Financial Analysis for Divorce and Marital Dissolution in New Hampshire

By Christopher Skerritt, M.Ed., MBA, Chief of Economic Services · Published · Reviewed

KW Economics prepares financial analyses for divorce and marital dissolution matters venued in New Hampshire: income available for support, the value of business interests in the marital estate, and the tracing of separate and marital funds, each presented so that either spouse or the court can examine the figures.

A divorce or marital dissolution matter asks what income each spouse has available for support, what the marital assets, including any business interest, are worth for the division of the estate, and which assets are separate rather than marital. Each is answered from the business books, tax returns, and account histories rather than from the tax return alone. Read the full divorce and marital dissolution analysis guide.

New Hampshire courts and expert standards

New Hampshire courts screen expert testimony for reliability under a statutory standard: the judge asks whether the economist is qualified, whether the opinion rests on sufficient facts and reliable principles and methods, and whether those methods were reliably applied to the case. A damages report is written to that inquiry, with every rate and table traced to a published source.

Where these cases are heard

Highest court: New Hampshire Supreme Court. Federal venues: D.N.H. Court system: courts.state.nh.us.

Legal framework

Whether New Hampshire divides marital property equitably or as community property, which valuation date applies, how income available for support is defined, and how the goodwill of a professional practice is treated are questions of law that counsel confirms; the report presents each finding so it can be applied under either party's position.

How the analysis is built

The same four steps apply to a divorce and marital dissolution matter venued in New Hampshire; the governing framework in New Hampshire decides how each finding is applied.

  1. Normalize the business's cash flow for owner compensation, personal expenses paid through the business, related-party dealings, and non-recurring items, listing each adjustment with its source.
  2. Value the business or practice as of the date the governing framework requires, under the income, market, and asset approaches as the facts support, and address personal and enterprise goodwill where the framework distinguishes them.
  3. Determine each spouse's income available for support from the same normalized statements, including distributions, perquisites, and cash flow retained in the business beyond reported salary.
  4. Trace separate property through the account statements step by step, classify commingled funds under the framework counsel identifies, and reduce pensions and deferred compensation to present value with the assumptions stated.

Attorney guides for divorce and marital dissolution cases

Other case types in New Hampshire

Frequently asked: divorce and marital dissolution cases in New Hampshire

Which New Hampshire courts hear divorce and marital dissolution cases?

Divorce and Marital Dissolution cases venued in New Hampshire are heard in the Circuit Court (Three divisions: District for civil and criminal matters, Family for domestic relations, and Probate) and the Superior Court (General jurisdiction; civil cases with jury trials, felonies). Final appeals run to the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Matters within federal jurisdiction proceed in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire.

How does New Hampshire's family-law framework shape the financial analysis?

Whether New Hampshire divides marital property equitably or as community property, which valuation date applies, how income available for support is defined, and how the goodwill of a professional practice is treated are questions of law that counsel confirms; the report presents each finding so it can be applied under either party's position. New Hampshire courts screen expert testimony for reliability under a statutory standard: the judge asks whether the economist is qualified, whether the opinion rests on sufficient facts and reliable principles and methods, and whether those methods were reliably applied to the case. A damages report is written to that inquiry, with every rate and table traced to a published source.

More questions about divorce and marital dissolution analysis

References

Request a consultation on divorce and marital dissolution cases in New Hampshire or call (201) 343-0700. Plaintiff and defense counsel.