MBH Law represents Grapevine residents in divorce, child custody, child support, property division, and high-asset family law cases. Many of our clients are business owners, professionals, and parents facing decisions that will shape their finances and their children's lives for years. If you need a family law attorney in, our Southlake family law office is a short drive west on State Highway 114.
Four of our attorneys are Board Certified® in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Earning this credential requires years of focused family law practice, peer references, and a passing score on a demanding written exam.
At a Glance
Divorce Representation for Grapevine Residents
The first big question in any divorce is whether you and your spouse can agree on the terms. The answer affects cost, timing, and how much control you keep over the outcome. We first consider whether a divorce is contested or uncontested and what that means for your case.
- Uncontested Divorce – When spouses agree on property division, debts, and parenting arrangements.
- Contested Divorce – When spouses disagree about one or more issues and need representation to resolve them.
- High-Asset Divorce – When the marital estate includes significant assets, investments, businesses, or other complex property.
- Business Owner Divorce – When one or both spouses own a business and valuation, ownership, or business operations may need to be addressed.
Whether you hire us as your divorce lawyer for a simple agreed case or a hard-fought trial, our Southlake divorce attorneys handle each stage, from the original petition to the final decree.
Which County Your Case Belongs In
To file for divorce in Texas, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for six months and in the filing county for 90 days. Your county of residence decides which courthouse, judges, and local rules apply to your case. Most of Grapevine lies in Tarrant County, but parts of the city extend into Dallas and Denton counties.
Property Division and High-Asset Divorce in Grapevine
Under the Texas Family Code, property either spouse acquires during the marriage is presumed to be community property that belongs to both. When Texas courts divide marital property, many people expect an equal split, but the legal objective is a "just and right" division, which may favor one spouse. Judges may weigh factors such as each spouse's earning capacity and the size of each spouse's separate estate.
A spouse's separate property includes assets owned before marriage, gifts, and inheritances. The spouse claiming separate property must prove it by clear and convincing evidence, which often means tracing funds through years of bank and account records.
The assets below often lead to the biggest disagreements in high-asset and high-net-worth divorce cases. They are also where a property division lawyer can make the greatest difference.
- Business interests: A business valuation by a qualified expert determines what the company is worth. A business owned before marriage may stay separate, but the community estate can have a reimbursement claim if marital time, effort, or money helped it grow.
- Real estate: Homes, rental properties, and land bought during the marriage are presumed community property. If you put separate money (funds you had before the marriage or received as a gift or inheritance) toward the down payment, records showing where that money came from can help you claim it as your own.
- Retirement and investment accounts: The portion of a 401(k) or pension earned during the marriage is generally community property. A court order called a QDRO divides qualified plans. Brokerage accounts, stock options, and deferred compensation also need careful review.
Child Custody and Child Support
A Texas custody order covers two components: conservatorship, which is the right to make major decisions about a child's schooling and medical care, and possession and access rights, which set each parent's time with the child. Many families start with the standard possession order schedule, a default arrangement in the Texas Family Code that divides weekends, holidays, and summer time between parents. In both areas, the judge focuses on what best serves the child.
For child support, Texas child support guidelines set a percentage of the paying parent's net resources: 20% for one child, 25% for two, and increasing by 5% for each additional child, up to 40% for five children. Medical and dental support, which cover a child's health and dental insurance costs, are ordered in addition to these amounts. You can estimate child support obligations with our online calculator. When a parent earns commissions, bonuses, or self-employment income, calculating child support often requires reviewing several years of tax returns and business records to arrive at a reliable income figure.
Reviews
We’re proud of the praise we receive from clients who appreciate our integrity, responsiveness, and thorough preparation.
Divorce Mediation and Collaborative Options
Not every case requires a trial. In mediation, a neutral mediator helps you and your spouse work toward an agreement. You are not required to have an attorney in mediation, but it is strongly recommended. Your attorney can help you understand the assets and issues, weigh each offer, and make sure the final terms protect your interests. A mediated settlement agreement that meets Texas Family Code requirements is binding once signed.
