Divorce Lawyer Austin, TX

Divorce Lawyer Austin, TX

If you are going through a divorce in Austin, you are likely facing difficult decisions about property, finances, and your children’s future all at once. The outcome of those decisions will shape your life for years to come, and navigating the legal process without experienced counsel often leads to results that are hard to undo.

Gray Becker, P.C. has represented clients in Travis County family courts for over 43 years. Our firm includes attorneys who have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, named Texas Super Lawyers, and who hold Board Certification in Family Law. We’ve handled uncontested dissolutions, multi-million-dollar contested cases, and everything between. Our divorce lawyers in Austin, TX are prepared to protect your interests at every stage of the process.

Contact our office to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help.

Why Choose Gray Becker, P.C. for Divorce in Austin, TX?

Four Decades of Family Law in Austin

Gray Becker was founded in Austin by Richard E. Gray III and Douglas M. Becker. The firm has been a fixture in the Travis County legal community since its founding, and our attorneys have tried hundreds of family law cases in local district courts. Founding member Richard E. Gray III has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America in Family Law every year from 2013 through 2025 and was named a Texas Super Lawyer in Business Litigation for over two decades. As a family law firm in Austin, we bring that depth of local knowledge to every case we take on.

Board Certified Attorneys With Proven Track Records

Attorney Nathan Kennedy is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization which is a distinction held by a small percentage of licensed Texas attorneys. Nathan holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating, the highest designation for professional ability and ethical standards. He was named Lawyer of the Year for Family Law Mediation in Austin in 2023 and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America from 2020 through 2025. His practice focuses on complicated cases involving high-asset marital estates and appeals.

Personalized Representation From Start to Finish

We don’t hand your case off to a junior associate and disappear. Each client works directly with an experienced divorce attorney who knows the file, knows the judge, and knows how to position your case for the strongest possible outcome. Whether we’re negotiating a settlement or preparing for trial, our approach is the same: thorough preparation, direct communication, and aggressive advocacy when the situation demands it.

What Our Clients Say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I was referred to Nathan Kennedy by another highly respected attorney in Austin, and I’m so glad I was. Nathan and his team were incredibly supportive, professional, and compassionate throughout the entire process. Thanks to their expertise, we were able to settle my case without ever stepping into a courtroom. I’m truly grateful for their guidance and would highly recommend Nathan Kennedy to anyone looking for a skilled and trustworthy divorce attorney.”

— Zhazira Aitzhanova

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Divorce Cases We Handle in Austin

Divorce cases in Austin, TX rarely involve a single issue. Most require a divorce attorney who can manage overlapping concerns simultaneously such as finances, children, property, and sometimes safety. Our attorneys handle every phase and variation of the dissolution process, from initial filing through final decree.

• High-asset divorce. Cases involving substantial estates require forensic accounting, business valuations, and a thorough understanding of community versus separate property characterization. We represent executives, business owners, and professionals whose financial situations demand careful analysis.
• Property division. Texas is a community property state, meaning most assets acquired during marriage are subject to a “just and right” division under the law. That standard leaves significant room for argument, and a failure to properly characterize assets can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Child custody. Called “conservatorship” under Texas law, custody disputes determine which parent makes major decisions and where the child primarily lives. We build custody cases around the statutory best-interest factors that Travis County judges rely on.
• Same-sex divorce. We represent same-sex couples with sensitivity to the particular legal challenges these cases present, including property acquired before marriage equality was recognized in Texas.
• Business owner divorce. When a closely held business is part of the marital estate, valuation disputes and community interest claims add layers of complexity. Our attorneys work with financial professionals to protect business assets during divorce.
• Modifications and enforcement. Life changes. We help clients modify custody orders when circumstances shift substantially, and we pursue enforcement when a former spouse ignores the terms of a decree.

Texas Legal Requirements for Divorce

Texas has specific statutory requirements that affect every divorce case filed in the state. Understanding them early can save you time, money, and frustration.

Under Texas Family Code Chapter 6, at least one spouse must have been a resident of Texas for six continuous months and a resident of the county where the petition is filed for at least 90 days before filing. If you’ve recently moved to Austin from another state, this residency requirement may delay your ability to file in Travis County.

Texas also imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period. No divorce can be finalized until at least 60 days after the original petition is filed with the Travis County District Clerk. In contested cases, the actual timeline is almost always much longer.

For child support, Texas uses guidelines based on a percentage of the paying parent’s net monthly resources. The Texas Attorney General’s office publishes these guidelines and handles enforcement statewide. Spousal maintenance, or what most people call alimony, is available only in limited circumstances: marriages lasting 10 years or more, situations involving family violence, or when a spouse has a disability that prevents self-support.

Texas is a no-fault divorce state, meaning the court can grant a dissolution based on “insupportability” without either party proving wrongdoing. However, fault grounds such as adultery, cruelty, conviction of a felony, or abandonment still exist and can influence how the court divides property.

Austin Divorce Infographic

Important Aspects of a Divorce Case in Austin

Property Characterization and Division

The single most consequential financial issue in most Austin divorces is how property gets classified. Community property is anything acquired during the marriage, and it is subject to division. Separate property is not. The distinction sounds simple but often isn’t. Commingling of funds, improvements to separate property using community dollars, and the appreciation of premarital assets during the marriage all create tracing challenges. Getting this wrong means losing assets you’re entitled to keep.

Child Custody and Conservatorship

Travis County courts evaluate custody based on the child’s best interest, considering factors like each parent’s involvement, the child’s emotional and physical needs, and any history of family violence. Judges in Austin typically start with a standard possession order, but deviations are common when the circumstances call for them. Documenting your involvement as a parent and gathering the right evidence early in the process gives your attorney more to work with.

Temporary Orders

Most contested divorces involve a temporary orders hearing within weeks of filing. These orders govern who stays in the home, who pays which bills, and what the interim custody arrangement looks like while the case is pending. Temporary orders shape the rest of the litigation, because judges at final trial often look at what’s been working during the case. A strong showing at temporary orders can set the tone for everything that follows.

Mediation Versus Trial

The majority of Austin divorce cases resolve through mediation rather than trial. In mediation, a neutral third party helps both sides negotiate a settlement. The process is confidential, typically less expensive than trial, and allows both parties more control over the outcome. But mediation only works when both parties negotiate in good faith. If your spouse is hiding assets or refusing reasonable terms, trial becomes necessary and we prepare every case with that possibility in mind.

Protecting Your Financial Future

Divorce impacts more than just your bank account today. Retirement accounts, stock options, tax obligations, and long-term debt division all affect your financial picture for years. A Qualified Domestic Relations Order may be required to divide a 401(k) or pension. Keeping the family home might seem like a win, but carrying the mortgage alone could be unsustainable. We work through these scenarios with our clients before agreeing to any settlement terms.

Gray Becker, P.C., Austin Divorce Lawyer

900 West Ave, Austin, TX 78701

Contact Gray Becker, P.C.

If you’re facing a divorce in Austin, TX, the decisions you make now will affect your finances, your family, and your future. Having an experienced divorce attorney on your side from the beginning is the most effective way to protect what matters to you.

Gray Becker, P.C. has been guiding Austin families through divorce for over four decades. Our attorneys will evaluate your situation, explain your options clearly, and build a legal strategy specific to the facts of your case.

Contact our office to schedule a consultation with a divorce lawyer in Austin today.