Georgetown & Central Texas Divorce Attorney
Divorce in Texas — experienced representation that protects what matters most.
Divorce is one of the most significant legal events of your life. Carl Knickerbocker has guided Central Texas families through every type of divorce for 17 years — from straightforward uncontested cases to the most complex high-conflict litigation.
Texas Divorce Law
Divorce ends a marriage. The decisions made during it shape the rest of your life.
Texas is a community property state, which means the laws governing how assets and debts are divided in a divorce are different here than in most of the country. Getting those decisions right — property division, spousal maintenance, parenting arrangements, and support — requires an attorney who knows Texas family law and has the courtroom experience to fight for your interests when the other side won’t cooperate.
Carl Knickerbocker has handled divorces ranging from simple agreed dissolutions to complex contested cases involving substantial assets, business interests, and high-conflict parenting disputes. He approaches every case with the same goal — protecting your financial future and your relationship with your children, while guiding you through the process as efficiently as possible.
Whether your divorce is straightforward or deeply contested, the decisions made in the first weeks will follow you for years. Getting informed early — before mistakes are made — is the most valuable thing you can do right now.
What We Handle
Types of Divorce
Not all divorces are the same — yours deserves the right approach.
Uncontested Divorce
When both spouses agree on all terms — property division, custody, support — the process can move relatively quickly after the 60-day waiting period. Even in agreed cases, having an attorney review and draft the final decree protects you from mistakes that are costly to fix later.
Contested Divorce
When spouses cannot agree on one or more issues, a judge decides. This may involve temporary orders hearings, discovery, mediation, and ultimately trial. Carl has extensive trial experience and approaches contested cases with a clear, aggressive litigation strategy.
High-Conflict Divorce
When one spouse is narcissistic, abusive, or simply refuses to act in good faith, a standard approach fails. These cases require a different strategy — built around documentation, pattern recognition, and understanding how courts respond to high-conflict personalities.
Fault-Based Divorce
Texas allows divorce on grounds including adultery, cruelty, abandonment, and felony conviction. Proving fault can result in a disproportionate share of community property and can affect custody. We evaluate whether a fault-based claim is worth pursuing in your specific case.
When Children Are Involved
Protecting your children through the divorce process.
When children are involved, the stakes in a divorce multiply significantly. Custody arrangements, parenting plans, support obligations, and decision-making authority will govern your children’s daily lives for years to come. These decisions deserve careful, strategic attention — not just a default order signed without thought.
Texas courts apply a “best interest of the child” standard, but what that means in practice depends heavily on how the case is presented. An attorney who understands how to document your involvement as a parent, counter the other side’s narrative, and present your family’s situation clearly to a judge can make an enormous difference in the outcome.
If the other parent is high-conflict or using the children as leverage, see our child custody page and parallel parenting coaching resources for additional guidance.
What The Divorce Will Determine
What Not To Do
Common divorce mistakes that cost people dearly
Waiting too long to get help
Decisions about temporary orders, financial accounts, and communications made in the first weeks set the tone for everything that follows. Getting informed early is always the right move.
Moving money or assets
Transferring or hiding assets during a divorce is punished severely by courts. Instead, document what exists, open a separate account, and let your attorney guide the financial strategy.
Using children as leverage
Courts are extremely sensitive to parents who involve children in adult conflict. It often backfires and seriously damages your credibility with the judge at the worst possible time.
Poor communication choices
Everything you text, email, or post during a divorce can become evidence. Keeping communications businesslike and child-focused protects you. Angry messages rarely help and often hurt.
Accepting the first offer
Initial settlement offers are rarely in your best interest. An attorney can evaluate whether a proposed agreement is truly fair or whether retirement accounts, support, and property characterization are being missed.
Representing yourself
Divorce decrees are difficult to modify after they’re signed. Procedural mistakes, missed assets, and poorly drafted orders create years of problems. Getting it right the first time is almost always less costly than fixing it later.
Common Questions
Texas Divorce FAQs
How long does a divorce take in Texas?
Texas has a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date of filing. An uncontested divorce can often be finalized shortly after. Contested divorces involving property disputes or custody battles commonly take six months to a year or more, depending on how cooperative both parties are and how complex the issues involved.
Does it matter who files first?
Filing first gives you the right to choose the county where the divorce is filed and to present your case first at trial. It also allows you to request temporary orders quickly if needed. However, filing first gives no automatic advantage on the underlying issues. Contact us before your spouse files if at all possible.
Is Texas a 50/50 divorce state?
Not exactly. Texas requires a “just and right” division of community property, which is presumed equal but does not have to be. Courts can deviate from 50/50 based on fault, disparity in earning capacity, health, age, and the needs of any children. An attorney can help you argue for a disproportionate share when the facts support it.
Can I get a divorce if my spouse won’t agree?
Yes. Texas is a no-fault divorce state — you do not need your spouse’s agreement or consent to obtain a divorce. If your spouse refuses to participate, the court can proceed and enter a default judgment. A contested divorce simply means that one or more issues must be decided by the court rather than by agreement.
Does fault affect the divorce outcome in Texas?
Yes. Texas allows fault-based divorce on grounds including adultery, cruelty, abandonment, and felony conviction. Proving fault can affect the property division — courts can award a disproportionate share to the innocent spouse. In cases involving family violence, fault can also affect custody and protective orders.
How do I protect myself financially during a divorce?
Start by gathering financial documents — bank statements, tax returns, retirement account statements, mortgage documents, and any business records. Open a separate bank account. Do not make large purchases or transfers from joint accounts. Document everything. The most important step is contacting an attorney early — decisions in the first weeks have long-lasting consequences.
How much does a divorce cost in Texas?
Cost varies enormously depending on whether the divorce is contested and how complex the issues are. An uncontested divorce with no children and minimal assets is far less involved than a contested case with significant property, custody disputes, or a high-conflict opposing party. We discuss fees transparently at your free consultation.
Take the first step — it’s free.
Tell us about your situation. Carl will listen, answer your questions, and give you an honest assessment of your options — completely free, with no obligation to hire.
Request Your Free Consultation
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Prefer to call? (512) 763-9282 — Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm.