People in Texas who are getting a divorce may struggle to keep their divorce separate from their work life, but it is important to do so. The stress and anxiety of divorce can have a significant effect on a person’s performance at work if strategies are not in place to deal with it. People should also avoid mistakes that could compromise the confidentiality of the divorce.
A lack of discretion could be damaging in the unlikely event that a work colleague is deposed as part of the divorce. Divorce-related issues may come up throughout the work day, and the best way to deal with them is to set aside a time to do so. People should make phone calls in a private area. They should also avoid leaving private documents where they might be seen by others or using work email for divorce-related issues. Digital documents should be kept in one place for quick access when needed.
It will be necessary to share some information about the divorce with some people at work. Business partners or human resources may need to provide documentation. People who have an assistant responsible for their scheduling need to let that person know that court dates should not be changed since they are difficult to reschedule.
People who own a business may have an additional challenge. In Texas, a community property state, a spouse is entitled to half of the shared assets. This means that a spouse could claim half of the business if it was created after the marriage or half of its appreciation value since the marriage if it was created before. A prenuptial agreement may prevent this although it can be challenged if one person received inadequate legal counseling. It may be possible to negotiate an agreement in which a spouse takes other assets in exchange for a share of the business.
