Kemp Law Group, LLCDublin Family Law Attorney | Kemp Law Group, LLC | Divorce Law Firm2026-07-20T08:09:41Zhttps://www.kemplawgroup.com/feed/atom/WordPressOn Behalf of Kemp Law Group, LLC<![CDATA[What happens to a business when business partners divorce?]]>https://www.kemplawgroup.com/?p=475962026-07-20T08:09:41Z2026-07-20T08:09:41ZWhen spouses own and operate a business together, divorce can affect far more than their personal relationship. They must also decide what happens to the company they built side by side. For many couples, the business reflects years of shared effort, financial investment and long-term planning. It may also provide the family's primary source of income.
As the marriage ends, the spouses must separate not only their personal lives but also their professional partnership. Understanding how Ohio courts approach these cases can help spouses prepare for the decisions ahead.
How Ohio courts handle a jointly owned business
A jointly owned business often becomes one of the most valuable assets to address during a divorce. In Ohio, courts aim for an equitable division of marital property, but that does not necessarily mean each spouse receives half of the business itself. The process often begins with a professional business valuation. An appraiser may examine the company's assets, debts, revenue, future earning potential and other financial records to determine its fair market value. The court can then consider that value alongside the rest of the marital estate when dividing property.The court may also evaluate each spouse's role in building and operating the business. Even if one spouse handled daily operations while the other focused on finances, administration or unpaid support that allowed the business to grow, both contributions may influence the outcome.
What options do spouses have?
After determining the business's value, the next step is deciding what will happen to ownership. The right solution depends on the company's finances, the spouses' ability to work together and their long-term goals. Possible outcomes include:
One spouse buys the other's ownership interest
The spouses continue operating the business together after the divorce
The business is sold and the proceeds are divided
One spouse keeps the business while the other receives additional marital assets to balance the overall property division
Each option carries financial and practical consequences. Before making any decisions, spouses should understand how each option could affect both the business and their financial stability after divorce.
Planning for the next chapter
The end of a marriage can also mark the end of a shared business venture, making the transition especially complex. Thoughtful planning and a clear understanding of Ohio law can help spouses make informed decisions that protect both their financial interests and the future of the business whenever possible.An experienced Ohio divorce attorney can explain how state law applies to a jointly owned business and provide guidance tailored to the family's unique circumstances.
]]>On Behalf of Kemp Law Group, LLC<![CDATA[Are an artist’s royalties subject to division during divorce?]]>https://www.kemplawgroup.com/?p=475952026-07-10T13:20:09Z2026-07-10T13:20:09ZRoyalties are payments artists and creators may receive when others use their intellectual property such as books, songs, scripts, patents and other protected works. Will these streams of revenue be subject to division during divorce?
Well, the answer largely depends on timing and whether or not the artist had a prenup in place.
When were the intellectual property rights acquired?
In Ohio divorce cases, the law views properties differently depending on when a spouse acquired them. This timing usually creates two distinct scenarios.
Before marriage
Ohio law usually considers the properties or wealth that an artist acquired before marriage, including royalties, as separate property. As a result, an Ohio court may exclude the royalty earnings from the division. Further, the court may consider the royalties earned from premarital intellectual property during the marriage as separate property too.
After marriage
Because Ohio follows equitable distribution law, the state deems any property or wealth a spouse acquires during the marriage as marital property. Similarly, if an artist created or acquired the intellectual property during the marriage, the court may treat the associated royalty rights as marital property and divide them among the couple.
What if the artist has a prenup?
Spouses generally realize the importance of prenups only during the divorce. An artist who signed a prenup that explicitly excluded royalties from the marital assets can use it in court to protect those royalties. However, disputes may arise over whether the agreement was signed without coercion or included adequate financial disclosure.
Why are royalty cases never simple?
Cases involving royalties are highly complex. They require a detailed understanding of state family law and federal copyright frameworks. An artist who is going through a divorce may benefit from consulting a legal guide who has experience in asset divorce to protect their creative legacy.]]>On Behalf of Kemp Law Group, LLC<![CDATA[Is your spouse suddenly spending marital assets?]]>https://www.kemplawgroup.com/?p=475942026-07-04T20:43:56Z2026-07-04T20:43:56ZWhen many high-net-worth couples get divorced, there are issues with hidden assets. One person may not fully disclose all of the assets that they own. They may transfer assets to someone else, like a family member, just to keep them out of property division. It is important to look for any red flags and warning signs, such as sudden financial transfers, in advance.
