Travis County, TX · Free Consultation
Barton Creek, TX Contested Divorce Lawyer
A divorce divides debts as well as assets — and getting the debt wrong can wreck your credit for years. SMB Law, PC helps Barton Creek spouses divide debt and protect their finances. A Barton Creek contested divorce lawyer knows dividing marital debt wrong can damage your credit long after the divorce. Shane M. Boasberg has handled Central Texas divorces for more than twenty years and personally protects your finances in the split.
Behind many Barton Creek divorces is a tangle of joint debt — mortgages, cards, and loans — that has to be divided in a way that actually protects each spouse.
Where a Barton Creek contested divorce is filed
Barton Creek is in Travis County, so a contested divorce is filed with the Travis County District Clerk at the Civil and Family Courthouse on Guadalupe Street in Austin. Many issues are resolved before trial.
Dividing debts and protecting your credit
A divorce divides debts as well as assets, and mishandling them can damage a spouse’s finances for years. Debts incurred during the marriage — mortgages, car loans, credit cards, tax debt — are generally community obligations a court allocates as part of a just and right division. The critical catch is that a divorce decree binds only the spouses, not the lenders: if the decree assigns a joint credit card or the mortgage to your ex and they fail to pay, the creditor can still come after you, and your credit takes the hit. That is why a decree has to do more than assign debts — it should require refinancing or account closure, provide indemnity, and address joint accounts directly. We also watch for a spouse who runs up debt or hides it in the run-up to filing. We help Barton Creek spouses inventory the marital debt, divide it fairly, and build in the protections — refinancing, removal from joint accounts, and indemnification — that keep an ex’s missed payment from becoming your problem.
Protecting your credit after the decree
The debt side of a Barton Creek divorce is where good drafting pays off long after the case ends. Assigning a debt to one spouse means nothing to the bank that issued a joint card or loan, so we build in the mechanisms that actually shield the other spouse: deadlines to refinance the mortgage and car loans into one name, orders to close or remove a spouse from joint credit accounts, and indemnity provisions that let you recover if your ex defaults on a debt they were assigned. Where a spouse has been running up or concealing debt before filing, we bring that to the court’s attention so it factors into a just and right division. The result is a divorce that separates not just the assets but the financial liability, so one person’s missed payment does not follow the other.
Experienced advocacy when a divorce turns adversarial
A contested divorce is one of the hardest things a person goes through, and it rewards a steady, experienced hand. You work directly with attorney Shane M. Boasberg, who has represented Texans for more than two decades and has been licensed by the State of Texas since 2003. He fights for what matters to you while keeping the case focused and moving, explains every step in plain English, and keeps you informed from your first confidential consultation through the final decree.
Working with us from Barton Creek
Our office is in downtown Austin, an easy reach from Barton Creek. We handle most consultations and case updates by phone and video, and your first consultation is confidential. If travel is difficult, we can also come to you.
Why clients choose SMB Law, PC
- Direct attorney access — you talk to Shane, licensed since 2003, not a call center.
- A clear strategy — we fight where it counts and settle where it makes sense.
- Honest advice and transparent fees explained before you commit.
What working with us looks like
- Confidential consultation to understand your goals and the law that applies.
- Strategy and records tailored to your situation.
- Negotiation or court — we settle when we can and litigate when we must.
- Final decree entered correctly so you can move forward.
Frequently asked questions
Am I responsible for my spouse’s debt after divorce?
For joint or community debts, a creditor can still pursue you regardless of what the decree says, which is why the decree needs protective terms.
Does the divorce decree protect me from creditors?
Not directly. Lenders are not bound by it, so the decree should require refinancing, account closure, and indemnity to actually protect you.
Who pays the credit cards in a divorce?
The court allocates marital debts as part of the property division, but joint accounts should be closed or refinanced so both names are not exposed.
Do I have to travel to your office from Barton Creek?
No. Our downtown Austin office is about 9 miles east via Loop 360 and Bee Cave Road, and we handle Barton Creek divorces by phone and video.