The Value of a Homemaker and Stay at Home Mom
- posted: Apr. 15, 2025
Twenty-two years ago my client entered into a valid marriage which bore two children, now grown and emancipated. At the time of the marriage the Husband owned several income producing properties in New York City. The appraisals acquired during some protracted and contentious litigation revealed two values, i.e. one at the time of the marriage and one when the action for divorce was commenced. The difference was approximately $6 million.
My client, the Mother of the two children, was the primary individual who cared for both of the children as well as maintaining the marital home. At a time when she fulfilled all of her marital obligations her husband was enabled to maintain, improve and repair the New York City properties. The Wife (my client) did, however, render some minor services by way of assisting the Husband with some needed paperwork, etc.
When the action was commenced the Husband took the position that his Wife of 22 years was not entitled to any part of the appreciated value for the New York City properties. In advocating for my client, I advanced the seminal case of Price v. Price 69 NY 2d 8 which stood for the position that a Wife’s substantial services in raising the children and maintaining the marital home constituted a substantial contribution and efforts which played a role in the resulting appreciation of the Husband’s separate property thereby transforming the appreciation into marital property subject to distribution by the Court.
The conclusion to be reached, “WOMEN, VALUE YOURSELVES AS A HOMEMAKER AND PARENT.”
The Value of a Homemaker and Stay at Home Mom
- posted: Apr. 15, 2025
Twenty-two years ago my client entered into a valid marriage which bore two children, now grown and emancipated. At the time of the marriage the Husband owned several income producing properties in New York City. The appraisals acquired during some protracted and contentious litigation revealed two values, i.e. one at the time of the marriage and one when the action for divorce was commenced. The difference was approximately $6 million.
My client, the Mother of the two children, was the primary individual who cared for both of the children as well as maintaining the marital home. At a time when she fulfilled all of her marital obligations her husband was enabled to maintain, improve and repair the New York City properties. The Wife (my client) did, however, render some minor services by way of assisting the Husband with some needed paperwork, etc.
When the action was commenced the Husband took the position that his Wife of 22 years was not entitled to any part of the appreciated value for the New York City properties. In advocating for my client, I advanced the seminal case of Price v. Price 69 NY 2d 8 which stood for the position that a Wife’s substantial services in raising the children and maintaining the marital home constituted a substantial contribution and efforts which played a role in the resulting appreciation of the Husband’s separate property thereby transforming the appreciation into marital property subject to distribution by the Court.
The conclusion to be reached, “WOMEN, VALUE YOURSELVES AS A HOMEMAKER AND PARENT.”
