Austin, TX family law attorney Tyler Pennington shares how he approaches the division of complex assets in a divorce. He explains that complex property division is a major part of his daily practice. Many of his clients are high-net-worth individuals, high earners, or those who come into a marriage with inheritances, trusts, or substantial separate estates. These cases often involve intricate questions about what constitutes community property versus separate property.

He emphasizes the importance of tracing property back to its origin, what lawyers call the “inception of title,” to determine when and how the property was acquired. In addition, he evaluates potential reimbursement claims that might arise against either the separate or community estate.

What often stresses his clients is the desire to protect assets they accumulated before marriage and to ensure that their separate property remains in their name after divorce. To handle these matters, he frequently works with tracing experts and CPAs to analyze financial records, trace property origins, and clearly present to the court—and opposing parties—the proper characterization of each asset.