You’ve poured everything into your business — your time, money, name and pride — and now that divorce is on the table, someone wants to dig through your records like it’s just another asset. You are not trying to hide anything, but the idea of handing over your financials to your ex or their lawyer feels invasive, even risky. So, can you keep things running without turning everything over?
Courts expect full financial disclosure in divorce
In Michigan, divorce operates under equitable distribution, which means the court can’t divide property that hasn’t been disclosed. If you started the business during the marriage, or if it significantly grew while you were together, the court will count that as part of the financial picture whether you like it or not. They look beyond your bank balance. They also assess income streams, business-tied assets, debts that impact your bottom line and whether the company’s value counts as marital, separate or a mix of both.
Why refusing disclosure can hurt you more
Trying to sidestep disclosure might feel like protecting your livelihood, but it usually backfires because once you withhold records, the court often assumes you’re hiding something. And when that happens, you lose credibility, face potential sanctions and open the door to a far more aggressive division of assets.
You also deal with added delays, pushback and stress when it seems like something’s being concealed. But when you lay out clear documentation up front and frame it the right way, you keep things efficient and stay in control of the story.
What you can do to limit disruption
Disclosure doesn’t mean you have to open everything up with no boundaries. It just means you need a strategy. You can partner with a valuation expert who understands your industry, provide summaries that reflect your actual income and ask the court to seal records or enforce NDAs that keep your sensitive information private.
What matters is working with a legal team that respects what your business means, not just on paper, but in your daily life — because you are still running things while this all unfolds.
Looking ahead without losing control
If you’re trying to figure out how much of your financial life you have to hand over, especially when your business is on the line, just know this: the law won’t ask you to give up control, but it will expect honesty. So before the pressure builds or misunderstandings take over, it helps to talk through your options with someone who knows how to protect what you’ve built without dragging your business into deeper conflict.