Divorcing business partners urged to hire a valuator

Divorcing couples with a family company should consider hiring a business valuator to accurately determine the value of their enterprise.

“I'd recommend working with a business valuator because it's going to give the best idea of value, aside from actually selling the business,” says Sixta, founder of Crossroads Law. Having your firm assessed by a business valuator is not a legal requirement, but doing so will inject a degree of certainty into a process that can be open to interpretation and disputes, he says. Some divorcing couples can’t afford a valuation, which can cost between $5,000 and $100,000, depending on the size and complexity of the business, Sixta says. Sometimes, the company is too small to warrant the expense.