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Navigating Divorce with Smart Financial Planning

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Divorce can feel overwhelming, but at Austin Divorce Planners, we believe knowledge is power. Understanding your financial landscape during this transition is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself, your children, and your future.

Why Financial Clarity Matters

Many people underestimate how much divorce impacts long-term stability. From dividing assets to adjusting to a single income, financial decisions made during this time will affect your lifestyle for years. Our experts in divorce financial planning in Austin, TX ensure you clearly understand your assets, debts, retirement accounts, and future needs.

Protecting Your Assets

A common challenge is fairly dividing marital property while ensuring both parties’ needs are met. Our team helps you document and value all assets, including investments, pensions, and real estate. By prioritizing accuracy and fairness, we create a roadmap for a smooth division that minimizes stress and conflict.

Planning for the Future

Divorce isn’t just about today—it’s about preparing for tomorrow. We assist with budgeting, retirement planning, and post-divorce financial strategies so you can build a secure foundation for the years ahead. Whether you’re considering buying a new home or saving for your children’s education, we’ll help you plan with confidence.

Emotional and Practical Guidance

Financial decisions during divorce aren’t just about numbers—they’re deeply emotional. Our team provides compassionate support to help you make clear-headed choices while feeling supported every step of the way. We balance empathy with expertise, giving you the reassurance you need in uncertain times.

Take Control of Your Divorce Journey

At Austin Divorce Planners, we empower clients with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to move forward. Your financial security is our top priority. Contact us today.

How the CDFA Process Works

Attorneys are trained in the law. A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® — a divorce financial analyst trained specifically in the money side of divorce — focuses on the financial mechanics, including how taxes change what a settlement is really worth.

Initial consultation ($100)

A one-hour conversation to understand your situation — income, assets, the length of your marriage, and what support is on the table.

After-Tax Modeling

We translate gross support figures into what each household actually keeps, so you're negotiating with real numbers instead of pre-2019 assumptions.

Support vs. Property Comparison

Keith works directly with your attorney — or as a neutral party in collaborative divorces — to support fair, informed negotiation.

Long-Term Projection

We model what your settlement looks like 5, 10, and 20 years out — not just at the moment the ink dries.

Austin Divorce Planners works with clients throughout Austin, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Georgetown, Leander, Pflugerville, San Marcos, and across the rest of Texas through virtual consultations — so you can get divorce financial planning help wherever you are in the state.

 

About Keith PowellKeith Powell is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) and Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) with over 30 years of experience. Austin Divorce Planners is one of only a handful of Texas firms focused exclusively on divorce financial planning, with a strong focus on serving women throughout Texas. Serving all of Texas, including Austin, Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Waco, and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions: Alimony & Taxes in Texas

The questions Keith hears most often from clients navigating support in a 2026 divorce.

Is alimony tax deductible in Texas in 2026?

No. For any divorce or separation agreement executed after December 31, 2018, alimony and court-ordered spousal maintenance are not deductible for the paying spouse and are not taxable income for the receiving spouse. This applies to all Texas divorces finalized in 2026.

Didn't the 2017 tax law expire after 2025?

Several of the TCJA’s individual provisions were scheduled to sunset after 2025, which is why many people expected alimony rules to revert. The alimony provision, however, was written as a permanent change and was never part of that sunset. For 2026 and beyond, the post-2018 treatment stands.

My divorce was finalized before 2019. Which rules apply to me?

Agreements executed on or before December 31, 2018 are grandfathered under the old rules — alimony remains deductible to the payer and taxable to the recipient. Be careful, though: modifying that older order can switch it to the new treatment if the modification expressly says the new rules apply.

How much spousal maintenance can a Texas court order?

Court-ordered maintenance is capped at the lesser of $5,000 per month or 20% of the paying spouse’s average monthly gross income, under Texas Family Code § 8.055. Courts do not automatically award the maximum — the amount is tied to the recipient’s minimum reasonable needs, and eligibility itself is limited.

What's the difference between spousal maintenance and contractual alimony?

Court-ordered spousal maintenance is limited by statute — strict eligibility, a dollar cap, and duration limits. Contractual alimony is a voluntary agreement written into the decree, with no caps or eligibility rules, often used to balance the property division. Both receive the same federal tax treatment for post-2018 agreements.

Should the tax change affect how I negotiate?

Yes. Because the payer no longer gets a deduction and the recipient no longer pays tax, the after-tax value of every support dollar has shifted. Numbers based on pre-2019 assumptions are no longer accurate — which is why modeling support and property on an after-tax basis before you agree to anything is so important.

Do I need a divorce financial planner if I already have a divorce attorney?

Attorneys provide legal advice and draft agreements. A divorce financial planner or CDFA helps analyze the long-term financial impact of settlement options, including taxes, retirement accounts, spousal maintenance, and future cash flow.

Related Reading for Your Texas Divorce

Support is only one piece of the settlement. Explore the related financial issues that often move alongside it.

Spousal Support in Texas

How spousal maintenance works, who qualifies, and how Texas courts approach it.

Asset Division in Texas

Community property rules and strategies for a fair, after-tax division of assets.

Pension Calculations

Why a pension’s true value rarely matches the statement — and how it’s divided.

Post-Divorce Budget Planning

What your finances look like going forward, on one income.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not legal or tax advice. Tax treatment depends on your specific facts and can change. Texas Family Code provisions are summarized here for general understanding. Please consult a qualified attorney and a tax advisor about your individual situation before making any decisions.
Austin Divorce Planners | Serving All of Texas
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