'I'm Getting Divorced, and My Spouse Owns Part of My Company'Now what?

Q: I'm getting divorced, and my spouse owns part of my company. Now what?

A:Sorry to break it to you, but unless you went into business with well-defined operational roles or have a prenuptial agreement that clearly defines company ownership, you're likely facing a long and very expensive process of selling the organization and then distributing the payout as determined by the courts.

The nastier the divorce, the more disruptive and destructive its toxic effects on the business will be. Your employees will see a dark side of you and your spouse's personalities--and trust me, they'll never look at you or deal with you the same way again.