When Business Interests Are Valued Subsequent to the Date of Commencement

In last month's issue, we discussed at length how, when the value of a business interest is impacted by adverse events subsequent to the date of commencement outside of the titled spouse's control, courts have recognized that it would be inequitable to ascribe a date-of-commencement value. Let us now address two other scenarios where valuing a business interest as of the commencement date value would unfairly prejudice one party because the change in value is in no way attributable to the titled spouse's active efforts. In both scenarios, courts have appropriately valued the business interest as of a date subsequent to the date the action was commenced. First is the situation in which the value of the interest either increases or decreases as a result of passive market forces. And second, courts have valued business interests as of a date later than the date of commencement if the value is increased due to the efforts and contributions of the non-titled spouse.