As you do this, though, you may also see that your spouse's spending habits have changed. They are suddenly spending far more of the marital assets than you would have expected. Why are they doing this?
Dissipating marital assets
This could be problematic if they intend to dissipate or spend down those assets. They may be trying to keep you from getting what you otherwise would deserve during property division.This is sometimes an issue when one spouse has a high-income job and provides most of the financial income for the family. The couple may have been saving a significant amount of money, planning to use it to secure their future or retire together.But the high-income spouse may decide to spend the money as quickly as they can, simply in an effort to waste those savings. This reduces the value of the account so that they have to split less money with their ex during property division. They are just counting on using their high income to earn the money back after the divorce.
What are your legal options?
If you believe your spouse is intentionally dissipating assets, there are steps you can take to help ensure that you still receive the appropriate share of the marital estate during property division. It is important to know what type of evidence to gather and what legal options you have.
]]>On Behalf of Kemp Law Group, LLC<![CDATA[3 things to remember if you’re divorcing a narcissist]]>https://www.kemplawgroup.com/?p=475932026-06-25T13:51:29Z2026-06-25T13:51:29ZMany divorces have at least some level of contention, but that’s usually much worse when one party is a narcissist. By nature, a narcissist is unable to think about anyone other than themselves. They will often focus on being able to control the situation and winning, so they aren’t concerned with finding a practical solution to the divorce matters.
If you’re going through a divorce involving a narcissistic spouse, you should remember that you shouldn’t label them with the narcissist label in court unless there’s a specific diagnosis by a licensed medical professional. Even if you can’t bring up the narcissism in court, you can take specific steps to help throughout the process.
1: Narcissists gain power from your emotions
Narcissists try to invoke emotions in others as a way to feel more powerful. Keeping your emotions under control when you’re dealing with the narcissist is critical, but it’s not always easy. Some people turn to written communication instead of verbal communication so they can write out a reply and then review it before sending it.
2: Narcissists live in a self-centered fantasy land
A narcissist creates a fantasy land where they’re the center of the universe. They don’t see regular life the way other people do. They will lie and misstate facts to try to meet their own narrative. Combatting this can be challenging, so it’s beneficial to keep all documentation and proof of everything related to the divorce, property or children.
3: Narcissists delay divorces
Because of their desire to be in charge, narcissists will often try to control what happens during a divorce. Many work to delay the process as much as possible, usually because they know that it will likely cost you money and because they think the delay is harming you. One of the most effective ways to prevent this is to have strong legal representation to protect your interests during the divorce.
]]>On Behalf of Kemp Law Group, LLC<![CDATA[Primary considerations when executives divorce ]]>https://www.kemplawgroup.com/?p=475922026-06-10T14:31:41Z2026-06-10T14:31:41ZDivorce is challenging for any couple, but executives and other high-income professionals often must navigate a veritable maze of financial concerns before reaching an equitable settlement. For starters, executives must carefully consider how divorce may affect compensation packages, business interests, professional reputation and long-term financial security.For example, many executives receive more than just a salary. Stock options, restricted stock units, performance bonuses, deferred compensation plans and other incentive-based benefits may represent a substantial portion of their marital estate. Determining whether these assets are marital or separate property, and accurately valuing them, often requires detailed financial analysis.Business ownership and leadership interests can also complicate divorce proceedings when at least one spouse is an executive. An executive may own shares in a closely held company, hold partnership interests or possess rights under employment agreements that affect future earnings. Protecting the continuity of a particular business while ensuring an equitable property division often becomes a major focus of negotiations in such scenarios.Privacy is another potentially significant concern. Executives frequently wish to avoid public disclosure of sensitive financial information, business operations or personal matters. High-profile professionals may face additional scrutiny from shareholders, employees, clients or the media if divorce disputes become highly contentious.Future earning capacity may also impact the direction that divorce negotiations need to take. Courts may consider not only current compensation but also anticipated bonuses, incentive awards and career opportunities when evaluating support obligations. Because executive compensation structures can fluctuate from year to year, determining income for support purposes is often more complicated than reviewing a traditional paycheck.
