trial 2831344 1280

The Different Expert Witnesses in a Texas Divorce Case

This entry was posted in Divorce on by

Each divorce case is unique to the people involved in it. Divorces may sometimes become messy and rough, especially if there are disagreements or disputes over certain matters, like child custody, asset valuation, property division, alimony, etc., that you and your spouse cannot settle on. This is where expert witnesses come in handy – smoothing over the wrinkles in an otherwise crumpled up separation. 

Expert witnesses are people who have specialized knowledge and experience in a specific field, one that they have trained in over a period of time. They can provide factual-based evidences and reliable opinions that goes beyond what an average person can offer. However, their expertise comes at a high price, so use them wisely.

Forensic Accountant

Financial planners, CPAs or actuaries are usually employed to settle financial disputes such as alimony or property division in a divorce case. They can handle investigations on allegedly hidden assets, track down separate property funds, or qualify assets that are not divisible under the Texas law. 

Custody Evaluator

Therapist, family counselor, or custody evaluators help settle child custody disagreements. These are experts in child development and can offer opinions on what can benefit the child more. Usually, they conduct individual and group interviews with the child and family members to garner a holistic analysis of the family’s life, especially if there are accounts of abuse or abandonment.

Asset Appraiser

There are different types of appraisers in divorce cases. For instance, a real estate appraiser can handle property valuations. Business appraisers, on the other hand, can put a monetary value on one spouse’s business. There are also appraisers that can expertly give value to assets such as art collections, jewels, and other prized possessions. 

Medical Expert

When there are health issues that come to light, a medical expert’s opinion comes highly valued. They can offer a substantial analysis of the situation and yield honest results. 

Vocational Evaluator

This is for disagreements that stem from one spouse’s earning capacity. The evaluators analyze the career of a provider, compute their average income, and determine their capability to support the family financially. 

Of course, there are other kinds of expert witnesses that you can find beyond this list. The ones mentioned here are those that are commonly found in divorce cases in Texas; however, each case is unique in itself. Remember to determine what arguments you need to strengthen with an expert’s opinion before you decide on who to have on your side during your hearing. If you don’t, you may just cost yourself a win. 

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profile

Hutton Law

Mr. Hutton is a Divorce and Custody Lawyer based out of Round Rock, TX. His background is with child psychology at Arizona State University where he received a B.S. in 2006, and he continued this by working with the Children’s Right’s Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law where he received his J.D. in 2009. Throughout his practice, he has been a strong proponent of utilizing modern technology to improve his practice and the representation of his clients. He currently is the technology chair of CAFA of Travis County and is committed to improving and modernizing the practice of law in Texas. If you have any questions you can contact him at timothy.hutton@austintexaslegal.com

Leave a Reply