Social:Simmons v. Simmons

Simmons v. Simmons, 708 A.2d 949 (1998), was a case decided by the Supreme Court of Connecticut that held that a medical degree is not a property interest subject to division during a divorce proceeding under a marital property regime.

Decision

The plaintiff sought to acquire half of the expected value of her husband's medical degree during divorce proceedings. The plaintiff provided testimony about the earnings potential associated with a medical degree and sought half of the expected earnings associated with the degree. The court ruled that the medical degree was not a property interest subject to division, but rather simply an expectancy that may not even vest.