FAMILY LAW: Wife from Thailand awarded rental income and $100 per week

Case:  Bollin v. Sawangjai

Court:  Fairfield J.D., at Bridgeport

Doc. No.:  FA11-403621; Court Opinion by:  Klatt, J.

Date: Feb. 1, 2012

A court can award one party the rental income, if any, from the marital residence.  The parties married in Thailand in 1995 and did not have any children together since the date of the marriage.  The husband, who allegedly was fired because he was incarcerated as a result of being in contempt of court, has an earning capacity of $50,000 to $80,000 per year, using his degree in aeronomics and electrical technology.  The wife, 66, retired from working in factories at minimum wage and receives $7,800 gross per year in Social Security benefits.  The court awarded the wife the rent from the marital residence and 50 percent of any profit or liability from the sale of the marital residence.  The court ordered the husband to pay alimony of $100 per week, until the wife’s death, marriage or cohabitation, and alimony of $400 per week, if the marital residence is sold or foreclosed.  The court awarded the wife 50 percent of the husband’s 401(k).  The court awarded the wife the Nissan and the husband the Kia.  The court ordered the husband to pay $5,000 toward the wife’s attorneys’ fees.