In re Goodlander

Wife's interest in any future distributions of a trust of which she was a beneficiary was mere expectancy, and therefore wife did not have vested interest in distributions and distributions were not marital property.

By Diana Shepherd, CDFA®Updated: June 03, 2020

In re Goodlander: The wife sought discretionary distribution of a fund as its beneficiary. The Court said it was not a fixed, certain and absolute right.

By Laura Morgan, Family Law Consultant

Wife’s interest in any future distributions of a trust of which she was a beneficiary was mere expectancy, and therefore wife did not have vested interest in distributions and distributions were not marital property, where wife’s hope for a discretionary distribution from the trust was not a fixed, certain, and absolute right, as trustee had discretion to make distributions for beneficiary’s “education and maintenance in health and reasonable comfort” after investment directors exercised discretion in making distributions to the trust from larger trusts, and beneficiary had no power to force distributions.

In re Goodlander

Laura Morgan is a Family Law Consultant. Laura is available for consultation, brief writing and research on family law issues throughout the country. She can be reached through her website. www.famlawconsult.com

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Published on: January 03, 2012

About the Author

Diana Shepherd, CDFA®

Diana Shepherd has over 30 years of experience as a marketing, branding, SEO, copywriting, editing, and publishing expert. As Content Director for Family Lawyer Magazine, Divorce Magazine, and Divorce Marketing Group, she oversees all corporate content development and frequently creates SEO-friendly videos, podcasts, and copy for family law and financial firms. The Co-Founder of Divorce Magazine and Divorce Marketing Group, Diana is an award-winning editor, published author, and a nationally recognized expert on divorce, remarriage, finance, and stepfamily issues. She has written hundreds of articles geared towards both family law professionals and divorcing people, and she has both performed and taught on-page SEO for 20+ years. Diana spent eight years as the Marketing Director for the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts® (IDFA®), and she has been a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® since 2006. While at IDFA, she wrote, designed, and published The IDFA Marketing Guide, and she also created seminars for CDFA professionals to present to family lawyers (approved for CLE), as well as to separated and divorcing individuals. She has represented both DMG and IDFA at industry conferences and events across North America, and she has given marketing as well as divorce financial seminars at many of those conferences.

In re Goodlander

Wife's interest in any future distributions of a trust of which she was a beneficiary was mere expectancy, and therefore wife did not have vested interest in distributions and distributions were not marital property.

About the Author

Diana Shepherd, CDFA®

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