Court takes more expansive view of goodwill in divorce case

Description

Abstract: Goodwill continues to fuel debate in divorce cases involving professionals such as attorneys and physicians. This article examines one case in which the court of appeals reversed a family court’s ruling limiting a law firm partner’s goodwill to the amount he would receive under a stock redemption agreement. The court described other “determinative factors” a court may consider in determining the existence and extent of goodwill. A sidebar addresses the question of whether professional goodwill can be considered community property.