Opinion ID: 1942975
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Custodial Parent Occupying Marital Residence

Text: The respondent argues that the court erred in relying upon this factor to award an unequal property distribution because the marital home was owned outright, the parties' only child was eighteen years old at the time of the divorce, and the petitioner earned a significant income and received significant child support with which to provide for their son. RSA 458:16-a, II(e) provides that the court may consider [t]he need of the custodial parent, if any, to occupy or own the marital residence and to use or own its household effects. Our review of the record shows that the parties' son was eighteen years old at the time of the divorce, the marital home was unencumbered and the petitioner had a gross monthly income of over six thousand dollars. Upon the facts of this case, therefore, RSA 458:16-a, II(e) does not provide a sufficient basis for the trial court to award an unequal division of the assets.