Business Asset Protection or Division
For business owners, divorce brings unique challenges—especially when your livelihood, employees, and years of investment are at stake. In England and Wales, business assets can be considered matrimonial property if they were built, acquired, or significantly developed during the marriage, even if owned in one spouse’s name alone.
That doesn’t mean your ex automatically gains a share in your company. The court’s aim is to reach a fair financial settlement—balancing one party’s need for security with the other’s need to keep the business functioning. Solutions may include buy-outs, offsetting business value with other assets, or agreeing to ongoing spousal maintenance instead of direct division.
Where the business has complex structures or significant value, expert valuation by a forensic accountant is essential. And if your spouse worked in or contributed to the business, that may also factor into how it’s treated.
Whether you want to protect your business or ensure your fair share in one, legal advice is key to achieving a sustainable and commercially viable outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Businesses founded or developed during the marriage can be treated as matrimonial assets and may be included in the financial settlement—even if one spouse had no formal ownership.
Not necessarily. The court usually aims to avoid disrupting viable businesses. Instead, the value may be accounted for through lump sum payments, asset offsetting, or other financial adjustments.
Yes. With the right legal strategy, you can preserve ownership while reaching a fair settlement. Tools such as prenuptial agreements, restructuring, or negotiated consent orders can help limit disruption.
Your business is more than an asset—it’s your vision, livelihood, and future. AAGA Solicitors offers strategic legal support to help you protect what you’ve built while resolving financial matters fairly and efficiently.