If you own a business and are considering marriage, a prenuptial agreement (prenup) can help protect your hard-earned assets. This document outlines how you will handle assets and financial matters during a divorce.
Without a prenup, your business could be considered marital property and subject to division between you and your spouse. There could also be complications that could lead to unnecessary delays and costly disputes — especially if your spouse claims a portion of the business or its profits. Here is how a prenup can help safeguard your business.
Clarifying ownership
If you started the business before marriage, a prenup can help define the premarital value of the business and specify that it is your separate property. This can help avoid commingling where separate and marital property mix.
It’s also worth noting that your spouse may be entitled to a share of the additional value gained by the business during the marriage if you owned it before tying the knot. A prenup can help clarify such issues and prevent disagreements about who owns what.
Maintaining business operations
Divorce can disrupt business operations, particularly if ownership or control is contested. However, you can avoid this with a prenup clearly defining ownership and management responsibilities. It will help ensure that the business continues running smoothly amidst the divorce.
Avoiding lengthy court proceedings
Dividing a business during divorce can be complex, especially if you cannot agree on a valuation method or how to go about the division. You can address such complexities beforehand with a prenup, saving you considerable time and money in legal battles with your spouse.
There’s much more a prenup can do to protect your business interests and streamline the financial aspects of your divorce. As such, it helps to seek experienced legal guidance in drafting a comprehensive prenuptial agreement to ensure your business continues thriving post-divorce. You will also have peace of mind knowing there is a safety net in place if your marriage does not work out.