A husband or wife may be entitled to a divorce from the bonds of marriage on the grounds of extreme cruelty. Actual violence committed on a spouse by the other intended to endanger life and limb may constitute extreme cruelty within the parameters of New Hampshire law. In these instances, extreme cruelty consists of a course of conduct rather than a single act. However, acts of violence do not need to be consistent, a fixed habit nor be many in number before they can constitute extreme cruelty under the law. When a spouse’s conduct causes the breakdown of the marriage, such as in the instance of extreme cruelty, and also causes the other spouse to suffer significant emotional and/or physical harm, the victim spouse may be entitled to an unequal division of assets.
If you have any questions regarding the fault ground of extreme cruelty and/or any other divorce issue, please contact an attorney at Hamblett & Kerrigan.
Kevin P. Rauseo is a former director at Hamblett & Kerrigan P.A. and has since been appointed as a Justice for the New Hampshire Circuit Court. Please feel free to contact another attorney at Hamblett & Kerrigan to discuss your legal issues.