Divorce is terrible, but its financial consequences can be minimized. The best time to prepare, financially, is before you are married.
If you own a business, it is a good idea to draw up a prenuptial agreement. The binding contract says that the assets brought into the marriage are each individual's personal property and will not be shared in the event of dissolution. You can make it clear to your fiancee that the purpose of the prenuptial agreement is to protect the business. If circumstances change - say, a spouse starts working at the company - the prenup can be reconfigured.
In the case of a divorce without a prenuptial contract, the law states all property is to be shared. It would be in your best interest to give the house to your spouse and keep your business. Then you can begin to build on the cash capital. When you are ready to own a home again, you can use company resources to build or remodel a house.
Howard Scott is a business writer and small business tax preparer in Pembroke, Mass.