Questions from a LBS 5 months in

[DS9]

Hi Kindly

Sorry you're going through all this.

Even though you're in the USA I assume (I'm in Oz), I'd be willing to bet the business is an asset. I'm positive your legislation would set out what are included as assets, financial resources and liabilities etc. A L can tell you straight away, so you dont have to try and guess.

Here in Oz it is clear if you know where to look. There are even fact sheets prepared by the relevant courts that set out these things, and set out how the spouses have duties to the COurt and one another to actively disclose their financial situation, as opposed to being chased and followed up by their spouse to reveal.

There may be similar fact sheets for your locale. I dont know. If there are, these can be used as an objective reference for your H, so rather than questions or comments coming from you, they are objective and what the law requires and more readily accepted.

I assume in USA you need to ascribe value to each asset? Businesses are hard to value. Here we have forensic accountants or business valuers. Your L may not be qualified to assess whether the business is worth what H says. You may wish to have the business properly valued for peace of mind. To me, your comment that he was dumbfounded and angry you even brought it up is telling - he likely wouldnt care if it wasnt worth anything.

Get L advice and get it early. Weigh up the potential $ cost for your L communicating everything on your behalf as against the cost to your emotional wellbeing and sanity in doing it yourself.

Good luck!