Divorce and Family Law Attorney
Property & Asset Division The experience and passion to fight to protect what is yours.

Southlake Divorce Asset Division Lawyer

Expert Property Division Legal Services in Tarrant County

Michelle Purvis knowledgeably approaches the complex financial issues presented by divorce and works diligently to protect clients’ assets and property rights. She provides the meticulous attention to detail that is required in divorce involving the division of property.

Michelle can help you identify and protect separate property and divide community property in a fair and equitable manner.

She is ready to zealously advocate for you to protect your interests in:

  • Retirement and investment accounts
  • Pensions
  • Real estate
  • Business interests
  • Business assets
  • Stocks and stock options
  • Trust assets
  • Executive compensation packages

Complex financial issues may require specialized discovery and the use of experts such as forensic accountants, appraisers, business valuation experts, tax professionals, and other financial professionals. Michelle works with respected experts to protect your property rights, businesses, and assets.

Contact Southlake property division attorney Michelle Purvis online or call (817) 809-8199 to get started on your case.

Accurate Asset Valuation During Divorce

In divorce, accurate valuation of assets is essential to achieving a fair and equitable division of marital property. Michelle brings in financial experts to assist in determining accurate values of property and assets.

What Is Considered Separate Property?

Texas law distinguishes between community property and separate property. Community property is all property—other than separate property—acquired by either spouse during the marriage. Separate property is property that was owned prior to marriage; property received during marriage by gift or inheritance; and recovery for personal injuries, except for loss of income during marriage.

Upon divorce, all property belonging to the spouses is presumed to be community property, unless clear and convincing evidence shows that it is a spouse’s separate property. Therefore, when an asset was owned prior to marriage or was received by gift or inheritance, it is especially important to obtain the required evidence to prove the asset is separate property.

If you claim separate property ownership of assets, Michelle can conscientiously work to legally prove that the property is your separate property. Proving the date that a house or land was acquired is generally straightforward and is accomplished through deed records and other related documents. However, with other types of assets such as bank accounts, retirement accounts, and brokerage accounts, many times there will be both separate property and community property portions in the accounts. In this situation, in order to preserve your separate property rights, Michelle can assist you in hiring expert forensic accountants with mastery in “tracing” of separate property interests.

Protecting Business Owners' Interests in Divorce

Michelle has significant experience representing business owners in divorce and understands the work, dedication, and sacrifice necessary to build a business. If you are a business owner, Michelle can strive to assist you in maintaining continuity of business while a divorce is pending and to protect your business interests upon divorce.

In divorce cases involving ownership of a business or professional practice, Michelle utilizes business valuation experts and appraisers to determine the value of business interests, partnership interests, membership interests in Limited Liability Corporations, interests in family-owned companies, and other closely held business interests. Appraisers provide the necessary proof of the fair market value of business real estate, property, and equipment. Forensic accountants can determine whether the value of the goodwill of the business is included in the marital estate on divorce. Tax professionals are also consulted when necessary to provide advice regarding tax consequences.

Valuation of Income-Producing Real Estate in Divorce

If you own income-producing real estate, Michelle can work with real estate appraisers and, when necessary, business valuation experts to achieve an accurate property valuation that considers the income produced by the property.

Uncovering Hidden Assets and Income in Divorce Proceedings

Michelle can assist you in discovering assets and income that your spouse may be hiding during a divorce. Hidden assets and income may be revealed through various discovery methods, depositions, subpoenas, and investigative tools.

Contact Southlake property division attorney Michelle Purvis to discuss how your interests can be protected in a complex property division or high net worth divorce. Call (817) 809-8199.

Commonly Asked Questions

How does Michelle Purvis protect my separate property rights in a divorce?

Michelle Purvis diligently works to protect your separate property rights by providing clear and convincing evidence to prove that certain assets are indeed separate property. This includes assets owned prior to marriage, gifts, inheritances, and certain personal injury recoveries. She may engage forensic accountants to trace separate property interests within mixed accounts, ensuring that your separate property is accurately identified and preserved during the division process.

Can Michelle Purvis help identify hidden assets in a divorce case?

Yes, Michelle Purvis can assist clients in uncovering hidden assets and income that a spouse may be concealing during divorce proceedings. She employs various discovery methods, including depositions, subpoenas, and investigative tools, to reveal any undisclosed financial information. This ensures that all assets are accounted for and that the division of property is based on complete and accurate financial data.