them. Prepare yourself with some knowledge ahead of time so you’re prepared to deal with a contentious divorce.
False allegations
If your spouse makes false allegations against you, it could lead to legal problems, which can affect your divorce. Your soon-to-be ex may request a restraining order or file false statements to get back at you and hope to ruin your reputation. A claim of domestic abuse or substance abuse could negatively impact your ability to get custody of your children and could make the judge act more favorably toward your soon-to-be ex. Be upfront with your attorney and provide any evidence that you have to show the allegations are false.
Hiding assets
Hiding assets is not permitted as all marital property must be considered during asset division. It can be tempting to hide assets if the other party is being especially demanding, but once those assets are located, it will reflect negatively on you and can affect the judge’s ruling. Providing information on all marital assets and providing documentation to prove any separate assets by clear and convincing evidence in a timely manner will help you get through the divorce in less time.
Parental alienation
If your child(ren)’s other parent is trying to turn them against you, it may be parental alienation. You may find that your soon-to-be ex is trying to manipulate your child(ren) just in order to get more assets from you during the divorce. They may choose to negotiate more time with your children as a trade-off for being awarded more assets in the divorce. Remember that the court will try to determine the best arrangement for your kids based on the needs of the child(ren). No matter what the other party is doing, support your child(ren) during this difficult time and avoid talking poorly about their other parent.
Legal help
When going through a high-net-worth divorce in Texas, you can benefit from working with an experienced, board-certified family law expert attorney. Contentious divorces can get messy, so it’s important to have an experienced board-certified family law expert advocate on your side. Your attorney can help you understand your available options on how best to protect yourself and your interests during the divorce process.