Does the firm have an office in Preston Hollow?
No. Katie L. Lewis, P.C. Family Law is based in North Dallas at 10440 N. Central Expressway, Suite 1100, and works with clients who live in Preston Hollow and throughout the Dallas area.
Preston Hollow · North Dallas
Preston Hollow Family Law for High-Asset Divorce
When a marriage involves significant wealth, a business, or a public profile, a divorce calls for both financial rigor and discretion. Katie L. Lewis, P.C. Family Law, a North Dallas family law firm, works with Preston Hollow clients who want a careful, measured process from the first conversation forward.
- Board Certified in Family Law by the TBLS
- A practice devoted exclusively to family law
- North Dallas office on Central Expressway
Who we work with
Serving Preston Hollow from our North Dallas office
Preston Hollow is a residential neighborhood in North Dallas. Our office is also in North Dallas, on North Central Expressway. We do not have an office in Preston Hollow, and we work with clients who live there.
Katie L. Lewis is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and the firm practices family law exclusively. Much of that work involves divorces where the financial picture is complicated, the stakes are personal, and clients care a great deal about how the process unfolds, not only how it ends.
Financial complexity
Understanding what is at stake before deciding how to divide it
High-asset divorces tend to turn on documentation. Below is a general overview of financial questions that often arise for Preston Hollow clients. It is meant to help you prepare, not to predict how any issue will be resolved in your case.
A complete picture of the marital estate
Texas is a community property state, and in a divorce the court divides the community estate in a manner it considers just and right, which is not necessarily an equal split. Before anyone can evaluate a proposed division, both sides need an accurate inventory: residences and other real estate, brokerage and investment accounts, retirement plans, private investments, and liabilities.
In larger estates, that inventory often requires more than account balances. Values change, some assets are hard to price, and the tax consequences of keeping one asset rather than another can differ significantly.
Related: Property division
Separate property and characterization
Property owned before marriage, or received during marriage by gift or inheritance, is generally separate property under Texas law. At divorce, however, property is presumed to be community, and a spouse claiming separate property must prove it by clear and convincing evidence.
When separate funds have been reinvested, combined with community funds, or used to acquire new assets over many years, establishing their character usually depends on careful tracing through historical records.
Related: High-net-worth divorce
Executive and deferred compensation
Bonuses, stock options, restricted stock, deferred compensation, and similar arrangements raise questions about what portion was earned during the marriage, how unvested awards should be handled, and how to divide them in a way that accounts for taxes and vesting schedules.
Plan documents, award agreements, and compensation statements typically carry the details that matter, so gathering them early helps frame realistic options.
Related: Complex contested divorce
Business and professional interests
An ownership stake in a closely held company, a professional practice, or an investment partnership may need to be characterized, valued, and divided without disrupting the business itself. Company agreements can also restrict transfers or set out buy-sell terms that affect the options available.
These matters often involve outside professionals such as business valuators or forensic accountants, so that decisions rest on documented analysis rather than assumptions.
Related: Business owner divorce
Privacy and discretion
Handling a high-profile divorce with care
For business owners, executives, and families who are known in the community, how a divorce is conducted can matter almost as much as its result. Discretion is not something any attorney can guarantee, but it can be planned for. Being clear about both the available tools and their limits helps you make informed decisions.
Approaches that may help
- Resolving issues by agreement through negotiation or mediation, which keeps much of the discussion outside the courtroom
- Seeking agreed confidentiality terms or court orders limiting how sensitive financial documents exchanged in the case may be used
- Keeping detailed financial terms in documents that are not filed, where the law and the court allow it
- Redacting sensitive data, such as Social Security and financial account numbers, from filed documents as Texas rules require
- Agreeing on how, when, and by whom the divorce will be discussed with children, family, colleagues, and business partners
Limits worth understanding
- A divorce is a court proceeding, and court records are generally open to the public
- Sealing court records in Texas is limited and requires a court order, so it should not be assumed
- Hearings and trials are generally held in open court
- Your spouse's choices about what to share are not entirely within your control
Which options are realistic depends on your spouse, the issues in dispute, and the court. Children also benefit from discretion: keeping adult conflict and financial details away from them is often part of the plan.
Before you act
Quiet early steps that keep options open
You do not need to have everything in hand before reaching out. In the early stage, the most useful steps are often the quietest ones. These general points are a starting place, and the firm's attorneys can explain what matters for your situation. If you are thinking ahead, our divorce planning page covers more.
- Talk with an attorney before you sign any agreement or make major financial decisions
- Keep copies of financial records you already have lawful access to
- Avoid moving, spending, or transferring significant assets outside your ordinary routine
- Keep conversations about the divorce off social media and shared devices or accounts
- Note upcoming dates such as bonus payments, vesting events, and tax deadlines
What to expect
A clear process from the first call
Step 1
The initial intake call
A conversation with the firm's intake team about your circumstances, the assets involved, and any privacy concerns you want the firm to understand from the start.
Step 2
A consultation with an attorney
A meeting with one of the firm's attorneys to discuss your options and the financial and personal questions your case is likely to raise.
Step 3
Engagement and next steps
If you decide to move forward, the firm explains how your case will be staffed and how the work will proceed.
Learn more about how our intake process works.
Next step
Talk with a family law attorney about your Preston Hollow divorce
If you are considering divorce or have been served, and your situation involves significant assets or privacy concerns, contact the firm to begin the intake process. The team will learn about your circumstances and explain what happens next.
Frequently asked questions
Can my divorce be kept completely private?
Not entirely. Divorce is a court proceeding and court records are generally public. There are often ways to limit what becomes part of the public record and how sensitive information is handled, and a consultation is the place to discuss which may be available in your situation.
Is mediation confidential?
Texas law generally treats communications made during mediation as confidential, subject to certain exceptions. A signed mediated settlement agreement, however, may become part of the court's record, so how its terms are drafted matters.
Does a prenuptial agreement settle everything?
Not necessarily. A marital property agreement can resolve many property questions, but whether and how it applies depends on its terms, how it was signed, and how the couple handled their finances during the marriage. Issues involving children are decided separately.
Is the information on this page legal advice?
No. This page provides general information about Texas family law. Every case depends on its own facts, and you should speak with a licensed attorney about your situation before making decisions.