In a marital dissolution, most of a couple's assets and liabilities are valued, regardless of whether a state follows equitable distribution or community property rules. Frequently, one of the assets included in the marital estate is an interest in a closely held business. It is typical to have the business valued in its entirety if it is a small business, but sometimes only a portion of the business (e.g., a minority interest) is valued in a large business. Since marital dissolution laws vary significantly from state to state, it helps to be familiar with the rules of the state in which the divorce takes place. For example, in some states, goodwill associated with a professional is excludable from distribution, while in other states, it is includable. At Trugman Valuation Associates, we have experience working across many state boundaries to allow us to work with the local attorney on the state-specific valuation issues that may arise.