The Family Lawyer’s Guide to Stock Options

About the Authors

Acknowledgments

Glossary

Introduction

Chapter 1

When Are Employee Stock Options Marital Property?

A. INTRODUCTION

B. ARE EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS PROPERTY?

C. ARE UNVESTED STOCK OPTIONS MARITAL PROPERTY?

D. TIME RULES USED TO DETERMINE WHAT PORTION OF STOCK OPTIONS

ARE MARITAL PROPERTY

E. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

NOTES

APPENDIX 1-A: NATIONWIDE COURT DECISIONS ON STOCK OPTIONS AS

MARITAL PROPERTY

APPENDIX 1-B: BASIC INFORMATION REQUEST FOR VALUING EXECUTIVE

STOCK OPTIONS

Chapter 2

Employee Stock Option Valuation

A. INTRODUCTION

B. WHY STOCK OPTIONS HAVE VALUE

C. HOW OPTIONS ARE VALUED

D. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRADED AND EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS —

NONTRANSFERABILITY AND THE EXPECTED HOLDING PERIOD

E. VOLATILITY

F. ARE VALUES DETERMINED BY THE BSOPM TOO OVERLY SPECULATIVE

TO BE USED FOR EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION?

G. MARKETABILITY ISSUES POST EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION EXERCISE

H. DETERMINING AN APPROPRIATE MARKETABILITY DISCOUNT

I. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

NOTES

APPENDIX 2-A: THE STANDARD DEVIATION

Chapter 3

Taxation of Employee Stock Options, Restricted Stock, and Stock Appreciation Rights

A. INTRODUCTION

B. TAX ASPECTS OF NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS

C. TAXATION AT THE DATE OF GRANT

D. TAXATION AT THE EXERCISE DATE

E. MARITAL PROPERTY SETTLEMENTS AND NONSTATUTORY STOCK

OPTIONS

F. TAX ASPECTS OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS

G. MARITAL PROPERTY SETTLEMENTS AND INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS

H. ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX

I. TAX ASPECTS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

J. TAX ASPECTS OF RESTRICTED STOCK

K. THE IRC § 83(b) ELECTION

L. TAXATION AND THE IMMEDIATE OFFSET

M. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

NOTES

Chapter 4

Deferred Distribution v Immediate Offset Approaches to

Dividing Employee Stock Options

A. IMMEDIATE OFFSET APPROACH

B. ARE OPTION PRICING MODELS OVERLY SPECULATIVE TO BE USED FOR

EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION?

C. DEFERRED DISTRIBUTION APPROACH

D. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

E. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

NOTES

APPENDIX 4-A: SAMPLE LANGUAGE FOR THE DIVISION OF STOCK OPTIONS

IN A PROPERTY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

Chapter 5

Stock Options as Income for Child Support and Alimony

A. INTRODUCTION

B. WHEN ARE EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS PART OF GROSS INCOME?

C. REVIEW OF COURT DECISIONS

D. THE CONSTRUCTIVE TRUST

E. USING EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS AS PROPERTY AND INCOME

F. ALIMONY AND SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE

G. PROPERTY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS

H. OTHER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

I. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

NOTES

APPENDIX 5-A: NATIONWIDE COURT DECISIONS ON STOCK OPTIONS AS

INCOME FOR CHILD SUPPORT PURPOSES

APPENDIX 5-B: NATIONWIDE COURT DECISIONS ON STOCK OPTIONS AS

INCOME FOR ALIMONY AND SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE

Index