The Colony, TX High-Net-Worth Divorce Attorneys

The Colony high-net-worth divorce attorneys at Balekian Hayes Family Law untangle executive compensation, business ownership, and hidden assets.

Key Takeaways:

• Texas Family Code 3.007 sets the formula for dividing unvested stock and options.
• A business interest usually needs an independent valuation before it can be divided fairly.
• Kris Hayes and John Withers, Jr. are both dual board-certified attorneys in Texas.

A dual-income household in The Colony often looks straightforward on paper until equity compensation, a deferred bonus, or a business stake enters the picture. The city’s median household income runs well above the state average, often tied to corporate employers along the Dallas North Tollway corridor.

Our team focuses on exactly these cases, backed by the most trial experience of any family law firm in Dallas. Kris Hayes and John Withers, Jr. are both dual board-certified attorneys and accredited mediators.

Schedule a consultation with our The Colony high-net-worth divorce attorneys to talk through what’s at stake in your case.

What Complicates a High-Net-Worth Divorce

Here’s what typically complicates a high-net-worth case in The Colony:

• Executive compensation isn’t one simple number. Stock options and restricted stock granted during the marriage count as community property under Section 3.007 of the Texas Family Code, even when unvested.
• Business ownership needs an independent valuation. A stake in a family business or practice can stall a case for months without one that both sides trust.
• Retirement accounts and taxes aren’t interchangeable. Most plans require a separate court order beyond the decree, and a pre-tax dollar isn’t worth what a brokerage dollar is.
• Real estate across state lines adds coordination. Waterfront value near Lewisville Lake can shift by trial date, and out-of-state property adds a layer most cases never face.

Our knowledgeable The Colony high-net-worth divorce attorneys walk through each of these before compensation, property, or business interests get negotiated on top of one another.

How Assets Actually Go Missing, and How They Surface

Here are the questions we hear most often about protecting against hidden assets.

How do spouses hide assets in a Texas divorce?

Usually through timing rather than outright concealment: a bonus deposited into a new account right before filing, a business expense that quietly covers a personal cost, or a transfer to a family member meant to look temporary.

How do hidden assets get uncovered in a divorce?

Bank and brokerage records, tax returns going back several years, and a forensic accountant who knows what a pattern of small, unexplained withdrawals usually means.

Does finding a hidden asset change how a Texas court divides property?

It can. A spouse who hides assets during a Texas divorce risks an unequal division once the court finds out, since judges have discretion to account for that conduct.

Do divorce attorneys work with forensic accountants to trace hidden assets?

Yes. Our knowledgeable team works directly with financial experts and forensic accountants on cases like these, rather than treating asset tracing as an afterthought.

When should I contact a high-net-worth divorce attorney?

As soon as a divorce looks likely, ideally before records get reorganized or accounts start moving. Our The Colony high-net-worth divorce attorneys are here to help you understand your options from the beginning.

Why Choose Balekian Hayes Family Law

A high-asset divorce carries financial stakes that a general approach can’t fully protect. We built this practice around exactly this kind of complexity: executives, business owners, and families with assets spread across accounts and states.

We keep caseloads deliberately small, so a detail like an unvested equity grant or a business valuation dispute doesn’t get lost in a crowded docket.

That focus shows up in how we bill, too. Every case runs on transparent, honest billing, not padded hours meant to make a complicated case look more complicated than it needs to be.

Kris Hayes is board-certified in Family Law and Child Welfare, and John Withers, Jr. is board-certified in Family Law and Criminal Law. These two distinct credentials matter once a case moves into disputed valuation territory.

Talk to Our Trusted The Colony High-Net-Worth Divorce Attorneys

A first conversation with our team gives you a clear read on which assets are actually in play and what a fair division could look like, before anyone else sets that narrative for you.

That conversation stays confidential whether or not you move forward, and nothing about it commits you to filing. Bring whatever records you already have on hand; we’ll walk you through what else to gather from there.

We’ll also give you an honest read on whether a negotiated settlement gets you where you want to go faster than a courtroom fight would.

Schedule a consultation to go over the specifics of your case and build a strategy suited to the real numbers involved.