When most people think of going through a divorce, they do not associate that with their small- or medium-sized business. However, the fact is that divorce and family law matters can have a major impact on your business if you have one or your spouse has one. Understanding Alabama divorce laws may not be a source of information that most people are familiar with; however, divorce can impact small and medium-sized businesses in a variety of ways. If you have a dispute with your spouse and you believe that divorce might be inevitable, you can take steps to protect your business and retain some semblance of normality while working through the divorce and divorce settlement.

The following are some steps you can take as a business owner to protect your business assets from divorce: Small and medium-sized business owners should consult with an experienced Montgomery family law attorney before agreeing to a divorce settlement. You should also work with a qualified accountant and financial expert to help you decide where your assets should go, what they are worth, and how to divide business assets without bankrupting the business. Another big issue is if your spouse believes that you have a greater stake in the business than they do. This will often lead to litigation and lawyers fees that could force the business to close.

There are not many businesses in the world that are immune to both business and personal crisis. However, if a divorce or other major personal and matrimonial issue comes up, the business owner can take steps to help ensure their business remains steady even in spite of a major personal crisis. In Alabama, divorce laws regarding adultery state that it is grounds for divorce. The only way that infidelity by one spouse is not grounds for divorce is by mutual consent between both spouses, where the marriage becomes irretrievably broken. The court must also find that the adultery was not condoned or forgiven by the innocent spouse.

Court proceedings related to adultery in divorce usually include discovery allow the discovery of information about the circumstances of the affair. However, once adultery is proven, the innocent party does not usually receive a disproportionate amount of property. The court examines the circumstances and why the innocent spouse agreed to marry the guilty party. In Alabama, adultery is defined as voluntary sexual intercourse by a spouse with someone other than the record spouse. Adultery only affects a possible divorce settlement, where someone other than one spouse enters into an affair and has sexual contact. It is not clear whether an objectionable action or display is sufficient to prove that adultery occurred.