Austin High Net Worth Divorce Attorney
Divorces are complicated enough. But when significant wealth is on the line, you need the most sophisticated level of strategic legal advocacy to secure your assets and a desirable outcome.
High-asset divorces in Texas come with complex property division, financial disclosures, and long-term consequences. Whether you’re a business owner, physician, investor, or entrepreneur, Ben Carrasco is the Austin high asset divorce attorney who understands how to protect your interests and achieve a fair outcome.
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Contact The Law Office Of Ben Carrasco, PLLC
We live by our commitment to zealous advocacy and are passionate about your case. Whether you need assistance with a high-conflict divorce or a custody modification, our smart and responsive approach is designed to yield a positive outcome for you. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
What Is a High-Asset Divorce?
A high-asset divorce typically involves couples with $1 million or more in assets. These cases frequently feature:
Business ownership or investments
Complex compensation packages (bonuses, stock options)
Luxury property and assets
Prenuptial or postnuptial agreements
Professionals such as C-suite executives, tech entrepreneurs, doctors, and athletes often face high stakes in both financial matters and public exposure. When navigating the complex asset structures and heightened risk of disputes in high-net-worth divorce cases, it’s crucial to work with an Austin divorce attorney who has expertise in these matters.
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Common Assets in a High Net-Worth Divorce
- Real estate: Primary homes, vacation properties, investment rentals
- Business interests: Family businesses, startups, professional practices
- Retirement funds: 401(k)s, IRAs, pensions
- Investment accounts: Stocks, mutual funds, cryptocurrency
- Luxury property: Vehicles, fine art, jewelry, collectibles
- Intellectual property: Trademarks, patents, royalties
- Deferred compensation: Stock options, executive bonuses
- International holdings: Offshore accounts, foreign real estate
Identifying, Valuing & Dividing Assets
Valuing assets correctly can significantly impact your settlement. This process often requires:
Under Texas Family Code § 7.001, community property must be divided in a manner that is “just and right,” which does not necessarily mean equal. This process becomes particularly complex in high-asset divorces where disputes may arise over issues such as the appropriate valuation date of assets, the quantification of goodwill in privately held businesses, or the distribution of retirement benefits governed by Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs).
To ensure an optimal outcome, your legal team must collaborate with credentialed financial experts—such as forensic accountants, business valuation specialists, and pension analysts—and strategically present their findings in court to support your claims.
Community vs. Separate Property in Texas
Texas is a community property state, meaning that most assets acquired during the marriage are presumed to be shared 50/50. Separate property, on the other hand, is excluded from the community estate.
According to Tex. Fam. Code § 3.003, property acquired before marriage or received during marriage as a gift, inheritance, or through personal injury compensation is considered separate property and is not subject to division upon divorce.
Disputes often arise when separate property has been commingled, such as a premarital bank account that is used jointly. In these cases, the burden of proof lies on the spouse claiming the asset is separate. Maintaining proper documentation and tracing the origins of assets is critical.
Strategies for Protecting Separate Property
To preserve the character and legal protection of your separate property, the following strategies are essential:
- Maintain clear documentation (deeds, account statements)
- Use forensic accounting when property has been commingled
- Keep inheritances or gifts in a separate account
- Avoid retitling assets under both spouses’ names
A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, if enforceable and properly drafted, can further protect your wealth.
Hidden Assets & Financial Misconduct
High-asset divorce litigation in Texas frequently involves attempts by one spouse to hide, devalue, or obscure marital property to minimize their financial exposure.
Common asset-hiding strategies include:
- Undervaluing business assets
- Hiding funds in offshore accounts
- Transferring property to friends or relatives
- Overpaying taxes or delaying bonuses
When one party engages in asset concealment, they not only risk court sanctions but also face the prospect of a disproportionately unfavorable settlement. An Austin high-asset divorce lawyer can use subpoenas, depositions, and financial audits as discovery tools to uncover misconduct. Courts take asset hiding seriously and may award disproportionate settlements as a form of punishment.
Child and Spousal Support in High-Asset Cases
In high-net-worth divorce cases, traditional support frameworks—both statutory and judicial—often require significant modification to address the lifestyle, financial structures, and tax complexities associated with substantial wealth.
While Texas law provides general guidelines for both child support and spousal maintenance, these are not rigid ceilings in high-income situations and may be deviated from when justified.
