The Tennessee Appeals Court Affirms the Trial Court’s Decision to Exclude From the Marital Estate Financial Advisor the Husband’s ‘Book of Business’
One of the main issues in this appeal was how to classify the husband’s “book of business,” i.e., his client relationships, assets under management, and related income. The husband was a financial advisor for UBS. The wife contended the book of business had value that constituted a marital asset. The husband pointed out that UBS now took the position that a financial advisor who left the company cannot take any information with him or her. The court also noted that “deferred cash agreements” were actually bonuses that were marital assets. The appellate court affirmed the trial court’s decision to exclude the book of business from marital assets. The court also affirmed the trial court decision on payment of alimony to the wife “in futuro.”
King v. King
In this Maryland divorce case, the Court of Special Appeals affirmed the trial court on all appealed issues including marital property determinations; monetary award to the wife; determination of incomes of the husband and wife; and determinations of alimony, child support, and related expenses. The Court of Special Appeals also affirmed that the husband’s business was not a gift and was marital property, and it determined the value of the business as the wife’s expert presented. Both parties were forensic accountants.
Maryland Appellate Court Affirms Trial Court on Value of Husband’s Business as Well as Several Other Divorce-Related Issues
In this Maryland divorce case, the Court of Special Appeals affirmed the trial court on all appealed issues including marital property determinations; monetary award to the wife; determination of incomes of the husband and wife; and determinations of alimony, child support, and related expenses. The Court of Special Appeals also affirmed that the husband’s business was not a gift and was marital property, and it determined the value of the business as the wife’s expert presented. Both parties were forensic accountants.
Nothing personal about goodwill in dental practice
In a South Carolina divorce case, the appellate court reversed the family court on the issue of personal versus enterprise goodwill.
Bostick v. Bostick
The South Carolina Court of Appeals, in this divorce case, reversed the family court and included all goodwill of a dentistry practice as enterprise goodwill includable in the marital estate. The family court had included all of the goodwill as personal goodwill not part of the marital estate. The Court of Appeals also reduced the temporary monthly alimony.
Appellate Court Reversed Decision and Treated All Goodwill as Enterprise Goodwill Includable in the Marital Estate
The South Carolina Court of Appeals, in this divorce case, reversed the family court and included all goodwill of a dentistry practice as enterprise goodwill includable in the marital estate. The family court had included all of the goodwill as personal goodwill not part of the marital estate. The Court of Appeals also reduced the temporary monthly alimony.
Asare v. Asare
In this marital dissolution appellate case, the appellate court must resolve a number of issues related to the equitable distribution of the marital estate. On most issues, the appellate court affirmed the trial court. However, the appellate court reversed the trial court on the issue of how much passive appreciation related to an investment account was includable in the marital estate.
North Carolina Appellate Court Reverses Trial Court on Amount of Passive Appreciation in an Investment Account
In this marital dissolution appellate case, the appellate court must resolve a number of issues related to the equitable distribution of the marital estate. On most issues, the appellate court affirmed the trial court. However, the appellate court reversed the trial court on the issue of how much passive appreciation related to an investment account was includable in the marital estate.
Letter to the Editor: A New Development in Personal Goodwil
Remarks and comments from BVR’s legal editor on a previous article that discussed Florida’s proposed legislation to clarify the value of goodwill in the marital interest of closely held businesses.
How to Explain Personal Goodwill to a Trier of Fact for a Divorce Valuation
This is an excerpt from the author’s upcoming sixth edition of Understanding Business Valuation, which will be available from BVR in early 2022.
Florida’s Proposed Change to Goodwill Could Set a Precedent
The Family Law Section of the Florida Bar is proposing legislation to clarify the value of goodwill in the marital interest of closely held businesses. The authors envision that this proposed legislation could set a precedent for future family law matters throughout the United States.
Asset vs. income approach for valuing goodwill in Tennessee
In Tennessee, personal goodwill is not a marital asset that can be divided between the divorcing parties.