Taking action
Because executive divorces often involve substantial assets and sophisticated financial structures, early planning is necessary. An experienced high-asset divorce legal team can work with financial experts to address these complex issues and help executives pursue solutions that protect both their personal and professional futures during this major life transition. ]]>On Behalf of Kemp Law Group, LLC<![CDATA[Can divorce expose your private business finances?]]>https://www.kemplawgroup.com/?p=475902026-06-04T14:19:19Z2026-06-04T14:19:19ZIf you own a business, hold a partnership interest or receive executive pay, divorce can raise a private concern. How much of your financial life will others see?
In an Ohio high-asset divorce, business records may matter. They can affect property division, support and settlement talks. Still, that does not mean every private detail becomes public. It means the case may require a careful review of income, ownership, debt and business value.
Why business records may matter
Ohio courts need a clear picture of the marital estate before dividing property. State law requires courts to classify assets as marital and separate property, then divide marital property in a fair way.For business owners, this review often goes beyond a bank balance. The case may involve records such as:
Profit and loss statements
Tax returns
Payroll records
Buy-sell agreements
Partnership or operating agreements
Debt schedules
Accounts receivable
Business valuation reports
These records help answer basic but important questions. What does the business own? What does it owe? How much income does it produce? Did the business grow during the marriage? Does the owner’s pay reflect actual earning capacity?
Privacy concerns deserve attention
Many owners worry that divorce will expose trade secrets, customer details or private pricing information. Executives may have similar concerns about stock awards, bonuses, deferred pay or nonpublic company records.Those concerns should come up early. A divorce involving high-value marital property may require careful handling of business documents. This matters even more when records affect employees, partners, investors or clients.In some cases, attorneys may discuss ways to reduce needless exposure. That may include narrower document requests, confidentiality agreements or court orders that limit how others use sensitive records. The right option depends on the type of information, the dispute and the level of financial sensitivity involved.
Ownership is not the only issue
Some business owners focus only on whether a spouse can claim part of the business. That question matters, but it is not the whole picture.Business finances may also affect spousal support, child support, cash flow analysis and settlement terms. A company may look profitable on paper while carrying heavy debt or major reinvestment needs. An owner may receive irregular income through bonuses, distributions or retained earnings. A valuation may also depend on the owner’s personal reputation, client relationships or professional license.These details can shape the divorce even when one spouse keeps the business.
Preparation can reduce surprises
You do not need to wait for formal discovery to think about privacy. Start by identifying which records show personal income, business value, debt, ownership limits and future compensation.It also helps to keep business and personal expenses separate. Unclear spending can create suspicion, slow negotiations and make financial records harder to explain.For owners, partners and executives in the Columbus suburbs, the concern is rarely just “Will I lose the business?” A better question is, “How do I protect the value, privacy and stability of what I built while still meeting Ohio’s divorce requirements?”
Private finances need a careful plan
Divorce can bring business finances into view. With the right preparation, the process can stay more focused and controlled.When substantial assets, ownership interests or executive compensation are involved, the details matter. A careful review of records, value and privacy concerns can help you understand what may become relevant before the case moves too far.]]>On Behalf of Kemp Law Group, LLC<![CDATA[Hidden digital assets can quickly complicate a divorce]]>https://www.kemplawgroup.com/?p=475892026-05-28T02:50:04Z2026-05-28T02:50:04ZFinding digital assets is not easy
Cryptocurrency holdings can be easy for people to hide, at least temporarily. There is no centralized bank tracking transfers of cryptocurrency. People generally need to be aware that a cryptocurrency wallet exists to validate the extent of its content. There are similar challenges associated with other digital resources, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Spouses who believe that there could be undisclosed digital assets acquired with diverted marital income likely need help from a specialist to locate and value any digital holdings hidden by their spouse. In cases where people successfully identify hidden assets and prove that disclosures during divorce were inaccurate, they can present evidence about that financial duplicity in court.
Judges may consider intentional attempts to manipulate the divorce outcome when deciding how to divide marital property and assign responsibility for marital debts. The greater the value of the hidden assets is, the larger the impact they may have on the final property division decree.
