Medical & Professional Degrees in Divorce
Is a Degree a Marital Asset? | Krupp Law Offices P.C.
The "Concerted Family Effort" Standard
In Michigan, a medical or professional degree can be considered a marital asset subject to equitable division. The landmark case Postema v. Postema established that if a degree is the result of a "concerted family effort"—where both parties shared goals and sacrifices—the non-degreed spouse may have a claim for compensation.
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How Courts Evaluate Degree Value
Sacrifices Made
Courts look at economic sacrifices (forgone jobs) and non-economic ones (shared stress or subordination of personal goals).
Time Elapsed
If many years have passed since the degree was earned, the court may find the spouse was already "compensated" by sharing the high-income lifestyle.
Restitution & Fairness
Compensation isn't always a cash payout. A court might require the degreed spouse to support the other through an educational program of their own. However, recent case law (Morse, Folkmier) has trended toward limiting these awards, often finding no "concerted effort" in specific residency or late-career scenarios.
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Professional degrees are significant assets. Ensure they are valued fairly.
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