- Child support may exceed guideline caps if justified by the child’s lifestyle and needs
- Spousal maintenance is often negotiated privately, but may be awarded if one spouse lacks earning capacity
- Tax implications for support payments must be reviewed carefully under current IRS laws
If you’re facing alimony or support negotiations, it’s essential to collaborate with a lawyer who specializes in alimony and asset structures.
Business Valuation & Division
Businesses present one of the most challenging aspects of high-asset divorces. Whether you’re a sole proprietor or part of a private equity partnership, the stakes are high.
Key concerns include:
Determining fair market value
(income, asset, and market-based approaches)
Whether the business is community or separate property
Options for division:
Buyout, sell-off, or continued co-ownership
Minimizing disruption
to operations, staff, and cash flow
Business owners often need confidentiality provisions and protections against non-compete clauses. Property division is not one-size-fits-all. Strategy matters.
At the Law Office of Ben Carrasco, we regularly handle business valuation and division in high-stakes divorces. Our team partners with credentialed valuation experts, CPAs, and corporate counsel to structure solutions that protect your enterprise and your future.
Out-of-State & International Property
Ownership of property beyond Texas borders introduces new layers of legal complexity.
Courts can divide foreign and out-of-state assets, but face limitations enforcing orders across jurisdictions. International property may require consideration of:
Failure to disclose foreign holdings can lead to sanctions. Skilled Austin high-asset divorce attorneys like Ben Carrasco have the knowledge and cross-border resources to pursue discovery and enforce property rights across jurisdictions. His approach includes strategic partnerships with international legal counsel, forensic accountants, and real estate valuation experts to ensure no asset is overlooked or undervalued.
The Role of Financial Experts in High-Asset Divorces
Financial professionals are indispensable in high-net-worth cases. Your legal team may include:
Forensic accountants
Business valuators
Tax advisors
to evaluate post-divorce tax liability and strategy
Real estate and art appraisers
to determine the value of unique assets
This collaborative, expert-led model equips your attorney with the evidentiary foundation needed to negotiate from a position of strength. Courts give substantial weight to credible, third-party valuations and forensic findings—making them indispensable during contested proceedings, mediation, or trial.
The Law Office of Ben Carrasco maintains connections with a sophisticated network of financial experts and can assemble a team that is capable of protecting your interests at every phase.
Dispute Resolution Methods
- Litigation: Necessary for contested or hostile divorces
- Mediation: Confidential, cost-effective, and faster
- Collaborative Divorce: Both parties work with legal and financial professionals to reach an agreement outside of court
Many high-asset individuals prefer mediation or collaboration to avoid publicity. These methods also provide more control over the outcome and protect the business’s or brand’s reputation.
Why Choose Ben Carrasco as Your Austin High-Asset Divorce Attorney
Ben Carrasco is a seasoned Austin high-asset divorce attorney who focuses on complex, high-stakes family law cases. His strategic, evidence-driven approach is designed for clients with significant assets, business interests, and reputations to protect.
Why clients trust Ben:
- Proven results in multi-million-dollar divorce settlements
- Expertise in business valuation, financial tracing, and QDROs
- Transparent communication and aggressive courtroom advocacy
- Personalized strategies tailored to your unique financial picture
In their words:
“Divorce is never easy, and mine was particularly nasty. I can unequivocally say that hiring Ben was the best decision I made throughout the process. Ben is an extremely intelligent, honest, and efficient attorney. He takes the time to explain everything, and his response time to emails and phone calls is absolutely stellar. I don’t want to set expectations high- but in my case it seemed like he never took a weekend off.”
– Nachi S.
If your financial future depends on how your divorce is handled, trust an attorney with the credentials and tenacity to secure it. Trust the Law Office of Ben Carrasco.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies as a high-asset divorce?
Generally, cases involving $1 million or more in assets. These often include business holdings, investments, and luxury real estate.
Can my spouse claim part of my business?
Will the court consider my inheritance?
Inheritances are typically separate property, but if they were commingled with marital assets, they could become divisible. Document tracing is key to securing what is rightfully yours.
How do I protect my financial privacy?
Use mediation or collaborative divorce when possible. Court records are public, but private resolutions can maintain confidentiality.
How long do high-asset divorces take in Texas?
These cases often take longer than average due to the need for detailed financial analysis and expert testimony. During an initial consultation, your attorney will review your case and provide you with an estimated timeline.