O'Brien v. O'Brien
State of New York Court of Appeals
489 N.E.2d 712 (N.Y. 1985)
Mr. O'Brien (plaintiff) enrolled in medical school shortly after marrying Mrs. O'Brien (defendant), who put her own education on hold, worked, and covered nearly all the couple's living expenses and household needs throughout his schooling; once Mr. O'Brien obtained his medical license, he filed for divorce, leaving the license as essentially the couple's only asset of significant value. The trial court awarded Mrs. O'Brien a portion of the license's estimated value as marital property, and Mr. O'Brien appealed.
Whether a professional license obtained by one spouse during the marriage, largely through the other spouse's financial and household support, constitutes marital property subject to equitable distribution.