Divorce Lawyers for
Business Owners

When Your Livelihood and Legacy Are on the Line, You Need More Than Just a Divorce Lawyer

Dividing a business in divorce isn’t just a financial issue—it’s a future issue. At Ellis Family Law, PLLC, our divorce lawyers help business owners in Durham protect what they’ve built while resolving what’s changed.

Divorce is Personal—But When You Own a Business, It’s Also Professional

If you’re a business owner going through divorce, you’re not just worried about the home, the the kids, and the bank accounts.

You’re worried about:

The company you built from the ground up
Your income and future earning capacity
Business partners or shareholders getting pulled into the conflict
Whether your spouse is entitled to a piece of the business
Whether you’ll be forced to sell or walk away

At Ellis Family Law, P.L.L.C. in North Carolina, we help business owners and their spouses navigate divorce with clarity, strategy, and financial protection in mind, so the outcome doesn’t dismantle everything you’ve worked for.

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We Represent Business Owners—and Spouses of Business Owners

No matter which side of the business you’re on, we understand the unique stakes involved.

Are you a business owner trying to preserve operations and limit exposure?
Are you the spouse of a business owner who helped build the business and wants a fair share?
Are you dealing with valuation disputes, hidden income, or complex compensation?

We handle all of it.

We work closely with forensic accountants, business valuation experts, and financial professionals to get a full picture—and use it to create a fair, forward-focused strategy.

What Happens to a Business in Divorce?

In North Carolina, businesses are considered marital property if they were started or grew in value during the marriage, even if only one spouse’s name is on the paperwork.

That means:

Your spouse may be entitled to a portion of the business’s value
You may need to determine whether that value is marital, separate, or mixed
You’ll likely need a formal valuation of the business
You’ll need a lawyer who can translate complex financials into a strong legal case

We help you answer key questions like:

Is this a service-based or asset-heavy business?
How much of the business’s value is tied to goodwill or personal reputation?
How do we keep the business running during the divorce?
Can one party buy out the other’s interest?

You don’t have to lose your business to move on. But you do need a plan.

Strategic Guidance for Every Type of Business

We work with clients who own or are entitled to a share in:

Sole proprietorships
LLCs and partnerships
Corporations (C-corps and S-corps)
Professional practices (legal, medical, financial, etc.)
Family-run businesses
Startups and side businesses
Franchise holdings

We also help clients who are self-employed, contract-based, or whose income is tied to fluctuating commissions or draws.

Here’s What Working With Us Feels Like

You feel heard. We understand the business isn’t just paperwork—it’s personal.
You feel informed. We explain the financial and legal landscape clearly.
You feel protected. We look out for both your ownership rights and your future.
You feel stable. We work to minimize business disruption and emotional fallout.

We don’t just prepare your legal documents. We help you protect your income, your reputation, and your ability to keep moving forward, professionally and personally.

Our Services for Business Owners in Divorce

We offer a full range of legal services related to business and divorce, including:

Business Valuation Coordination

We connect you with valuation professionals and ensure their findings are legally framed for negotiation or trial.

Equitable Distribution Strategy

We help you categorize the business as marital, separate, or mixed, and determine how to divide any portion that is marital.

Discovery and Financial Forensics

If needed, we investigate hidden income, creative accounting, or asset transfers to ensure transparency.

Business Continuity Planning

We work to preserve your operational control and minimize the impact of divorce on your clients, employees, and business partners.

Negotiation and Settlement

We resolve many business-related divorces outside of court through detailed, durable agreements that protect your interests.

Litigation

When courtroom representation is needed, we bring calm but persuasive advocacy to protect your share, your future, and your voice.

Why Business Owners in Durham Trust Us

We’re not just family law attorneys—we’re strategic thinkers with a deep understanding of business dynamics. Clients turn to us because:

We understand both numbers and narratives
We keep private information protected
We offer creative solutions that preserve value
We handle sensitive issues with discretion
We collaborate with top-tier financial experts
We never forget what’s at stake—your livelihood and your life ahead

Serving Business Owners Throughout Durham and the Triangle

We represent business owners and their spouses across Durham, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and throughout the Triangle. Whether your divorce is high-conflict or collaborative, we’re ready to help you navigate it wisely.

You Don’t Have to Choose Between Protecting Your Business and Ending Your Marriage

You’ve invested years—maybe decades—into building your business. Don’t let divorce put it all at risk.

We’ll help you understand your rights, protect what’s yours, and move into your next chapter with stability and strength.

Hear From Our Clients

Jolie is an exceptional attorney who made it her mission to ensure that I had quick correspondence when it was absolutely needed. Jolie and her team answered any in all...

Jolie is an exceptional attorney who made it her mission to ensure that I had quick correspondence when it was absolutely needed. Jolie and her team answered any in all questions I had and worked with me, taking into consideration the best interest of my family and situation. I cannot say enough good things about how Jolie handled my case, her knowledge, expeditious review of my case, and the amazing work she did. Jolie gave me peace of mind, truly working to understand my case. It is clearly evident how much Jolie cares about her clients.

Shane Davekos

My lawyer Shannon Tucker was absolutely amazing and won me my case.

...

My lawyer Shannon Tucker was absolutely amazing and won me my case.

Joseph Williford

Kathleen has done an AMAZING job. In an otherwise terrible situation, Kathleen has kept things moving forward and has been an amazing attorney! She is excellent at keeping up communication,...

Kathleen has done an AMAZING job. In an otherwise terrible situation, Kathleen has kept things moving forward and has been an amazing attorney! She is excellent at keeping up communication, and is a bulldog in the courtroom. I highly recommend Kathleen, she has made an otherwise bad situation very manageable.

David Kimball

Emma and Sarah were absolutely wonderful to work with during the Separation Agreement process and then through the divorce process. They stayed in contact with me, and advised me as...

Emma and Sarah were absolutely wonderful to work with during the Separation Agreement process and then through the divorce process. They stayed in contact with me, and advised me as to the best actions to take. They also presented all of the options that I could take. I would highly recommend them.

Rebecca McPeak

My fiance and I worked with Jack T. for custody of his two kids over the last year-ish. He’s truly been heaven sent. He’s responsible, detail oriented, genuinely invested, remembers...

My fiance and I worked with Jack T. for custody of his two kids over the last year-ish. He’s truly been heaven sent. He’s responsible, detail oriented, genuinely invested, remembers conversations for months prior & genuinely will stand up for his clients! We worked with him at his old firm and through the transition also, and he didn’t miss a beat. Thankful for him & the outcome. Definitely recommend.

Olivia Conner

Working with Tony Kehoe during my separation was easily one of the best decisions I made during a challenging time. Tony brings a rare combination of legal precision, calm professionalism,...

Working with Tony Kehoe during my separation was easily one of the best decisions I made during a challenging time. Tony brings a rare combination of legal precision, calm professionalism, and genuine empathy to the process. He kept the strategy focused, protected my interests every step of the way, and made sure I felt informed and supported through every detail. If you need a steadfast, highly capable attorney who truly advocates for you, I cannot recommend Tony highly enough!

Skot Smith

Related Practice Areas

We are equally skilled in litigation and in resolving disputes outside of court.

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Because you’ve built too much to leave it to chance.

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