Naperville Business Owner Divorce Lawyer
When the person you’re divorcing is also your business partner, the situation becomes twice as complicated. Even if you don’t actively run the business together, your spouse’s ownership interest can make the divorce even more complicated and contentious, since Illinois follows equitable distribution rules in a divorce, meaning property is divided fairly, not necessarily equally. Unraveling shared finances, business interests, and long-term professional plans is both difficult and emotionally taxing. You need help, and you’ll get it with our Naperville, IL business owner divorce lawyer. We assist with business valuation and asset division, then create a practical strategy for moving forward. Contact Merel Family Law today to schedule a consultation.
Business Owner Divorce Lawyer Naperville, IL
Starting a business with your spouse might seem like an ideal way to build a future and grow professionally. But when a relationship breaks down, the business often feels the strain. For some, business pressures or disagreements about direction and growth leak into the relationship and contribute to a marriage breakdown. No matter what led to this point, the result is often the same: disputes over marital property and business assets.
If there’s no prenuptial or postnuptial agreement outlining how business interests should be handled, Illinois law will control how business assets are divided. If you and your spouse have an operating agreement or partnership contract, it may help simplify the process of separating your business interests. Either way, having our Naperville business owner divorce lawyer guide the property division process is essential to protecting both your personal and professional interests.
A business started before the marriage may remain separate property unless it was later treated as marital (as can happen in situations of “comingling funds” or using marital assets to fund the business). However, if your spouse contributed to its growth or day-to-day operations, or if they stepped away from their career to support your business venture, they may have a legitimate claim to part of its value. Our firm is here to advocate for you in both the business and divorce aspects of your case. We work with experienced financial professionals, including forensic accountants, to ensure an accurate and thorough valuation.
Why Our Experience Matters in Business Owner Divorce Cases
Divorce is already challenging. Adding business interests into the mix makes it even more complicated, but we can help you resolve it favorably. Our Naperville business owner divorce lawyer protects your financial position, preserving your role in the business when possible, and helps you move forward with a clear, strategic plan that supports both your personal and professional future, whether you’re the owner or the spouse entitled to a fair share.
- 10.0 rating on AVVO, a perfect score as evaluated by our professional peers
- Partner Jaclyn DeSana spent a year of service with AmeriCorps VISTA, where she worked at First Defense Law Aid
- Ms. DeSana is currently a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the DuPage County Bar Association, and the National Lawyers Guild
- Partner Paige Ryterski is an active member of the Illinois State Bar and the Michigan State Bar.
- Our firm ranks in the Nation’s Top 1% as recognized by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel
If you and your soon-to-be-ex share business interests, you can depend on our professional, personalized advice. Call Merel Family Law today for a consultation.
