Extra Credit for Being Smart?
Randy Work, an American financier, is appealing an award that the English Courts made to his wife, Mandy Gray, last year of 140 million pounds, which was half the martial estate. He claims that he should get two thirds because it was his financial genius that created the wealth.
Under English law, a court can make less than an equal division if it would be unfair to disregard the conduct of one party to the marriage.
In Maryland, the court can adjust the equities of property distribution by making a marital award based on certain factors that must be considered. One of the factors includes the efforts of each party in accumulating marital property.
But another factor is the contributions of each party, either monetary or non-monetary, to the well-being of the family. If one spouse took care of the home and children while the other spouse advanced his or her career, who is to say those contributions are not equal? How would you divide this estate?