Everyone has heard about Jay Leno’s amazing, extensive classic-car collection. But Connecticut has its own prominent heritage-car collectors, including Wayne Carini and Herb Chambers. Private parties in our state also amass impressive collections of vintage or luxury...
Property Division
When is a trust a marital asset subject to division in divorce?
Is a trust a “mere expectancy” as it pertains to classification of potential property interests as marital or nonmarital? If an interest is sufficiently certain and concrete, it is marital property subject to equitable distribution between divorcing litigants. If the...
Accounting for copyright interests in Connecticut divorces
Norman Lear. Charles Edward Ives. Annie Leibovitz. Michael Bolton. Stephenie Meyer. Connecticut has no shortage of accomplished artists, writers, musicians, architects, playwrights, photographers, songwriters and other creatives. And when they produce artistic works,...
A deep dive into dissipation of marital assets
Sometimes when a marriage breaks down, one spouse may unreasonably dissipate, squander or misuse marital funds or other marital assets. The actions may result in difficulties, including litigation in the division of marital property in a divorce. Legal restraint on...
New judicial direction on when a potential asset is a mere expectancy
On Feb. 7, 2023, the Appellate Court of Connecticut released an opinion in D.S. v. D.S. that provides new guidance for judges, lawyers and spouses contemplating whether a divorce litigant’s prospective ownership interest in property is concrete enough to classify it...
Intangible contributions to a marriage may have value in Connecticut divorces
Dividing property in a Connecticut divorce requires more sophisticated analysis. The process involves far more than merely identifying and distributing assets to the litigants. The family court rules include provisions for mandatory disclosure of finances and assets...
Valuation and division of obscure collections in Connecticut divorce
People can collect anything, and they often choose unique, rare or unusual objects on which to focus their time, energy and money. Nostalgia, obsession, investment, knowledge – the thrill of the hunt – whatever the reason for pursuit of a particular type of object,...
Executive perks and divorce: Identification, analysis and valuation
Perquisites, usually called perks, are benefits an employer gives to an executive or employee over and above salary or wages. Perks can be valuable and may significantly enhance the lifestyle of the executive and their family members. Perks may be classified as...
Enforceability of premarital agreements in divorce: When does unfairness become unconscionable injustice?
Recently, the Connecticut Supreme Court issued a ruling in Grabe v. Hokin that elaborates on unconscionability as a basis for finding a prenuptial agreement unenforceable between divorce litigants. Connecticut law gives judges the power to decline to enforce a...
Information disclosure duties of divorcing litigants in Connecticut
We start with a simplified explanation of what happens to property and debt when someone files for divorce. First, imagine at the time of filing a snapshot of all assets and liabilities of the parties whether joint or personal to one of them. Second, Connecticut law...