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.
Hester v. Hester
In this Virginia divorce case, the court, among other things, did not accept the valuation of either valuator and instead determined its own value crafted from the two valuations that were submitted. The result, by chance or otherwise, resulted in “splitting the baby.”
Divorce Matter Results in the Court ‘Splitting the Baby’ to Value a 20% Interest in an S Corp. Medical Practice
In this Virginia divorce case, the court, among other things, did not accept the valuation of either valuator and instead determined its own value crafted from the two valuations that were submitted. The result, by chance or otherwise, resulted in “splitting the baby.”
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.
Appellate court KOs unaccrued interest on dissipated assets
In a divorce case, an appellate court vacated the order of the trial court that erroneously charged the husband with over $4 million in unaccrued interest on marital assets that the husband fraudulently dissipated from the marital estate.
Mohen v. Mohen
In the trial court (TC), the wife was awarded $4,360,158 of mostly unaccrued interest on the corpus of trusts the husband set up unilaterally for the children. The TC took the value of those trusts, $9,291,372, as part of the marital estate. The TC also added $990,945 of interest that the trusts had received and the remaining unaccrued future interest for a total value of “distribution” paid to the husband of $14,642,475 related to the trusts. The appellate court (AC) determined that the future interest was future interest and, thus, not part of the marital estate. However, the AC let stand the determination that the value of the trusts were to be treated as a distribution to the husband.
Husband Dissipates Assets by Placing Them in Trusts for the Children, but the Appellate Court Does Not Allow Unaccrued Interest
In the trial court (TC), the wife was awarded $4,360,158 of mostly unaccrued interest on the corpus of trusts the husband set up unilaterally for the children. The TC took the value of those trusts, $9,291,372, as part of the marital estate. The TC also added $990,945 of interest that the trusts had received and the remaining unaccrued future interest for a total value of “distribution” paid to the husband of $14,642,475 related to the trusts. The appellate court (AC) determined that the future interest was future interest and, thus, not part of the marital estate. However, the AC let stand the determination that the value of the trusts were to be treated as a distribution to the husband.
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.
Oudheusden v. Oudheusden (II)
In this divorce case, the Connecticut Supreme Court, overturning the appellate court, clarifies that awarding the nonowner spouse part of the value of the owner spouse’s businesses and basing alimony on income generated from the businesses is not impermissible double counting (double dipping).
Connecticut Supreme Court Clarifies Double Counting Rule in Divorce Cases Involving Valuation of a Business and Determination of Alimony
In this divorce case, the Connecticut Supreme Court, overturning the appellate court, clarifies that awarding the nonowner spouse part of the value of the owner spouse’s businesses and basing alimony on income generated from the businesses is not impermissible double counting (double dipping).
Fingertip guides to valuation cases in new BVR compendium guides
BVR’s valuation and case law compendium guides contain a very helpful feature: a handy summary table of hundreds of cases (by jurisdiction) that gives you the case name, date, specific court, and the main valuation issue in the case.
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.
BVU News and Trends December 2020
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
School of Probability: The Use of Monte Carlo in Valuation
The one thing we know about valuations is that the future is unpredictable. How we deal with that uncertainty is critical to developing credible valuations. Join Oksana Westerbeke and Keith Konen to learn how Monte Carlo simulations can be used to deal with the uncertainty, allowing you to generate insights for your client and build credible valuations.
New edition released of the BV in Divorce Compendium
The most current summary and analysis of U.S. legal decisions involving business valuation and divorce is in the just-released fifth edition of BVR’s Business Valuation in Divorce Case Law Compendium.
Tips on how to help settle a divorce during COVID-19
How do you resolve a divorce case during COVID-19, when many businesses in all kinds of industries are coping with significant losses and continuing uncertainty over future performance?
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 ...
Bates v. Bates
In appreciation case, appeals court says it was error to value owner’s separate, minority interest in car dealership based on buy-sell agreement; however, alternate valuation by nonowner spouse’s expert offered based on standard methods, including use of discounts, provided “appropriate valuation.”
Buy-Sell Stock Agreement Does Not Determine Value of Owner Spouse’s Separate Property
In appreciation case, appeals court says it was error to value owner’s separate, minority interest in car dealership based on buy-sell agreement; however, alternate valuation by nonowner spouse’s expert offered based on standard methods, including use of discounts, provided “appropriate valuation.”
Stowe v. Stowe
In divorce case, appeals court overturns trial court’s valuation for an independent insurance agency; the trial court, without analysis, accepted there was goodwill and adopted expert’s calculation of goodwill using multiple “derived from a non-analogous source applying un-adjusted factors.”
Expert’s Goodwill Calculation Based on Rule of Thumb Sinks Under Appellate Scrutiny
In divorce case, appeals court overturns trial court’s valuation for an independent insurance agency; the trial court, without analysis, accepted there was goodwill and adopted expert’s calculation of goodwill using multiple “derived from a non-analogous source applying un-adjusted factors.”
Alabama Appeals Court Affirms Calculation of Value Is Admissible and Lets Rohling Stand
In divorce case, Alabama appeals court upholds trial court’s admission of calculation of value from qualified expert for medical practice; appeals court agrees with lower court that objections to methodology go toward weight and expert’s credibility; court lets earlier Rohling decision stand.
Horne-Ballard v. Ballard
In divorce case, Alabama appeals court upholds trial court’s admission of calculation of value from qualified expert for medical practice; appeals court agrees with lower court that objections to methodology go toward weight and expert’s credibility; court lets earlier Rohling decision stand.