When Business Assets Form Part of the Marital Estate
Whenever the divorcing spouses operate a family business for a significant portion of their income, the valuation and division of business assets will present important issues throughout the case. Any mistakes in the valuation or characterization of these assets could cost you part of your fair share of the marital estate. To learn how experienced lawyers can protect your property division rights, contact MacDowell & Associates in Fairfax.
Call 703-763-0923 for Advice About Business Asset Division in Virginia
Divorcing spouses can generally agree that it's important to preserve the value of a family business as a going concern rather than liquidating the assets and dividing the proceeds between the parties. Sometimes, however, the spouse who's more actively engaged with the business might be tempted to transfer assets or negotiate away important interests to hold onto the business. In addition, it is important to verify that a spouse is not secreting assets or manipulating the books to diminish the marital value of the business assets. We can spot the signs of that behavior and move to stop it.
Our attorneys can apply for injunctive relief in many situations where it appears that dissipation or waste of marital assets is a real danger, and business assets are no exception. More commonly, however, our work will involve the following:
- Accurate characterization of business assets as marital property, separate property or hybrid property
- Accurate assessment of the value of business assets through the valuation and appraisal techniques best suited to your situation
- Expert analysis of marital asset values and income projections through forensic accountants and market consultants
- Focused evidentiary analysis in order to establish your right to a fair share of the business assets
If your property division objectives can't be achieved though negotiation, our skill at trial means that we can present detailed evidence on complex topics to tell a clear story. This ability can represent a significant advantage for any client whose property division dispute might be headed for litigation.
For additional information about our ability to represent your interests effectively in a Northern Virginia divorce involving complex business valuation or asset division, contact MacDowell & Associates in Fairfax.
