Arkansas court clarifies law on personal goodwill in a nonprofessional business
In divorce cases, Arkansas has followed the rule that enterprise goodwill is marital property but personal goodwill is not.
Using Jensen’s Alpha to Separate Active and Passive Appreciation
The author presents an alternate approach (Jensen’s alpha) to segregating passive from active increases in the value of a marital asset. An example is presented of an automobile dealer.
Letter to the Editor: Response to Article on Separating Active and Passive Appreciation in the Value of a Marital Asset
The author says there are flaws in Dr. Ashok Abbott’s approach to segregating passive from active increases in the value of a marital asset—and he presents an alternate approach.
Tenn. Appeals Court says DLOM in divorce appropriate under facts of case
A recent Tennessee appeals court decision found that the trial court presiding over a drawn-out divorce had discretion to apply a marketability discount when it valued the owner-spouse’s interest in two companies in 2016.
NJ court’s goodwill ruling comes in for harsh criticism from appellate panel
The flashpoint in a protracted New Jersey divorce proceeding was the valuation of the owner spouse's equity partner interest in a large law firm. A critical issue was whether the value of the interest should include an additional amount stemming from the firm's enterprise goodwill. The trial court's decision elicited stinging criticism from the appellate court.
WA court’s goodwill analysis looks a lot like appreciation analysis
A recent Washington state divorce case included a noteworthy discussion of goodwill where the owner spouse’s business arguably was separate property. Divorce experts will notice that the court’s goodwill analysis has much in common with an appreciation analysis.
New Tennessee law streamlines DLOM use in divorce valuation
When and whether to apply a discount for marketability in divorce valuations has been an open question in Tennessee, owing to some confusing court rulings. However, a recent amendment to the Tennessee Code seeks to provide clarity to valuators handling divorce cases in this jurisdiction.
Comments wanted on simplified MUM for personal goodwill
What do you think of this method a valuation expert and forensic accountant uses for allocating goodwill between its enterprise and personal components?
Guidance for valuators on Washington state double dip jurisprudence
Double dipping is a tricky issue because different states have developed different approaches to it. Valuators specializing in divorce issues must know the controlling case law in the state in which they practice. A recent decision by the Washington state Court of Appeals clarifies its state's analytical framework in a case featuring a successful management consulting business the husband had set up and grown during the marriage.
Valuation of key marital asset demands expert opinion
In a Mississippi divorce, the husband's sole-owned fitness training company was the key asset. An accurate valuation was central to achieving an equitable distribution of property, but the parties did not hire experts or even submit much financial information to the trial court.
In Controversial Move, High Court Strikes Active Appreciation Rule
State high court says plain language of property distribution statute does not permit reclassification of nonmarital property as marital property under active appreciation doctrine; court invalidates doctrine and overrules body of case law applying it.
Court Rejects Bright-Line Rule for Valuing Appreciation of Nonmarital Assets
Marital estate only has claim to increased value of stock from company for which owning spouse works if nonowning spouse can show owner’s active effort “to move the appreciation value from the nonmarital category to the marital one,” appeals court affirms ...
Lay Testimony About Offer to Buy Represents Admissible Valuation Evidence
Appeals court says nonexpert testimony on a real-world offer to buy owner-spouse’s company was relevant and, therefore, admissible because it provided valuation evidence based on market approach; court remands for rehearing on all valuation testimony.
Florida court explores scope of active/passive appreciation
A Florida appeals court examines the issue of whether the increased value of stock from a company for which the owning spouse works can be a marital asset and subject to distribution.
Comparable Transaction Exposes Error in Court’s Enterprise Goodwill Ruling
Appeals court strikes divorce ruling adopting income-based valuation of enterprise value of owner’s financial services business, valuation conflicts with data from similar transaction that occurred close to valuation date and involved owner-spouse.
Industry-specific empirical support for passive appreciation
A survey is open for respondents to indicate which industries they would like to see analyzed for economic causal factors and their elasticities in order to better determine passive appreciation in business assets in a divorce context. The resulting analyses will be published.
Moore v. Moore
State high court says plain language of property distribution statute does not permit reclassification of nonmarital property as marital property under active appreciation doctrine; court invalidates doctrine and overrules body of case law applying it.
Witt-Bahls v. Bahls
Marital estate only has claim to increased value of stock from company for which owning spouse works if nonowning spouse can show owner’s active effort “to move the appreciation value from the nonmarital category to the marital one,” appeals court affirms ...
Service Business Valuation Triggers Double-Dip Rule
New York appellate court finds trial court’s spousal support determination violated double counting rule where expert valued husband’s solely owned engineering company based on an income approach and the business was a service business.
Berger v. Berger
Appeals court says nonexpert testimony on a real-world offer to buy owner-spouse’s company was relevant and, therefore, admissible because it provided valuation evidence based on market approach; court remands for rehearing on all valuation testimony.
South Carolina Supreme Court Makes New Law on Business Goodwill
In a first, state high court “cautiously” decides enterprise goodwill is marital property subject to equitable division and affirms that personal goodwill is not; court rejects claim that only professionals can develop personal goodwill in a business.
Court Nixes Double-Dip Claim Based on Accounts Receivable Treatment
Appeals court rejects claim that accounts receivable used in asset-based business valuation by wife’s expert are analogous to future income stream for purposes of arguing double dip in light of income determination for spousal support award.
In re Marriage of Johnson
Appeals court strikes divorce ruling adopting income-based valuation of enterprise value of owner’s financial services business, valuation conflicts with data from similar transaction that occurred close to valuation date and involved owner-spouse.
Expert’s Application of Asset Approach ‘Defies Common Sense’
Court rejects income approach for valuing interest in business with low bar of entry and few repeat customers; court also says asset-based valuation following Section 179 tax treatment understates true value of the company and requires upward adjustment.
Court Declines to Attribute Commercial Goodwill to Solo Practice
Appeals court affirms trial court’s ruling finding that, without noncompete from owner-spouse, under FMV standard, financial advisor’s solo practice fetches only net book value of its tangible assets; most of value lies in owner-spouse’s personal goodwill ...