Hi, here's some very brief details and I wonder if anyone can help me. I can give more details via PM as I dont want to give too much away here. I started a website (A forum) as a hobby back in 1999 - today it makes me a nice second income. I was in a relationship at the time and got married in 2002, now we are divorcing my ex is claiming he had a lot to do with it. My legal representation have made it clear that the income is merely from a paid hobby, but Im getting letters from his lawyers wanting a memberlist (yeah right!) and a valuation of the website. (Get it his bloody self!) I am of course providing full accounts as part of the divorce case. Basically he had NOTHING at all to do with the site set up/maintainance.creative direction etc. His only input was to moan about the time I spent online. While the site is huge, basically a lot of the paying members pay and stay there out of loyalty to me, if I sold the site and it went under another direction I can guarantee you right now that most of my membership would migrate to another similar large site. I am not prepared to sell the site, it's my hobby anyway. Any advice much appreciated. I am in the UK.
he will need to disclose the income in a financial statement and include it in equalization. it will be valuated and you will get money dont worry.
Well, that stinks. It sounds like something your legal representative should deal with - any requests for information about the site should be going to him directly, rather than you. I don't know how it works in the UK, but in the US you don't necessarily have to comply with every request the other side makes as long as your attorney can make a valid legal argument as to why you shouldn't have to. I's all going to depend on UK law on how individuals' property is split up during a divorce.
Because we're caring people? Angela, I hope everything goes great. However, I think you'd find better help on FreeAdvice.com (filled with lawyers, btw). More importantly, you should speak to YOUR lawyer asap.
And why do you think it was his fault? I don't know many facts. Actually, just one; it may be her fault. I don't want to help someone who contributed to the early end of a marriage. Maybe you do. Tom
when there is an argument between two owners of the value of something usually the only way to solve the problem is by public auction
Then don't. This forum is for Legal Issues in Business, not relationship counselling or discussions about the sanctity of marriage. On topic, is your ex claiming 50% of past income or they want ownership of half the 'asset'?
People argue over everything in divorces .. the cat, the china, the wagon wheel coffee table... and the main winners are the lawyers. If you don't disclose assets when asked it will only get messier and more expensive. In the end assets tend to get divided by compromise... I get this if you get that. Good luck.
I hate when people do that. Try to get part of somebody else hard work. I would try to make it clear that its your hobby that happens to make money and not a business.
Next time you post in here asking for legal help, you'll notice you will get lots of help... If you help someone, you can except it in return... That is why... Hey, and sorry about your situation, although your best bet is to confront your attorney about this matter.
Then why don't you just stop trashing the thread with your nonsense posts instead and get movin'? DP is a community, we're here to help each other. If that's not your intention, logout button is at upside right.
As for him not contributing to the site... I don't know about the UK but if it's matrimonial property then it gets split. The way my lawyer explains it... I get an inheritance and it's tied up in a trust and hubby can't touch it then it's mine. But if I spend the money on a haircut and hubby says "wow you look hot" then he has benefited from the trust and it can be split. So if your husband ever ate a slice of toast paid for by that website then it's matrimonial property and part of the assets to be divided. That's life, I'm afraid.
SarahK, the way property is split in the US varies a lot from state to state even, so she really needs to talk to her lawyer. And I suspect one thing is the same everywhere: the person with the best attorney is the most likely to "win", no matter what the law says. Angela22: If you haven't done so already, start documenting everything about the site that you can: when and how it was set up, how fast it grew, number of members, how many hours a week you work on it, your income from the site. That information will help you (and your attorney) make your case.
You mention the site is a "hobby" but since you are making income from it...are you paying the Inland Revenue the tax from your profits? If not, then uh oh! Depending on how much you make after tax, then yep he might be able to get x % of profits or a paid off lump sum. However, if you keep on reinvesting the income you make back into the site, then obviously he can't get anything....