Hoak v. Hoak

BROTHERTON, Justice:

This appeal from a divorce decree presents an issue of first impression in the courts of West Virginia: Is a professional degree earned during marriage “marital property” subject to equitable distribution? The circuit court in this case answered “no,” and Rebecca Hoak, the working spouse, appeals. Based on our review of the record, the briefs, and the law of the many jurisdictions that have considered this issue, we conclude that a professional degree is not marital property. The Court adopts instead the concept of reimbursement alimony as a means of compensating the…