Divorce and the Family Home
Selling or Keeping the House During a Divorce in Colleyville and Northeast Tarrant County
Deciding what happens to the family home is one of the biggest pieces of a divorce, financially and emotionally. Whether you're selling, considering a buyout, or trying to figure out what you can afford next, you deserve accurate numbers, clear options, and an advisor who handles everything with discretion.
A Neutral Advisor, Not a Side
When both spouses own the home, we work as a neutral professional. Both of you receive the same information at the same time, and we coordinate respectfully with both attorneys. Our job is to get the best possible result for the property, not to take sides.
Your Options for the House
Sell now and divide the proceeds according to your agreement or decree.
One spouse buys out the other, using a well-supported market value and a lender's approval.
Keep it jointly for now and sell later, an option some families choose for timing or school reasons, usually spelled out carefully in the decree.
We'll help you understand the realistic numbers behind each option so you and your attorney can make an informed decision.
A Few Texas Basics
Texas is a community property state, which generally means property acquired during the marriage is presumed to belong to both spouses. Court orders entered during a divorce can also limit what either spouse can do with the home before the divorce is final. Your attorney will tell you what applies to you. We make sure the sale follows the agreement and any orders in place.
How We Help
A clear, data-backed market value for settlement or buyout discussions
Equal communication with both parties, in writing when helpful
Coordination with both attorneys and any mediator
Marketing options that respect your privacy
Every contract explained paragraph by paragraph before anyone signs
Help finding your next home when you're ready, with timing that fits your decree and your lender
How It Works
A confidential conversation.
Where things stand, what's been agreed, and what still needs to be decided.
Value and options.
A realistic market value and the numbers behind selling or a buyout.
A plan both sides can see.
Pricing, preparation, timing, and how decisions will be made.
Marketing and negotiation.
Handled professionally, with both owners kept equally informed.
Closing, and what's next.
A clean closing, and help with your next home when you're ready.
Who We Bring In
Family law attorneys, mediators, lenders, CPAs, and financial advisors. See The Collective and our Trusted Vendors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we sell the house before the divorce is final?
Often, yes, if both spouses agree and no court order prevents it. Sale proceeds are sometimes held until the divorce is final, depending on your agreement. Your attorneys will guide how that's handled.
Do both spouses have to sign to sell the house?
Usually, yes. Even if only one spouse's name is on the deed, Texas homestead protections generally require both spouses to sign when selling the home they live in. Your attorney can confirm what applies in your situation.
How do we determine the home's value for a buyout?
A detailed market analysis from a real estate professional is often the starting point, and some couples also order an appraisal. We'll provide a well-supported value so both sides are working from the same numbers.
What if we can't agree on a listing price?
We'll share the market data with both of you and your attorneys. Clear, objective numbers often settle the question. If not, your attorneys or mediator can help you reach an agreement.
Can I buy a new home before the divorce is final?
Sometimes, but many lenders want to see a final decree first, because it affects your income, debts, and support obligations. Talk with a lender early. We can connect you with one who regularly works with clients in this situation.
Can the sale be kept private?
We'll talk through marketing options that protect your privacy while still following MLS rules and getting the home in front of serious buyers.
Related Transitions
Collective Real Estate Services provides real estate brokerage services. We are not attorneys, tax advisors, or financial advisors, and nothing on this page is legal, tax, or financial advice.