Pennsburg, PA Divorce Attorneys

Pennsburg divorce attorneys for Upper Perkiomen Valley families facing a contested divorce or a spouse who won’t cooperate.

Key Takeaways:

• Montgomery County divorces are heard at the county courthouse in Norristown.
• Growth in a premarital business’s value during the marriage can be marital property.
• Crosson & Richetti, LLC has an office at 570 Main Street in Pennsburg.

Pennsylvania generally treats a business you owned before the wedding as your separate property. The increase in its value during the marriage is generally marital property. For many Pennsburg business owners, that increase is the largest number in the divorce.

Crosson & Richetti, LLC works with business owners and families with significant assets who want their divorce handled carefully and with as little conflict as possible.

Schedule your consultation with our Pennsburg divorce attorneys.

How Montgomery County Handles a Pennsburg Divorce

Pennsburg sits in the Upper Perkiomen Valley at the northern edge of Montgomery County. A few points come up early in almost every Pennsburg case:

• Filing in Norristown. Your divorce is filed with the Montgomery County court at the courthouse in Norristown. Child and spousal support go through Montgomery County Domestic Relations. Plan for the drive on hearing days.
• The business and its growth. A company you owned before marriage may be non-marital, while any increase in its value during the marriage is generally considered marital property. A full appraisal of the business may be necessary to determine what the business is worth.
• Formal financial disclosure. In property division and alimony claims, each side can use formal discovery without first asking the court.
• Three kinds of support. Spousal support and alimony pendente lite (APL) can be paid while the case is open, and alimony is paid after the divorce is final. Each has its own rules, so they aren’t interchangeable.

Settling a Business Divorce or Asking the Court to Decide

Most divorces involving a business still end in agreement. What changes is how much preparation it takes to get there.

A consent divorce with a written property settlement is the path when both spouses agree on the major terms. Once both sign consents and 90 days have passed after the complaint is served, the court can finalize the divorce and the agreement together.

A negotiated settlement backed by a business valuation is the path when you agree the business should stay with one spouse but disagree about what it’s worth. An independent valuation gives both sides the same number to work from. A buyout can then be structured over time so the company can keep paying its employees.

An equitable distribution hearing is the path when compromise is out of reach. In Montgomery County, a court-appointed hearing officer hears property and alimony claims. You generally request one after discovery is complete and both spouses have filed pre-hearing statements and inventories. If your spouse refuses to sign consents, you can still establish grounds after 1 year of living separate and apart.

Our Pennsburg divorce attorneys will help you choose a path once we understand the business and your family’s priorities.

What to Expect From Our Pennsburg Divorce Attorneys

A divorce involving a business usually moves through five stages with our firm.

1. The first meeting. You meet with us at our Pennsburg office at 570 Main Street. We ask about your family first: the children, the schedule, and how you and your spouse run the business day-to-day.
2. Gathering records. We list what’s needed and explain why each item matters. That usually means several years of business and personal tax returns, financial statements, loan documents, and account statements.
3. Valuing the business. When a valuation is needed, we explain how it works and what it will cost before anyone is hired. Our article on high-asset divorce covers the kinds of property that often need one.
4. Negotiating. Our trusted Pennsburg divorce attorneys propose terms based on the numbers. We keep acrimony low so you and your spouse can still co-parent and, in some cases, keep working together.
5. If a hearing is needed. We prepare you for what the hearing officer will ask and what happens afterward. You can read more about our divorce representation and our earlier look at Montgomery County divorce cases.

Get Clear Numbers Before You Negotiate

Our Pennsburg divorce attorneys can help you understand what the business is worth, what’s marital, and what a fair settlement could look like before you agree to anything. Schedule your consultation at our Main Street office.