For those preparing for high-asset divorces, a financial review conducted by an experienced legal professional, perhaps with the help of a forensic accountant can help identify discrepancies in paperwork and hidden resources. Taking action before it is too late can help people ensure that property division is fair, despite the efforts of a spouse to manipulate the outcome.]]>On Behalf of Kemp Law Group, LLC<![CDATA[Spousal support isn’t straightforward in a high-asset divorce]]>https://www.kemplawgroup.com/?p=475882026-05-12T15:45:19Z2026-05-12T15:45:19ZWhat do the courts do in high-asset cases?
Regardless of how extreme the discrepancy is between the income and separate property of the spouses, the courts generally do not award alimony automatically. One spouse must specifically request financial support from the other.
When reviewing the petition itself, the courts validate that one spouse may require spousal support due to difficulty working or challenges maintaining the standard of living during the marriage after the divorce. The courts consider factors including how long the marriage lasted, the lifestyle of the spouses during the marriage and the health of the spouses.
Those hoping to request spousal support must show that it is necessary and that the other spouse has the ability to pay. Those concerned about paying support may need to provide documentation regarding fluctuations in their income and the potential ability of the other spouse to maintain a reasonable standard of living without spousal support.
Partnering with an experienced spousal support attorney can help people understand what to expect. Developing a well-documented case before going to court can lead to a better outcome when seeking spousal support or responding to a request for support.]]>On Behalf of Kemp Law Group, LLC<![CDATA[Understand business ownership during divorce settlements]]>https://www.kemplawgroup.com/?p=475852026-05-01T17:57:39Z2026-05-01T17:57:39ZDivorce is a complex subject when a business is involved because for many couples, a business is not just an asset but a source of income and long-term security.
Understanding how business ownership is treated during divorce settlements can help you prepare for what lies ahead.
Classifying the business as property
The first step is determining whether the business is marital or separate property. In Ohio, marital property generally includes assets acquired during the marriage.If the business was started or grew during the marriage, it may be considered marital property. Also, even a business owned before marriage can become partly marital if both spouses contributed to its growth.
Determining the value of the business
Before a business can be divided, it must be valued accurately. This process may involve reviewing income, assets, liabilities and market conditions.Both tangible and intangible elements are considered including equipment, cash flow, brand value and customer relationships. The final valuation plays a major role in how the business is handled.
Understanding equitable distribution
Ohio follows an equitable distribution approach. This means the court divides property based on fairness rather than an equal split.Several factors may be considered, including financial contributions, non-financial support and each spouse’s future needs. This approach allows flexibility but also requires careful evaluation.
Exploring division options
There are several ways a business may be addressed during a divorce. One option is for one spouse to retain ownership while compensating the other through a buyout.Another option may involve selling the business and dividing the proceeds. In some cases, former spouses may continue as co-owners, though this requires a high level of cooperation.
Finally
Business ownership adds an extra layer of complexity to divorce settlements in Ohio, and understanding how classification, distribution and division work is essential.Also, seeking professional legal guidance can help you evaluate your options, protect your financial position and ensure that decisions made today support your long-term stability.]]>On Behalf of Kemp Law Group, LLC<![CDATA[Did both parties understand the prenup before signing?]]>https://www.kemplawgroup.com/?p=475832026-04-10T02:16:32Z2026-04-10T02:16:32Z“Rose-colored glasses” may prevent proper review
To some engaged individuals, signing a prenup is just one step in the process before getting married. They don't consider the agreement carefully or negotiate for terms that benefit them because they expect the marriage to last forever.
Later, when divorce becomes a concern, they may realize that they accepted unfair terms that put them at a significant financial disadvantage. Best practices when signing a prenup include having a separate attorney represent each party. This arrangement helps ensure that both people understand the terms of the agreement and that their rights and interests are protected.
A person who signed a prenup without fully understanding its contents or having their own representation may be able to successfully make the case to the court to invalidate all or part of the agreement. They could then pursue a more reasonable financial settlement when they divorce.
Having experienced legal guidance with prenuptial agreement litigation during divorce proceedings can help concerned spouses ensure a fair financial outcome if they signed the agreement without fully understanding it or if there are other issues that invalidate it.]]>