At one time, your relationship was strong enough that you decided to start a business together. Perhaps you were both tired of working for someone else and decided to take the plunge.
Then, as time went on, your marriage began to flounder.
Perhaps your working relationship felt the strain, but you and your spouse managed to continue working together regardless. Now that you face divorce, the fate of your business hangs in the balance.
Can you continue working together and keep your business on the road to success?
Make compartmentalization a priority
It may seem difficult at first, but if you can separate the end of your marital relationship from your business relationship, you may find that you can continue to work together post-divorce.
It may take some time and effort on your and your spouse’s part, but with help, you may reach a point where working together may continue.
Make new definitions for your relationship
You may need time apart immediately following the divorce, as well as some counseling or some other sort of help to distance yourself from your former relationship.
However, during the divorce process, the two of you could sit down and redefine your working relationship. Instead of looking at your business as a family business, you can look at it as a collaborative effort between two people who used to be married.
This may require clearly outlining the duties that each of you will carry out at work. You can create a communication method that allows each of you the freedom to work without feeling as though one of you is attempting to control the other.
Make changes to your business agreement
Feeling as though you are locked into a business relationship with your former spouse may cause a certain amount of anxiety even if you don’t realize it.
Adding an exit strategy into your business agreement could put both of your minds at ease. This could allow you to continue working together knowing that if it doesn’t work out, you can move on in whatever way the two of you agree.
Make sure you have the right help
Getting through such a stressful time in your marital relationship doesn’t have to mean the end of the business you share.
Having the right support and help could make all the difference in continuing to grow your business and make it a success rather than having to give it up because you don’t know whether you can work with your ex-spouse.
If you intend to try to work together after the divorce, mediation could provide you a better way through than a traditional courtroom divorce.
Many Colorado couples in your position found a way to move forward through this alternative dispute resolution method. You may find it invaluable to include a legal advocate in your divorce who will support your goals and help you determine your next steps.
