What Would a Hypothetical Willing Seller Do? A Complicated Case—A Confounding Decision in Idaho
An inside look by one of the experts in a case that “had it all”: a high-tech startup, a recent historical transaction, the personal goodwill-versus-commercial goodwill debate, a covenant not to compete, a lot of money at stake, and the proverbial “battle of the experts.”
'Confounding incongruities' in recent divorce case
A complex divorce case in Idaho included a number of valuation issues, one of which was the personal vs. enterprise goodwill question.
Lamm v. Preston
This was a divorce case with a complex set of issues regarding the marital estate and the businesses of the parties. This Supreme Court of Idaho case and opinion related to one of the businesses, Black Sage Acquisition LLC, in which the couple owned 25%. The magistrate court determined the value of Black Sage Acquisition as $163,373 based on fair market value. The remaining value was determined to be personal goodwill. The Supreme Court (Idaho) affirmed the decision of the district court, which upheld the magistrate court.
Idaho Supreme Court Affirms Magistrate Judge’s Opinion Regarding Personal Goodwill
This was a divorce case with a complex set of issues regarding the marital estate and the businesses of the parties. This Supreme Court of Idaho case and opinion related to one of the businesses, Black Sage Acquisition LLC, in which the couple owned 25%. The magistrate court determined the value of Black Sage Acquisition as $163,373 based on fair market value. The remaining value was determined to be personal goodwill. The Supreme Court (Idaho) affirmed the decision of the district court, which upheld the magistrate court.
The Two Most Prevalent Methods for Solving the Goodwill Conundrum
Remarks from a session at the AAML/BVR National Divorce Conference conducted by veteran valuers Jay Fishman (Financial Research Associates) and Ken Pia (Marcum) who were joined by attorney Thomas J. Sasser (Sasser, Cestero & Roy).
Thomasee v. Thomasee
The Louisiana appellate court affirmed the decision of the trial court in a divorce case that included the value of the husband’s business in the marital estate as community property. The husband argued that the FEMA adjuster business was a professional business and that the profits were all goodwill and, therefore, not included in the estate. The wife argued that the business was not a professional business and had value other than just the personal goodwill of the husband. The value was includable as community property, and any subsequent income was half hers. The trial court sided with the wife, and the appeals court affirmed.
Louisiana Appeals Court Affirms Husband’s Business Is Not a Professional Business and Has Value Other Than Personal Goodwill
The Louisiana appellate court affirmed the decision of the trial court in a divorce case that included the value of the husband’s business in the marital estate as community property. The husband argued that the FEMA adjuster business was a professional business and that the profits were all goodwill and, therefore, not included in the estate. The wife argued that the business was not a professional business and had value other than just the personal goodwill of the husband. The value was includable as community property, and any subsequent income was half hers. The trial court sided with the wife, and the appeals court affirmed.
Fair v. Fair
The primary issue in this appeal was the value of Surgical Imaging Specialists Inc. (SIS), a subchapter S corporation that the parties formed in 2002. Stephan Fair, the husband, was the sole registered shareholder of SIS. Darlene Fair, the wife, was listed on all tax returns as an equal owner. The trial court awarded all community property interest to the husband and eliminated 25% of SIS’ goodwill as personal goodwill. On appeal, the husband contended that the trial court undervalued the personal goodwill discount and failed to apply a discount for lack of marketability. The husband also appealed the separate property award of an IRA account and a reimbursement to the wife for additional salary payments made by SIS to the husband. The court of appeal affirmed the trial court value of SIS, remanded the issue of IRA gains, and affirmed the reimbursement for additional salary payments.
Appellate Court Rules on the Value of the Marital Business as to Personal Goodwill, Minority, Liquidity, and Marketability Discounts
The primary issue in this appeal was the value of Surgical Imaging Specialists Inc. (SIS), a subchapter S corporation that the parties formed in 2002. Stephan Fair, the husband, was the sole registered shareholder of SIS. Darlene Fair, the wife, was listed on all tax returns as an equal owner. The trial court awarded all community property interest to the husband and eliminated 25% of SIS’ goodwill as personal goodwill. On appeal, the husband contended that the trial court undervalued the personal goodwill discount and failed to apply a discount for lack of marketability. The husband also appealed the separate property award of an IRA account and a reimbursement to the wife for additional salary payments made by SIS to the husband. The court of appeal affirmed the trial court value of SIS, remanded the issue of IRA gains, and affirmed the reimbursement for additional salary payments.
Weinstein v. Weinstein
In this Vermont divorce case, the Supreme Court affirmed the value of the husband’s law practice even though there was evidence of some potential personal goodwill left in the value determined by the lower court. The Supreme Court also affirmed the wife’s expert’s determination of the husband’s income for maintenance purposes. Note that, per the court, “decisions of a three-justice panel are not to be considered as precedent before any tribunal.”
Vermont Supreme Court Affirms Value of Husband’s Law Practice, Declines to Eliminate Personal Goodwill, Affirms Determination of Husband’s Income
In this Vermont divorce case, the Supreme Court affirmed the value of the husband’s law practice even though there was evidence of some potential personal goodwill left in the value determined by the lower court. The Supreme Court also affirmed the wife’s expert’s determination of the husband’s income for maintenance purposes. Note that, per the court, “decisions of a three-justice panel are not to be considered as precedent before any tribunal.”
No proof of personal goodwill in Utah divorce case
In some states, personal goodwill in a business is not part of the marital estate—but you have to have evidence that it exists.
Erickson v. Erickson
The Court of Appeals of Utah in this divorce case affirmed the trial court’s decisions regarding the value of the wife’s business and the exclusion of the wife’s rebuttal witness. The primary issue on appeal was whether the business value included personal goodwill and whether personal goodwill was an appropriate issue in Utah for this business, veterinary pharmaceuticals. The court also affirmed the trial court’s exclusion of the wife’s rebuttal expert.
Appellate Court of Utah Affirms Judgment of Business Value Despite Assertions the Value Included Personal Goodwill
The Court of Appeals of Utah in this divorce case affirmed the trial court’s decisions regarding the value of the wife’s business and the exclusion of the wife’s rebuttal witness. The primary issue on appeal was whether the business value included personal goodwill and whether personal goodwill was an appropriate issue in Utah for this business, veterinary pharmaceuticals. The court also affirmed the trial court’s exclusion of the wife’s rebuttal expert.
Preliminary agenda out for 2022 AAML/BVR National Divorce Conference
Want to learn how to value and divide intellectual property caught up in divorce?
Journal of Business Valuation 2021 Edition
From the CBV Institute ...
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.
Personal goodwill likely in martial estate in Wyoming divorce case
In Wyoming, personal goodwill is not part of the marital estate, but it’s likely that some was included in a recent case.
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.
Court Affirms Inclusion of Personal Goodwill in Marital Estate, Decides Trial Court Erred in Granting a Judgment Against Husband’s Business
In this divorce case, the Supreme Court of Wyoming allowed the valuation of the husband’s business, which likely included personal goodwill. It also decided that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it valued the husband’s business or ordered him to make an equalization payment. However, the district court erred in granting a judgment against the husband’s business for the equity payment due the wife since the business was not a party to the divorce action.
Snyder v. Snyder
In this divorce case, the Supreme Court of Wyoming allowed the valuation of the husband’s business, which likely included personal goodwill. It also decided that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it valued the husband’s business or ordered him to make an equalization payment. However, the district court erred in granting a judgment against the husband’s business for the equity payment due the wife since the business was not a party to the divorce action.
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.
Recap of recent BV cases of note
A number of recent cases have emerged that contain various valuation issues.
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.