Divorce mediation may not be optional. Tarrant County family courts frequently order it before a contested case can go to trial.
Collaborative divorce offers another path. Both spouses hire attorneys trained in collaborative divorce and agree in writing to resolve the case outside court. If the process breaks down, those attorneys must withdraw, and each spouse hires new counsel for litigation. Since starting over with new lawyers adds expense and delay, the written agreement gives both spouses and their attorneys a strong reason to keep working toward a settlement.
Grapevine Family Cases in Tarrant County Courts
Divorces filed in Tarrant County go to one of six district courts that hear family cases: the 231st, 233rd, 322nd, 324th, 325th, and 360th District Courts. All six are located in the Family Law Center at 200 East Weatherford Street in downtown Fort Worth. Each district court has an associate judge who hears many pretrial and temporary orders matters.
Each court sets its own procedures, from mediation requirements to rules for remote hearings. MBH Law has deep familiarity with the Tarrant County family courts, and our team includes Matt Riek, a former Associate Judge of the 360th District Court. Choosing a family law attorney in Grapevine, TX, with this kind of local court knowledge can shape your strategy from the first hearing.
Why Families Choose MBH
People comparing options for a divorce attorney tend to look for credentials, courtroom skill, and a lawyer with time for their case. Our client reviews and firm awards and recognitions speak to how we deliver on each:
- Board certification: Four attorneys are Board Certified® in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
- A shared-knowledge approach: Our attorneys regularly trade insight on complex issues, a practice rooted in our firm's background, so your case benefits from the experience of the whole firm.
- Attention to family details: Every family's finances and schedules differ. When we handle child custody matters near Southlake or cases involving child custody and support in Grapevine, TX, we look closely at those details rather than relying on standard formulas alone.
- Trial readiness: We work toward settlement when it serves you, and we are ready to try your case when it does not.
Our members include:
- Constance Mims, Board Certified® in Family Law and certified in collaborative law
- Bryan Ballew, Board Certified® in Family Law, certified mediator, and Navy veteran
- Tim Alexander, Board Certified® in Family Law and an experienced collaborative divorce attorney
- Matt Riek, Board Certified® in Family Law and leader of our mediation practice
- Andrew McAlester, a Texas Super Lawyer who practices family, civil, probate, and criminal law
- Kelly Hollingsworth, leader of our business litigation and outside general counsel practice
These six members work alongside our full team of senior attorneys and associates.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Our Southlake office at 700 North Carroll Avenue, Suite 170, serves Grapevine clients. It is the closest MBH location to Grapevine.
Most Grapevine divorces are filed in Tarrant County and heard at the Family Law Center in Fort Worth. If you live in the Dallas County or Denton County part of Grapevine and meet the 90-day county residency rule, your case would be filed in that county instead. Before filing, your divorce attorney in Grapevine, TX, will confirm the correct county.
Most assets acquired during the marriage are community property, and the court divides them in a way it considers just and right, which may be an equal split but is not always. Separate property stays with the spouse who owns it, as long as that spouse can prove it with clear and convincing evidence.
Yes, in many cases. If you reach a full agreement in mediation, you can avoid a trial, though a judge must still approve and sign the final decree. Mediation may not be appropriate when there is a history of family violence.
Judges decide conservatorship and parenting time based on the child's best interest. They consider factors such as the child's needs, each parent's abilities, and the stability of each home. Texas law presumes that naming both parents joint managing conservators is in the child's best interest, but that does not guarantee equal time. A child 12 or older may talk with the judge about his or her preferences, but the judge makes the final decision.
Schedule a Consultation With Our Southlake Office
If you are looking for a family lawyer in Grapevine, TX, talk with one of our attorneys about your goals and your options. Request a consultation online or call (817) 900-8330.
MBH Law, Southlake Office
700 North Carroll Avenue,
Suite 170
Southlake, Texas 76092