Opinion ID: 1311013
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Percentage of Wife's Share

Text: Family Court awarded Wife 23% of any pension benefits received by Husband. This reflects the ratio of the number of years the parties were married to the total number of years of Husband's military service. Husband contends that this award was in error because Wife's conduct was detrimental to his military career. We disagree. Husband presented evidence that Wife cashed bad checks at military facilities, causing his check cashing privileges to be revoked, and that she falsely reported that he failed to honor his financial responsibilities. He argues that Wife's share of his pension benefits should be substantially reduced or barred. Family Court has wide discretion in determining the contributions made by each spouse to the marital property. The weight to be accorded evidence of marital misconduct is for the court to determine in the exercise of its discretion. Smith v. Smith, 294 S.C. 194, 363 S.E.2d 404 (Ct.App.1987). Here, although Husband alleges that the Wife's misconduct was detrimental to his career, he makes no showing that he was actually harmed. Moreover, there is substantial evidence that Wife's contributions to the marriage were significant: she moved with Husband numerous times during the nine year marriage; she cared for his two children from a prior marriage, including for extended periods when he was away from home on duty; and she moved from Germany while he was still stationed there so she could care for one of his children who had returned to the United States. We find no abuse of discretion in awarding Wife 23% of the pension which Husband may receive. AFFIRMED. FINNEY, TOAL and MOORE, JJ., and WILLIAM H. BALLENGER, Acting Associate Justice, concur.