Bill > HB325

This bill modifies New Hampshire's alimony laws to restrict term and reimbursement alimony to divorces granted on fault grounds, rather than irreconcilable differences. Specifically, the bill limits term alimony and reimbursement alimony to only be awarded in divorce cases where one party is deemed the "innocent party" under existing state law (RSA 458:7), which typically involves proving marital misconduct like adultery or abandonment. Previously, these types of alimony could be awarded in divorces with irreconcilable differences. The bill maintains that alimony requests must still be made either before the final divorce decree or within 5 years of the decree's effective date, and the purposes of term and reimbursement alimony remain the same - helping maintain a reasonable standard of living and compensating a spouse for economic contributions during the marriage. An important provision ensures that the new restrictions will not apply retroactively to existing divorce decrees granted on irreconcilable differences. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, giving legal professionals and potential divorcing couples time to understand the new alimony restrictions.

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https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0460&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB325