This bill introduces a new section to the existing law regarding annulment, divorce, and separation, specifically focusing on the enforcement of property settlements and decrees of divorce. The new section, RSA 458:51-a, establishes standards for motions or petitions for contempt or enforcement, allowing respondents to contest the validity of the terms based on specific grounds such as fraud, duress, or misrepresentation. The court is mandated to enforce the settlement or decree unless it is proven invalid by a preponderance of the evidence. Additionally, the court is required to provide remedies that restore the parties to the position they would have been in had the decree been fully executed.

The bill also clarifies that these provisions will apply to any motions or petitions filed after the effective date of the new section, regardless of when the original settlement or decree was established. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.