Brett Christiansen

For your Probate, Estate Planning and Business Legal Needs call Brett at (409) 292-7668

Brett Christiansen is a Shareholder/Partner at Christiansen Davis LLC. His practice areas are PROBATE, ESTATE PLANNING and BUSINESS. His probate practice encompasses all facets of probate – with a will and intestate (without a will). The primary focus of his family practice is collaborative divorce and pre and post marital agreements. His business practice centers on commercial contracts with an emphasis on technology; negotiating and drafting contracts for the sale and licensing of software and other intellectual property; mergers and acquisitions; business entity formation and other general corporate matters. Prior to joining Christiansen Davis, Mr. Christiansen served as General Counsel for a leading national technology provider. Mr. Christiansen is a certified public accountant in the State of Texas and has experience in both public and private practice.

“Family is at the core of who we are, whether that family is biological or chosen. That is why a solid legal foundation is so important. I endeavor to tackle the complex issues of family law in a positive, constructive way, always advocating for the needs and wishes of my client first, while being mindful of the emotional impact behind each and every decision.”

Brett Christiansen - Partner/Shareholder
Email bchristiansen@cdfirm.com
Phone: (409) 292-7668
Fax: (972) 332-2306
Galveston County, Texas

Areas of Practice

Probate
Trusts and Estate Planning
Will Drafting
Collaborative Divorce
Pre-marital and Post-marital Agreements
Mergers, Acquisitions, Divestures
Corporate Governance
Financing/Debt Covenants
Contract Drafting, Negotiating, and Management

Texas Wesleyan University

Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.)

1999

Partner

Christiansen Davis LLC

Current

We got marriage rights. Now let’s get marriage right.

Brett Christiansen's Blog

July 2, 2015

Legal Essentials for Entrepreneurs, Starting A Business, Certificate Course, Dallas, TX

March 8, 2016

Southern Methodist University, School of Entrepreneurship

A detailed discussion of business entity formation and business contracting with a focus on newly formed business ventures.

Certified Public Accountant

Texas State Board of Public Accountancy

Finalist 2006 Best Corporate Counsel Award

Dallas Business Journal

2006

Finalist in 2006 Best Corporate Counsel Award, General Counsel - Small Business

Texas State Bar  # 24006439

Member

1999 - Current

Dallas LGBT Bar Association

President

2017 - 2018

State Bar of Texas Collaborative Law Section

Vice Chair

2016 - 2018

Texas

Since 1999

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted

Probate

Probate Administration

Estate Planning

Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills

Business Law

Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions

Family Law

Prenups & Marital Agreements, Same Sex Family Law

Divorce

Collaborative Law, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Uncontested Divorce

• Intestate Administration and Heirship Determinations (No Will)

Q. My partner and I have separated after 15 yrs and I need to know my rights and options as far as dividing our asset

14 December 2017

A: The answer to this question really depends on the legal status of your relationship with your partner of 15 years. You use the term "partner". Were you married? Did you have any other type of status on your relationship? That will dictate how the property can be handled. That status will also dictate the characterization of the property which can also affect how the asset is to be divided. You may meet the requirements of an Informal Marriage in TEXAS which are found in Texas Family Code Section 2.401. There are three elements of an informal ("Common Law") marriage in Texas and you must have all three parts(at the same time) in order to have an informal marriage in Texas. You and your partner must have (1) AGREED to be married (2) LIVED TOGETHER in TEXAS as a married couple AND (3) REPRESENTED TO OTHERS that you were married. If you can prove an informal marriage, that puts potentially a lot of other assets into play for division. But, If the house was a COMMUNITY PROPERTY asset (i.e. acquired AFTER marriage) the Court could divide the asset for you and in the event that one could not afford to buy the other out of their interest, they would likely order the house sold, mortgage paid and remaining proceeds split just and right. But, you can never tell exactly what a court will do. If your interest in the house is a separate property (generally meaning exiting before the marriage) or an individual, personal interest (i.e. no marriage here) you could bring a partition suit for the house and generally in those cases the Court will have the house sold and profits split. This can be complicated and absent an agreement, you should likely seek counsel to assist you in navigating a path.