Glossary · People and paperwork
In short
The legal rights a spouse has in a married person's property, including business assets, during a marriage or upon divorce. As a buyer, you need to ensure any spouse with a marital interest consents to the sale to prevent future claims.
If the seller is married, their spouse may have a marital interest in the business being sold, even if not directly an owner. Your lender will require the non-owner spouse to sign spousal consents, especially in community property states, to ensure they have no claim on the business assets or collateral securing your SBA loan.
SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA Standard Operating Procedure
Last checked 2026-06-15. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Defined by DealRoom.so SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-15 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
Know what you'll need before you apply
Tell us about the deal and who's buying — we'll flag the guaranty, eligibility, and paperwork issues that slow SBA approval before they cost you time.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day