This bill introduces a new section to the existing law regarding annulment, divorce, and separation, specifically focusing on the enforcement of marital property settlements and decrees. The new legal language, inserted as RSA 458:51-a, establishes that when a party files a motion or petition for enforcement or contempt related to a divorce decree, the court is required to enforce the settlement or decree as long as it is not proven invalid due to specific reasons such as fraud or misrepresentation. The bill emphasizes that the court must provide remedies that restore the parties to the position they would have been in had the decree been fully executed.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that these enforcement provisions apply to any motions or petitions filed after the effective date of the new section, which is set for January 1, 2026. The bill does not allocate new funding or positions, and while it is expected to incur some costs due to increased litigation and court workload, these costs are estimated to remain below $100,000. The Judicial Branch has been consulted and does not anticipate significant financial impacts from this legislative change.