Divorce Lawyer Austin, TX
If you are going through a divorce in Austin, we know that you may be struggling with legalities and need support. Getting the right legal guidance from the start matters, as it affects your outcome and overall wellbeing in ways that are beneficial and help you continue to move forward.
At Gray Becker, P.C., our Austin, TX divorce lawyers have represented individuals and families across Central Texas for over 43 years. We handle divorces at every level of complexity, from straightforward uncontested matters to high-stakes disputes involving significant assets, business interests, and contested custody. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
Why Choose Gray Becker, P.C. for Divorce in Austin, Texas?
When you’re searching for a family lawyer in Austin, TX, the credentials listed on a website only tell part of the story. What actually matters is whether your attorney knows how Travis County courts operate, how judges approach disputed issues, and how to build a case that holds up under pressure. Our attorneys bring that knowledge to every case we take.
Deep Austin Family Law Experience
Our divorce attorneys have been practicing family law in Austin and the surrounding communities for decades. Richard E. Gray III, a founding member of the firm, has practiced law since 1976 and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Family Law continuously since 2013. Nathan Kennedy is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (first certified in 2013 and recertified in 2018 and 2023) and holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating, which reflects the highest standard of professional ability and ethics as evaluated by peers. Nathan has also been named to Texas Monthly Super Lawyers every year from 2020 through 2025 and recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Family Law from 2020 through 2025.
Margaret Tucker brings additional depth to our practice. A multi-year Super Lawyer in Family Law, Margaret is a member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Family Law Foundation, and serves as a Board Member of the Austin Bar Association’s Family Law Section. She’s also a licensed mediator, which gives her a practical perspective on when settlement makes sense and when it doesn’t.
Attorneys Who Focus on Your Specific Situation
Not every divorce case looks the same. A spouse ending a 25-year marriage with real estate holdings, retirement accounts, and a closely held business faces a fundamentally different legal challenge than someone dissolving a short marriage with limited shared assets. Through our awards and recognitions, our attorneys have proven to work across both ends of that spectrum and everything in between.
Caroline Alonzo focuses her practice on divorces, modifications, enforcements, child support, and premarital and postmarital agreements. She managed her own family law practice in El Paso before relocating to Austin in 2019. Patricia Dixon handles divorce, property characterization, reimbursement claims, and child-related matters, and also represents clients who need emergency protection due to family violence. Arielle Rosvall, who has been part of the Austin family law community since 2014, was recognized as one of the Best Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers from 2021 through 2025.
Proven Results Across Complex Divorce Matters
Our attorneys have helped clients across Austin in divorce settlements and other matters, including in cases involving high-value marital estates, business ownership disputes, and contested property division. We don’t come into a case looking for a quick resolution that leaves money on the table. We prepare, we negotiate strategically, and when litigation is necessary, we are ready.
Here’s what one client shared about working with Nathan Kennedy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “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
Our attorneys handle the full range of divorce matters in Travis County and across Central Texas. Whether your situation is straightforward or involves significant conflict and complex assets, we have attorneys who have handled it before.
- High-asset divorce. When significant property, investments, retirement accounts, or business interests are involved, how assets are identified, valued, and divided matters enormously. We handle high-stakes property disputes and work with financial professionals when needed to get accurate valuations.
- Property division. Texas is a community property state, which means how courts classify assets directly affects what each spouse walks away with. We help clients understand what’s separate, what’s marital, and how to approach the division.
- Divorce for business owners. When one or both spouses own a business, the divorce process becomes significantly more complicated. Business valuation, community property interests, and protecting ongoing operations all require careful legal strategy.
- Same-sex divorce. We represent same-sex couples navigating divorce in Austin, including matters involving property division, spousal support, and parenting rights.
- Tech industry divorce. Austin’s tech sector brings unique assets into marriages, including stock options, RSUs, deferred compensation, and startup equity. These require specific attention during property division.
