The bill aims to revise laws concerning the dissolution of marriage, particularly in cases involving physical abuse or adultery. It introduces provisions that allow courts to award attorney fees and costs to the non-offending party when such misconduct is found to have substantially contributed to the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Additionally, the bill mandates that courts consider instances of physical abuse or adultery when dividing property and awarding maintenance, thereby allowing for a more equitable distribution based on the circumstances of the marriage.

Key amendments include the removal of language that previously instructed courts to disregard marital misconduct when apportioning property and awarding maintenance. The new language emphasizes that physical abuse or adultery can justify disproportionate apportionment of assets and must be considered in maintenance decisions. The bill also establishes an immediate effective date and allows for retroactive applicability to cases that have not yet had a substantive hearing or final order regarding property division or maintenance.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40-4-110, 40-4-202, 40-4-203