Entrepreneurs are very special people. They are innovative, self-motivated, and creative people. Generally, they go all in both in their business and in the partnerships with their families. However, sometimes they do not give enough care to things at home and they end up in our office.
While entrepreneurs are sincerely dedicated to their families their entrepreneurial talent often takes priority. We, as collaborative attorneys, can help them walk through an understanding of that issue. We can create a flexible and meaningful custody arrangement and financial arrangement. They can go do what they are best, but still provide support for their children, have access to their children and then move on down the post-divorce road. One of the benefits of using the collaborative divorce model is that throughout the divorce process we can keep their business situation private.
In my experience, in dealing with entrepreneurs and business people, the amount of pain they are in when they come in our office is profound. It is not unusual that they have been blindsided and did not expect this to happen. They are used to being in control and felt they could control and handle their marriage. We try to help them get back to square one, start the process with great authenticity and then move forward.
A word of caution for entrepreneurs: If you do feel that a divorce is coming, some may want to start hiding assets or delaying contracts. If they rush into something based on fear it is going to cost them more money down the road. Or they may end up in legal issues that will have a more profound negative affect their business.
The first step to a successful divorce is to stop whatever it is you are doing. That is stop, take a breath, and come in to the office. We will help you format what the future is going to look like without getting into any trouble that could harm the business and the future.