- Child custody and support. Many divorces involve parenting disputes, conservatorship arrangements, and support calculations. Our attorneys handle these matters as part of comprehensive divorce representation.
Austin Divorce Infographic
Texas Legal Requirements for Divorce
Before a court in Texas can grant a divorce, certain statutory requirements must be satisfied. Understanding them from the outset helps set realistic expectations.
Residency: Under Texas Family Code § 6.301, at least one spouse must have been a Texas resident for six months and a resident of the county where the petition is filed for 90 days before filing.
Waiting period: Texas imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period after a petition is filed before a divorce can be finalized. There are limited exceptions, including situations involving family violence.
Grounds: Texas allows both no-fault and fault-based divorce. No-fault divorce is filed on the grounds of “insupportability,” meaning the marriage has become insupportable due to conflict. Fault grounds include adultery, cruelty, abandonment, and felony conviction, and they can affect property division in some cases.
Community property: Texas divides marital property under a community property framework. The court is required to divide the marital estate in a manner it deems “just and right,” which doesn’t always mean a 50/50 split. Our team can help you understand what qualifies as community versus separate property under Texas law.
For court-specific procedural information, including standing orders that apply automatically when a divorce is filed, the Travis County District Clerk provides filing resources. The Texas State Law Library also maintains a plain-language divorce overview for residents.
Important Aspects of an Austin Divorce Case
Every divorce in Austin moves through predictable legal phases, but the decisions made at each step have lasting consequences. Here’s what clients should understand before the process begins.
Property Characterization
Before the process of dividing marital property can begin, assets and debts have to be correctly classified. Community property generally includes income earned and assets acquired during the marriage. Separate property includes assets owned before the marriage, inheritances, and gifts — even if received during the marriage. Misclassifying an asset, or failing to trace a separate property claim properly, can result in an unfavorable division. This is especially true in long marriages where assets have become commingled over time.
Spousal Maintenance and Property Settlements
Texas courts can award spousal maintenance in limited circumstances, generally when one spouse lacks sufficient property or earning capacity following the divorce. The duration and amount are capped under the Texas Family Code. Beyond formal maintenance, the parties’ attorneys can negotiate property settlements that account for income disparity and long-term financial needs. How assets are structured in a settlement, whether real estate, retirement accounts, or liquid assets, can affect taxes, liquidity, and financial security.
Conservatorship and Parenting Plans
In Texas, custody is referred to as “conservatorship.” Courts strongly favor joint managing conservatorship, meaning both parents share decision-making rights over major issues like education, healthcare, and religion. The “primary” parent typically designates the child’s primary residence. When parents cannot agree on common custody problems, the court decides based on the best interest of the child standard.
High-Conflict and Fault-Based Issues
Some divorces involve contested fault grounds, protective orders, or allegations of family violence. These cases move differently. Emergency relief, including temporary restraining orders, may be needed before a full hearing. In high-conflict divorces, documentation, court filings, and procedural timing take on greater importance. Our attorneys have handled these matters, including cases where emergency custody or protective relief was required from day one.
The Travis County Standing Order
When a divorce petition is filed in Travis County, a standing order goes into effect automatically. It restricts both spouses from taking certain actions, including removing children from the jurisdiction, dissipating assets, or canceling insurance policies, until the case is resolved. Violating a standing order can have serious consequences. For more on how this works in practice, see our post on the Travis County standing order.
Gray Becker, P.C., Austin Divorce Lawyer
900 West Ave, Austin, TX 78701
Contact Gray Becker, P.C.
If you are facing a divorce in Austin, Texas, whether just starting to consider your options or already in the middle of a difficult process, our attorneys are ready to help. We represent clients throughout Travis County, including those dealing with high-asset estates, business interests, contested custody, and family violence matters.
Consultations are not free, but they are substantive. You will speak with an attorney who will take the time to understand your situation before offering any guidance. We typically respond to new inquiries within one business day. Contact Gray Becker, P.C. to get started.