Brett Christiansen

For your Probate, Estate Planning and Business Legal Needs call Brett at (409) 228-0965. Schedule a free consultation. Virtual options available. www.brett.law

Brett Christiansen is the Managing Shareholder/Partner at Christiansen PLLC | The Chris Law Office. 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 agreed divorce and other agreed family matters; 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; commercial finance, commercial real estate; general counsel outsourcing and other general corporate matters. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Christiansen served as General Counsel for a leading national technology provider. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Christiansen was 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.” -B.A.C.

Brett Christiansen - Partner/Shareholder
Email brett@brett.law
Phone: (409) 228-0965
Galveston County, Texas

Areas of Practice

Probate
Estate Planning
Will, Powers of Attorney & Directives Drafting
Collaborative Divorce
Pre-marital and Post-marital Agreements
Mergers, Acquisitions, Divestures
Corporate Governance
Commerical Real Estate
Contracts

• Intestate Administration and Heirship Determinations (No Will)

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted

Texas

Since 1999

Managing Shareholder/Partner

Christiansen PLLC

2022 - Current

Partner

Christiansen Davis LLC

2009 - 2021

Texas Wesleyan University

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

1999

AV Rated Preeminent

Martindale Hubbell

2023

AV rated Preeminent® by Martindale Hubbell: The highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.

AV Rated Preeminent

Martindale Hubbell

2022

AV rated Preeminent® by Martindale Hubbell: The highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.

AV Rated Preeminent

Martindale Hubbell

2021

AV rated Preeminent® by Martindale Hubbell: The highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.

AV Rated Preeminent

Martindale Hubbell

2020

AV rated Preeminent® by Martindale Hubbell: The highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.

AV Rated Preemient

Martindale Hubbell

2019

AV rated Preeminent® by Martindale Hubbell: The highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.

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

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.

Q. I'M NEEDING TO FILE FOR A DIVORCE BUT MY SPOUSE LIVES IN ANOTHER STATE. WE BOTH AGREE ON THE DIVORCE.

April 30, 2024

A: In Texas, residency requirements for divorce cases are governed by Texas Family Code Section 6.301. According to this statute, either party involved in the divorce proceedings can establish residency in Texas, allowing the divorce case to be legally filed in a Texas Court.

Specifically, the rule stipulates that either the petitioner (the individual initiating the suit) or the respondent must have been a "Domiciliary" of Texas for the six (6) months preceding the filing of the divorce. Additionally, to file an Original Petition, one must have been a resident of the county where the petition is to be filed for at least ninety (90) prior to the filing.

IT is worth noting that the Texas residency requirement offers flexibility, as it permits either party to file the divorce based on the residency of the other party. This means that even if your spouse moves away from Texas, they can still file initiate divorce proceedings in Texas based on your residency. ... Read More

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

December 14, 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. ... Read More