Who decides how your community property is split during a Texas divorce?

If you and your spouse were to take all the community property that you own and put it towards the center of an imaginary (and huge) table during your Divorce, the next question that would need to be answered is how it will be divided up ultimately. It's not enough to determine what property is yours separately, which property is your spouse's separately, and what property is jointly held.

The tricky question is, what will be done with the property before your Divorce is finalized. Three people in our world can make that decision- you and your spouse as a team or the judge whose court your divorce case has been assigned to.

Take away what you've seen in movies and the horror stories that you've heard from friends and families about reengaging judges who had it out for them, and what you're left with is the reality that the vast majority of divorces end mediation rather than in a courtroom.

Mediation is a process that you and your spouse undertake to avoid taking your case to a judge and instead work to settle on the outstanding issues in your Divorce with the assistance of a third-party mediator. The direct control that this option offers you and your spouse when compared to a trial is preferable in the opinion of most people going through a divorce as well as yours truly.

The creativity and flexibility afforded to you and your spouse (with the assistance of the mediator and your attorneys) will likely trump any result that a judge could create for you. It's certainly possible that you could end up with a better result from a judge, but the tables could just as quickly be turned, and you could walk away with nothing more than the proverbial shirt on your back.

A trial should represent the last resort, not a first option for divorcing spouses.

When it comes to a method to divide up your community estate, a trial wherein the judge lays down a ruling should be the last option pursued. However, there are rare instances where parties cannot settle their issues outside of court, and you and your spouse could potentially find yourself in this position.

One reason why heading to court should be the last resort is that there is a high level of risk involved. The reason for that risk is a judge does not have a set formula for dividing up your community estate. There is no "paint by numbers" chart for the judge if spouse A does this, spouse A receives this, etc. Being a judge is harsh, and they will be forced to make difficult decisions using the facts available in your case and relying a fair amount on their judgment.

Additionally, it is not mandatory for the pot at the middle of the table to be split down the seat perfectly. That certainly can be the result, but nothing in the rule book says that it has to happen. The rule book is open-ended and gives a lot of discretion to your judge to make decisions on the fly. That is a recipe for little peace of mind for you and your spouse.

Your judge will place more weight on some factors and less on others

We generally know what a judge will look at when evaluating who will get what when it comes to property in your Divorce. Are you or your spouse the primary conservator of your child? Which of you earns more money? How old are both of you? How long has your marriage lasted? Did you cheat on your spouse or vice versa?

Did you use any community funds to gamble or engage in another activity that seriously undermined your financial livelihoods? These are a few fact-specific situations that a judge will evaluate your case by.

Unfortunately, every judge will place their importance on various factors. Hence, identifying how a particular judge will react to a specific set of circumstances is insensitive.

Your attorney should have some knowledge of the judge your case has been assigned to if they have experience practicing family law in your area. Even still, asking for an opinion on how the judge will decide your property division is not a scientific survey. It is an estimate. I'm willing to bet that neither you nor your spouse wants to leave the subject of your finances an educated guess.

Pride comes before the fall.

In the middle of a contested divorce, it is easy to fall into the trap of feeling the need to do something out of pride. I've had clients tell me that they refuse to settle on an issue because they think they have been disrespected or otherwise taken advantage of. I'm not going to tell you that those feelings are not justified in some situations.

It is certainly worth it on occasion to take the plunge and see what a judge has in mind when dividing up your community estate. However, if you consider pushing for "truth, justice, and the American way" in your Divorce, you will likely be saddened by the result.

Refusing to meet in the middle because you are overly convinced of your righteousness is a dangerous mindset in your Divorce. This is all the more reason to have hired an objective, experienced attorney who can lend their perspective and help you avoid following your pride down a path that is not in your best interest.

Questions on how your community estate may impact your Divorce? Don't hesitate to get in touch with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC.

If you have questions regarding community property, Divorce, or any other subject in family law, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, today. Our licensed family law attorneys are standing by to take your call. A free-of-charge consultation is available six days a week where your questions can be answered in full.

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Other Articles you may be interested in:

1. Issues in Community Property Law in Texas
2. Dividing community property in mediation: What can be done to settle your Divorce in Texas
3. Interim Attorney's Fees in a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR)
4. Dividing Property in a Texas Divorce - The Just and Right Division
5. What Wikipedia Can't Tell you About Texas Divorce and Marital Property Division
6. Texas Divorce Property Division Enforcement
7. Separate Property in a Texas Divorce?
8. Does it Matter Whose Name is on Title or Deed of Property in a Divorce in Texas?
9. Is Social Security Considered Separate Property in a Texas Divorce
10. Business Owners and Business Assets in a Texas Divorce
11. What to do when your divorce decree does not include a marital asset?
12. High Net Worth Divorce / High Asset Divorce

Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC | Houston, Texas Divorce Lawyers

The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, routinely handles matters that affect children and families. If you have questions regarding Divorce, it's essential to speak with one of our Houston, TX Divorce Lawyers right away to protect your rights.

Our Divorce lawyers in Houston, TX, are skilled at listening to your goals during this trying process and developing a strategy to meet those goals. Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC by calling (281) 810-9760 or submit your contact information in our online form. The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, handles Divorce cases in Houston, Texas, Cypress, Klein, Humble, Kingwood, Tomball, The Woodlands, the FM 1960 area, or surrounding areas, including Harris County, Montgomery County, Liberty County, Chambers County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, and Waller County.