When divorce enters the picture, business owners often face a terrifying question: Am I going to lose everything I’ve built? In the first part of my series for business owners, I’m speaking directly to those of you who are already in the divorce process, or see it coming. I’ll walk you through the financial blind spots no one warns you about, the emotional mistakes that cause the most damage, and the first steps you can take to protect your business. This isn’t just about numbers. This is about your future, your legacy, and your ability to move forward without losing control of the company you built.
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
If you’re running personal or family expenses through your business, it’s time to stop. Messy books create confusion, distrust, and unnecessary legal battles. When your numbers aren’t clean, the wrong assumptions can be made and those assumptions can cost you.
Your income isn’t just your paycheck. If you take both W-2 wages and distributions, or if you’ve been inconsistent in how you pay yourself, that can lead to double counting and inflated support calculations. The key is clarity and no sudden changes mid-process.
A proper business valuation is non-negotiable. It needs to be done by someone who understands your industry and how divorce works. Don’t let someone unfamiliar with your business tell you what it’s worth without context. And if your spouse gets a valuation, you need someone who can spot the holes in it.
Marriage is about love, but divorce is about money. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm.
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