Business assets

My wife and I both work, no children. I have additional income from a small business I run as a self-employed undertaking, run from home. My wife does not work for me at all in the business. How can I protect my business assets if I ask for a divorce? Would premium bonds in my name be protected under any settlement? All of the money in my business is cash in the bank less tax due twice a year. If I gave the money away, could my wife still claim a share of it retrospectively? Just need to know my options really. Thanks.

If there is evidence of dispositions of assets to defeat/reduce a spouse's claims to financial provision the court can award more of the other assets to your wife or in certain circumstances set the disposition aside.

If evidence comes to light that a substantial amount wasn't disclosed in the future the settlement can be overturned. The danger is that legal bills are run up as your wife tries to get full disclosure and you avoid it, then you are penalised heavily by being ordered to pay her legal costs as well as your own. Honesty is the best policy.