Confirming what happened
Not every irregularity is theft; some turn out to be sloppy bookkeeping, a misunderstanding about distributions, or an arrangement one partner never wrote down. That is why the first step is gathering facts quietly. As an owner you may have rights to inspect the company's books and records, and many governing documents give owners access to bank statements and accounting systems. A forensic accountant retained through counsel can trace transactions and estimate the amounts involved. Confronting your partner before the records are secure risks deletion, or explanations built after the fact.
Steps to avoid, and steps to take
Avoid self-help that could look like the very conduct you are worried about, such as moving company money into your own account, locking your partner out of systems without a legal basis, or copying company files to a personal account without advice. Do keep your own emails and messages, and preserve the records you already have legitimate access to. Check whether the company carries crime or fidelity insurance, because those policies often require prompt notice of a suspected loss. If employees or an outside bookkeeper are involved, think carefully about how and when they are approached. Banks and vendors are better contacted once you have a plan.
Civil claims and the criminal question
When a business partner is stealing money, the civil options usually include claims for breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, and an accounting, and depending on the structure, the claim may belong to the company rather than to you personally. Courts can sometimes order early relief to keep assets from disappearing or appoint a receiver when funds are at risk. Embezzlement can also be a crime, and some owners go to the police or the district attorney, but a criminal case moves on the prosecutor's schedule and should never be used as a threat to gain leverage in a civil dispute. At the start we look at the evidence you have, the company's documents, and the amounts involved, and we discuss whether the goal is recovery, removing the partner, ending the relationship, or some combination.