Cela v. Cela
The Appellate Court (AC) upheld the trial court’s decision to accept the value under the income approach adjusted for the exclusion of personal goodwill. The expert for the wife (business owner) had used the asset approach reasoning that all goodwill was personal. The trial court and the AC rejected that approach.
Appellate Court Upholds Decision to Use Income Approach and Reduce Personal Goodwill
The Appellate Court (AC) upheld the trial court’s decision to accept the value under the income approach adjusted for the exclusion of personal goodwill. The expert for the wife (business owner) had used the asset approach reasoning that all goodwill was personal. The trial court and the AC rejected that approach.
Connecticut Supreme Court clarifies double-counting rule
In a recent decision, the Connecticut Supreme Court clarified this jurisdiction approach to double counting (or double dipping).
Personal v. Enterprise Goodwill in Florida Divorce Cases: What the Appellate Courts Say
In the wake of the recent King case, this is an analysis of marital dissolution case law from the Florida Supreme Court and the five District Courts of Appeal (DCA) of Florida that relates to the valuation of personal and enterprise goodwill in that state.
Goodwill analysis ignoring specifics crumbles on appeal
A divorce expert’s failure to link the facts related to a successful insurance company to his personal goodwill analysis was one of the reasons a Florida appeals court recently overturned the trial court’s valuation findings, which, the reviewing court said, were not based on competent, substantial evidence.
King v. King
This divorce case appeal deals with three primary issues: the determination of the value of insurance agency marital asset, the determination of the amount of personal goodwill attaching to the insurance agency, and the appropriate amount of alimony. The court remands the value of the business as it relates to the exclusion by the trial court of the liabilities the business owed, remands as to the appropriate amount of personal goodwill, and remands as to the erroneous level of income of the husband for determination of alimony.
Florida Trial Court’s Valuation Findings, Including Personal Goodwill Determination, Do Not Hold Up Under Appeals Court Scrutiny
This divorce case appeal deals with three primary issues: the determination of the value of insurance agency marital asset, the determination of the amount of personal goodwill attaching to the insurance agency, and the appropriate amount of alimony. The court remands the value of the business as it relates to the exclusion by the trial court of the liabilities the business owed, remands as to the appropriate amount of personal goodwill, and remands as to the erroneous level of income of the husband for determination of alimony.
Parties’ agreement complicates spousal support calculation in S corp context
Instead of facilitating a resolution, a separation agreement between the divorcing spouses led to a protracted lawsuit.
Marshall v. Marshall (II)
On second review, appeals court says trial court satisfied task on remand; latter’s use of reasonable compensation calculation to establish income for alimony and child support purposes was in the spirit of parties’ agreement and was based on “entirely credible” testimony by husband’s BV expert.
Courts Agree Reasonable Compensation Is Sound Method for Calculating Spousal Support in S Corp Context
On second review, appeals court says trial court satisfied task on remand; latter’s use of reasonable compensation calculation to establish income for alimony and child support purposes was in the spirit of parties’ agreement and was based on “entirely credible” testimony by husband’s BV expert.
Mission Critical in Divorce: 10 Key Insights in 50 Minutes-a Free AAML/BVR Virtual Divorce Conference Preview
Brought to you by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and Business Valuation Resources (BVR), this free preview for the Virtual Divorce Conference brings together attorneys, valuation professionals, and industry experts in a one action-packed, 60-minute session. Get short compelling lessons that you need to know now. This year’s conference focuses on the topics most impacted by divorce, and anyone serving business owners involved in matrimonial dissolution can get access to this premium preview ...
More on the alimony deduction
Our coverage of the recent AICPA Forensic & Valuation Services Conference sparked a few comments from readers concerning the elimination of the tax deduction for alimony that becomes effective December 31.
Corning v. Corning
The appellant in this case, the wife, appealed the trial court order for equitable distribution and alimony. The crux of the issues revolved around the values and date of value of two businesses owned by the parties and awarded to the husband in the distribution order. The appellate court affirmed the lower court’s orders.