<\/span><\/h2>\nArizona is a community property state. This means, if you form a business before you marry, it may not be entirely a community property. However, if your spouse adds value to the business, he or she has a right to part of that business, since it is community property.<\/p>\n
If the business is a community property, the courts will look at actual contributions, from the investment of both time and money. Your spouse may handle work that allows you to focus on the business, which could be considered a time investment from them.<\/p>\n
Without a prenuptial agreement, it’s up to the courts to decide how much of the business you are each entitled to. Frankly, there is no protection for your business during a divorce without a prenup.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Business Formed During Marriage<\/span><\/h2>\nIf you formed a company during your marriage, the business will be considered community property. Your investment came from resources that belonged to both of you. You need to assess the value of the whole business to determine the value of the community property.<\/p>\n
You will still look at individual contributions each of you made along the way. In addition, any agreements used to form the company matter. The business community property includes many pieces:<\/p>\n