Thornton v. Thornton

Syllabus

In this domestic relations matter, Anita L. Thornton (Wife) appeals the family court's final divorce decree, arguing the family court erred in (1) identifying, valuing, and apportioning marital assets and debts (2) miscalculating Wife's child support obligation (3) awarding primary custody of the parties' two children to Michael P. Thornton (Husband) (4) failing to find Wife prejudiced by a \structural\ error related to a hearing on her petition to enforce visitation (5) relying too heavily on the guardian ad litem's (GAL) conclusions (6) relying on the forensic consultant, Dr. Marc Harari's conclusions, which were based on information provided by the GAL (7) granting Husband a divorce on the ground of adultery (8) failing to find a conflict of interest regarding a personal relationship between Husband and an employee of the Dorchester County Clerk of Court and (9) requiring the parties to pay their own attorney's fees, requiring Wife to pay a greater percentage of the GAL's fees and Dr. Harari's fees, and requiring Wife to pay the private investigator's fees. We affirm as modified.