Divorce Mediation for Business Owners Santa Rosa | Marla Keenan-Rivero | Marla Keenan-Rivero Family Law Mediation (707) 525-8800

Divorcing when you own a business is complicated in ways that most people don't anticipate until they're in the middle of it. The business needs to be valued. Separate and community property interests need to be identified. Income — which isn't always straightforward when you're self-employed or an owner — needs to be established for support purposes. And all of this has to happen without disrupting the business itself.

I'm a business owner as well as a family law mediator, and I've guided many business owners through this process over the course of my career. I understand what's at stake on both sides of the equation.

Litigation makes everything public. Court filings, financial disclosures, valuations — in a contested divorce, these become part of the court record. For a business owner, that can mean employees, clients, competitors, and vendors have access to your financials and internal details you'd never otherwise share.

Mediation is confidential. What's discussed in mediation stays there. For most business owners I work with, that alone is a compelling reason to choose mediation over court.

Dividing a business interest in divorce requires determining its value, when that value was established, and how much of it is separate versus community property — particularly when a business started before the marriage and grew significantly during it. I'm familiar with the valuation methods used in California family law and help both parties understand the numbers clearly so we can reach a fair agreement.

One of the biggest concerns I hear from business owner clients is the fear that the divorce process itself will damage the business — through discovery demands, strained professional relationships, or distraction. Mediation minimizes all of that. Fewer proceedings, less exposure, faster resolution.

Certified Family Law Specialist by the California State Bar. Serving business owners in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and Northern California. 

To schedule a free consultation, call (707) 525-8800 or email Tidwell@perrylaw.net.