When a marriage includes a closely held company, the business usually has to be valued before it can be divided or offset against other assets. Valuation experts weigh income, assets, and comparable sales, and reasonable professionals can reach different figures depending on the assumptions they use. In a hospitality or tourism business common to the Orlando market, seasonal swings and owner compensation choices can distort the surface numbers.
Because the valuation can decide the shape of the entire settlement, both the method and the expert matter. An attorney handling high net worth divorces in Central Florida will know when a single agreed valuation makes sense and when a client needs an independent expert of their own.
