Many Columbia area residents take pride in running a family business. But when a family breaks apart and divorce is on the horizon, a business owner may need the help of outside professionals in determining the value of a business for the purposes of the family court issues. That may not be a surprise for some business owners. But the idea of consulting with knowledgeable professionals in many areas of family law may not be as obvious.

Family law proceedings can involve the use of professionals, sometimes called experts, in a particular field to assist in presenting and evaluating issues in a divorce. A business valuation professional may be useful in not only putting a number on the valuation process, but also in evaluating if some or more of the business should be considered separate property from the marital estate.

But outside professionals may need to be consulted in other areas that do not seem as obvious. A real estate professional may be able to help in disputes related to the family home or vacation properties. If one spouse has not worked for a period of time during the marriage, a vocational professional may assess issues related to job prospects for a person, which may relate to spousal and child support issues.



When it comes to children, child custody evaluators may be consulted to weigh in on custody and visitation arrangements in a divorce. Psychological professionals may be of assistance in appropriate cases in helping to resolve the complex issues involved in child custody and visitation disputes.

Source: The Huffington Post, “Divorce Confidential: Using Experts In Your Divorce,” Caroline Choi, Oct. 24, 2013