Opinion ID: 2085235
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Fidelity Account

Text: The trial justice excluded from the list of marital assets a Fidelity account in Giselda's name. John contends that the trial justice failed to determine the origin of the money in the account and therefore erred by excluding it from the marital estate. Giselda argues that the trial justice properly found that the funds in the Fidelity account were given to her individually by her mother and must be excluded from the marital estate in accordance with § 15-5-16.1(b). There was ample evidence in this case that Giselda's parents were generous and provided individual gifts to both John and Giselda. Giselda and her mother both testified that the money in the Fidelity account was an individual gift from Eva to her daughter, and John has not pointed to any evidence that contradicts this testimony. We are not convinced that the trial justice overlooked any material evidence with respect to the Fidelity account or that he was clearly wrong to refuse further inquiry. Such a determination was well within the discretion of the trial justice, and we affirm his decision.