CPA Designation and Marital Asset

Welcome to AMHD. My view is that the designation is not so much as asset as a business that the holder of the designation may be involved with. There is apparently a difference of opinion on this: A biased valuation: the treatment of a professional degree in divorce actions | American Journal of Economics and Sociology, The | Find Articles at BNET

In Cali at least it is mostly considered when figuring spousal support because of the increase that it may bring and the contribution given. If its a title on a business then its an asset because that's something that is hard and true. Like what George posted that just the title of CPA may allow you to get certain jobs that others can't it doesn't gaurantee a income.

I have never seen a "designation" listed or considered to be a marital asset.

In some actions in NYS, yes, an advanced degree which leads to a career requiring a license (MD, RN) it is an asset, particularly if one party worked while the other party worked part-time or not at all and attended school. I have seen Doctorates in other professions also listed.

(It's always interesting when an Attorney files for divorce because this always comes into play.)

Let's say you are a M.D., not practicing medicine, and writing a column in the paper and teaching high school science. Is the degree an asset?

Mostly the answer lies in what an asset is. As far as a physical asset then no .. Merely by having the title doesn't make it an asset. As far as intellectual property then yes .. By all means its an asset. So there is a dividing line as to what property is and isn't when falling under consideration. The assumption is that the marriage ( or union ) suffered financial difficulty because of one person obtaining a degree. If that is the case then one party is damaged because the relationship is over and they suffered financial loss.

Now if the said person got their MD during the marriage and then from both deciding a career change ( teacher and author ) then they had chosen their path and not entitled to damages from the party that did aquire the MD.

So for a judge to consider it its mostly going to depend on how it is looked at and applied.

Long answer short question .. Lol whew

Well, I suppose if an MD wasn't practicing medicine and was teaching science and/or writing a column in the newspaper the Court would have to look at that scenario.