Evaluating a Business or Professional Practice in Divorce - The valuation standard is the fair market value which gets rather clouded by the emotions and financial goals of the parties involved in a divorce action. Its further complicated by the nature of the business and what the going market is for that particular type of business...

Selecting the Right Business Appraiser - Most professionals, such as attorneys, doctors, dentists, and accountants, have clearly-defined career paths that must be followed to enter their profession. Typically, a specified college program must be completed followed by some examination for licensing or other certification. Unfortunately, the business valuation profession does not have a clearly defined path...

Should Business Appraisers in Divorce Cases be Jointly Retained? - There is a growing trend in divorce cases involving business owners to hire a business appraiser jointly. Before discussing why you should do this, lets look at what happens if you don't

Valuing and Dividing a Business in Divorce - In today's booming economy, it is more and more common for divorcing couples to struggle with the valuation and division of a small business as part of the divorce process. Remember, even if the ownership interest is in the name of only one spouse, it may be marital if it was acquired, improved upon, or financed during the marriage...

Placing a Price Tag on Marital Assets - After determining that a couple wishes to obtain a divorce, one of the major issues that will be encountered is how to divide the property acquired during the marital relationship. This process is defined by the courts as equitable distribution...

Valuation of Property - The Date of the filing of the Complaint for Divorce historically has been the date that assets are valued for purposes of equitable distribution. If the asset increases or decreases in value due to fluctuating market conditions, as in the real estate and stock markets, the gain or loss is realized by both parties at the time of the actual distribution or sale of the asset. However, when an asset has increased in value due to the sole efforts and industry of one party, the gain usually will be awarded to the person responsible for the increase in value...