Texas Divorce Attorneys For Business Owners
Protecting a Lifetime of Investment and Achievement
When faced with divorce, business owners need to consider what that might mean for the future of their business. One of the most important question is: What will happen to my business? Many fear that divorce may jeopardize the business’ growth or that their spouse will take it from them. To best answer your questions, your attorney must know when your business was founded in relation to your marriage and if you have established any legal provisions to protect your business.
Work with Our Experienced Texas Divorce Attorneys
Our Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Granbury, Midland and Plano-based lawyers offer the specialized expertise required in a Texas divorce with business ownership involved. Not only do our lawyers have deep knowledge of business matters, but many also have firsthand experience as business owners. They understand how much you have invested in your business and appreciate that it represents a lifetime of achievement. Helping clients preserve the maximum value of their businesses at the time of divorce is a priority. During a divorce business owners can rely on the attorneys of Goranson Bain Ausley to guide them on how to protect their assets.
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Common Ways to Divide a Business in a Divorce
When going through a divorce, a business owner has three main options for dividing it. You and your former spouse can remain co-owners, buy out your spouse’s interest, or sell the business and split the profit. There are a variety of factors that can influence what road you decide to take, which include:
- If your business is considered community or separate property;
- The valuation of your business;
- You and your spouse’s objectives for the company.
You may have a preconceived idea of how you would like to maintain business ownership. However, it is crucial to consult an attorney experienced in dividing businesses in divorce to know your options and the implications of each choice. You want to be confident you are making the right financial decisions.
Is My Business Community or Separate Property?
Determining the status of your business begins with understanding the concept of community property. At the time of divorce, all property is presumed to be community. Still, that presumption can be defeated by “clear and convincing” evidence (a higher evidentiary standard used to determine whether an asset is separate property). Deciding whether the property is separate involves establishing when and how the property was acquired in this case.
How is a Business Valued During Divorce in Texas?
In a divorce, the fair market value of the business must be determined. It is the price that a hypothetical willing and able buyer would pay to a hypothetical willing and able seller when neither is under compulsion to sell or buy.
Protect Your Business in Divorce
Your business is not just your livelihood. It is the result of hard work and determination over the years. Whether you’re facing divorce or are married and want to consider your options, consider these strategies to protect your business:
Be Proactive
Protect your business before divorce is on the table with a prenuptial or post-marital agreement. These agreements benefit both you and your spouse as they help manage expectations and outline each spouse’s roles in the business before contentions may arise. Writing a prenuptial or post-marital agreement can save time, money, and emotion in the long run.
Know How Your Business is Valued
One of the most important factors to establish in divorce is if your business will be considered separate or community property and what to expect during the divorce process through property division. If you start to feel overwhelmed by the complexity, rely on the counsel of a Goranson Bain Ausley lawyer to help manage these issues.
Hire the Right Attorney
One of the best ways to protect your business is to hire a lawyer with experience representing business owners. Such attorneys have the unique skills to help those going through a Texas divorce with a business that other lawyers can’t match as they understand how much is at stake. You put your heart into your company as an owner; make sure you have qualified counsel by your side to help protect it.
Work with Our Experienced Texas Divorce Attorneys
Our Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Granbury, Midland and Plano based attorneys offer the specialized expertise that business owners require in divorce. Not only do our lawyers have deep knowledge of business matters, but many also have firsthand experience as business owners themselves. They understand just how much you have invested in your business and appreciate that it represents a lifetime of achievement. Helping clients preserve maximum value of their businesses at the time of divorce is a priority. When business owners divorce, they can rely on the attorneys of Goranson Bain Ausley to guide them on how to protect their assets.
- Thomas P. Goranson 1997
- Thomas L. Ausley 1997
- Diana S. Friedman 1998
- Thomas A. Greenwald 2003
- Kathryn J. Murphy 2004
- Eric Robertson 2007
- Kelly Ausley-Flores 2009
- Aimee Pingenot Key 2015
- Kristen A. Algert 2017
- P. Lindley Bain 2020
- Ryan R. Bauerle 2022
- Lindsey Obenhaus 2023
- Hayley Collins Blair 2021 2018
- Lindsey Obenhaus 2024 2023 2022 2021
- Katie Flowers Samler 2020 2019 2018
- Kathryn J. Murphy 2024 2023 2020 2019 2018 2017 2010 2009 2008
- Aimee Pingenot Key 2024 2020 2019 2017
- Thomas A. Greenwald 2022 2018 2012 2011 2009 2008
- Paula Larsen 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2008
- Diana S. Friedman 2017 2016 2015 2013
- Angeline Lindley Bain 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2009 2008
- Thomas P. Goranson 2011 2009 2008
- Beth E. Maultsby 2010
- Thomas L. Ausley 1980
- Thomas P. Goranson 1980
- Gary L. Nickelson 1984
- Paula Larsen 1985
- Angeline Lindley Bain 1993
- Kathryn J. Murphy 1995
- Diana S. Friedman 1996
- Kristen A. Algert 1997
- Thomas A. Greenwald 1997
- Eric Robertson 1997
- Kelly Ausley-Flores 2000
- Curtis W. Harrison 2002
- Cindy V. Tisdale 2003
- Jeff Shore 2006
- Clint Westhoff 2006
- Jeff Domen 2009
- Angel J. Berbarie 2010
- P. Lindley Bain 2012
- Aimee Pingenot Key 2012
- Kevin Davidson 2017
- Rob Frazer 2018
- Ryan R. Bauerle 2018
- Hayley Collins Blair 2019
- Lindsey Obenhaus 2019
- Katie Flowers Samler 2019
- Jonathan James 2020
- Chris Nickelson 2021
- Chandler Rice Winslow 2023