The plaintiff-husband, during the marriage, invested $25,000 of marital funds to become a 50% owner of a hair salon. A Court appointed neutral determined that the husband’s 50% interest of the business was $106,000 and wife sought equitable division of this asset. Beyond the initial monetary contribution of marital funds, no evidence was presented by wife to deem that she had any involvement in the subsequent appreciated value of the business interest. The wife and husband both shared in the responsibility of taking care of the family. As such, the court awarded 50% of the initial investment to the wife ($12,500) and of the remaining $81,000 in appreciation of value; the court awards the defendant 30% of the appreciation.

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