Partnerships, sole proprietorships and other topics related to small business and divorce

Do you or your spouse own a small business, either together or independently? If you do and are also marching quickly towards divorce, likely, you do not know nearly as much about how the law treats businesses in the context of divorce in Texas.

With that in mind, the attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, would like to share with you some information on this subject. While we cannot present every issue you may encounter in your case in this sort of platform; we hope that today's and yesterday's blogs will offer you some valuable food for thought.

Are partnerships subject to having their veil pierced?

When I say "veil pierced," I am referring to the idea that individual shareholders of a corporation can be held directly accountable for a corporation's actions in limited circumstances. This is commonly referred to as piercing the corporate veil because, in large part, corporations are set up as limited liability entities that protect the individual shareholders from legal responsibility if the corporation were to be sued.

As opposed to corporations, partnerships are not subject to the same piercing. In blocks, the general partner is always liable for the obligations and debts of the association as they pertain to third parties. There is no protection for the partners from third parties, and these folks can attempt to recover any losses suffered directly from the general partner.

The Limited Liability Company is a combination of a corporation and a partnership.

Combining aspects of a corporation and a partnership, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) offers more excellent protection for individuals within the LLC.

A piercing of the corporate veil is possible though I am not familiar with it, has ever occurred in the context of a family law case in Texas.

Sole proprietorships

If you own all the assets in a business and are subject to all the liabilities associated with the company, then that is called a sole proprietorship. Sole proprietorships are created under your social security number and, as a result, are treated as if you and the same entity. Your business assets are treated just the same as the property you own in your residences. Loans that you have taken out in your business name are treated as personal loans, making you and your spouse responsible for their repayment.

Any money earned or income generated from a sole proprietorship is presumed to be community property, just as any income that you would gain from a job working for any other business would carry the same presumption. If you have utilized your separate property to fund a portion of the community estate, you can reimburse these monies in the divorce.

What are your property rights to a sole proprietorship in a divorce?

In the context of your divorce, you will own distinct types of property interests in your sole proprietorship. The first and more logical is the ownership interest in the business. This right stems from your owning the company as an extension of yourself. The equipment, inventory, and other materials utilized in operating the industry are also property rights that you will own.

Keep in mind that if you create your sole proprietorship during your marriage, it can never be considered separate property.

The reputation that you possess as a business owner may cease to be if you sell your interest in the business due to your divorce. For example, if your customer base is primarily made up of people who utilize your services due to your being associated with the business, then this is what I mean. When determining the company's value, you should not consider your goodwill. The business's reputation as a whole would be relevant and should be included in any valuation estimates when discussing them with a buyer.

In separate personal goodwill from the goodwill associated with your business, you must first figure out whether or not that goodwill exists independently from you. Suppose your abilities and reputation as a business owner cannot be separated from the general nature of the friendship of your business. In that case, it cannot be said to add value.

In the context of a business owner going through a divorce, that goodwill is attached to your business and not to you as a person but has some value that increases the value of your business. If it does, your spouse will have a community property interest in that goodwill.

How will your business be valued in a divorce?

If you were to value the business by looking at tangible assets appraised at their market value (with liabilities subtracted), you would be using an asset approach to valuing the company.

A second manner of valuing your business would be to look at the income generated by your business now and in the future and to determine a value based on how much an investor could reasonably expect to receive as far as future streams of income.

Keep in mind that if you own a sole proprietorship, there are no assets that can be utilized to value your business. Goodwill associated with your business can be appreciated. Often in a situation where a trial is necessary for divorce, both sides will hire expert witnesses to testify about the value of a business. Expert witnesses can often be very expensive to retain, and you and your spouse would be well served to attempt to settle your case before trial in a mediation setting.

Often you can negotiate a better outcome than you would stand to receive in a trial, even on your best day. Mediated Settlement Agreements are frequently more flexible than judgments from a problem. After all, nobody knows your business like you, and your spouse does.

What to think about in terms of your business once the divorce is finalized?

While your marriage may have concluded with the signing of the Final Decree of Divorce, there are still issues to be considered about your business depending on what the Decree looks like.

Are you going to continue to be a part of your business even after the divorce is finalized? If so, you and your spouse may need to agree on how the company will be operated, especially if both of you will remain a part of its day-to-day management.

If you and your spouse co-owned the corporation before your divorce, it might make sense to re-draft any corporate documents that evidence this fact. You do not want to get into a situation where your originating documents are now out of date due to a change in your personal life. Take the time to decide if this is in your best interests moving forward.

Working with a family law attorney is essential to navigating your divorce case.

As you can tell from today and yesterday's blog posts, a small business can complicate a divorce even more than it would be ordinarily. With this in mind, you will want to have an advocate by your side to help you walk through your case, discuss your options, and ultimately decide what is best for you and your family.

The attorneys at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, stand ready to offer you that sort of representation. We have successfully advocated for many clients whose small business was at the heart of their case. We pride ourselves on our performance inside and outside the courtroom and have proven results that we are happy to share.

Please do not hesitate to contact us today to learn more about our office. We offer free consultations with licensed family law attorneys six days a week. It would be an honor to speak to you about your circumstances.

Ebook

Adobe Stock 62844981[2] If you want to know more about what you can do, CLICK the button below to get your FREE E-book: "16 Steps to Help You Plan & Prepare for Your Texas Divorce"

Divorce Wasting Assets[4] If you want to know more about how to prepare, CLICK the button below to get your FREE E-book: "13 Dirty Tricks to Watch Out For in Your Texas Divorce, and How to Counter Them" Today!"

Financial Checklist[3] Get this FREE download about what you need to know before filing for divorce.

Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC | Business Owner Divorce Lawyer

The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, routinely handles matters that affect children and families. If you have questions regarding Business Owner Divorce Lawyer, it's essential to speak with a Business Owner Divorce right away to protect your rights.

A Business Owner Divorce Lawyer is skilled at listening to your goals during this trying process and developing a strategy to meet those goals. Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC by calling (281) 810-9760 or submit your contact information in our online form. The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, handles Divorce cases in Spring, Texas, Cypress, Spring , Klein, Humble, Kingwood, Tomball, The Woodlands, Houston, the FM 1960 area, or surrounding areas, including Harris County, Montgomery County, Liberty County, Chambers County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, and Waller County.