ROBERT F. McWEENY, JUDGE.
This case was initiated in January of 2005 seeking the dissolution of the marriage between the plaintiff and the defendant who were intermarried at Northford, Connecticut on June 8, 1996. The parties have been residents of the State of Connecticut since the date of their marriage. There are two minor children issue of the marriage: Amanda Pryor, date of birth April 23, 1997; and John Pryor, date of birth December 13, 1999. Neither the State of Connecticut nor any municipal subdivision thereof has contributed to the support of either party.
The marriage of the parties has broken down irretrievably and is dissolved on that basis. At the commencement of trial, the parties stipulated regarding the custody and visitation of the minor children. The stipulation provides for joint custody of the minor children who shall primarily reside with the defendant with liberal specific access schedule to the plaintiff. The court adopts the parties' stipulation regarding custody and visitation and incorporates into its judgment of dissolution.
The issues argued at trial concerned the financial impact of the dissolution of marriage. The parties jointly retained a Certified Public Accountant, Joseph DeCausate, who evaluated three business entities in which the parties were involved and further valued the income flow to the parties of such business ventures. The opinion of Mr. DeCausate, who testified as an expert, was that the businesses had no substantial value.
American Auto and Truck, LLC was a business owned ninety-nine percent by the plaintiff and one percent by the defendant. It was a business operated by the plaintiff which performed mechanical services for motor vehicles as well as towing services. The assets of the business were sold in January of 2005. The proceeds of the sale of the business in the amount of $160,000 went to CT Page 10315 creditors of the business, with a small amount of assets being incorporated into a different business owned and operated by the plaintiff. The second business in which the plaintiff was interested was American Waste Recycling, LLC. This operation was a trucking company which primarily hauled biodegradable or "green" waste. It has one customer who provides eighty-five percent of its business. The company has valuable and new tractor trailer vehicles, but such vehicles are subject to loans. The expert witness found that this company had no substantial value. However, he found that it was an income source to the plaintiff in the gross amount of $65,000.
The remaining business which was assessed was one in which the defendant has a one-third interest. The business is Environmental Dewatering Controls, LLC. It is a business which is related to various businesses operated by the defendant's family. The business was created for a single project which is being completed. The business provided a source of income to the defendant and has a modest liquidation value, but like the other businesses, was found to have no material fair market value.
The parties' primary marital assets are the family home located at 26 Dell Wood Avenue in Clinton, Connecticut, and a residential building lot located on Long Hill Road, Clinton, Connecticut. The parties stipulated to the value of the Dell Wood Avenue home as $290,000 and also stipulated that the lot has a fair market value of $160,000. The home is subject to a first and second mortgage in the total approximate amount of $182,500. The lot is not subject to any loans.
The Dell Wood Avenue home was purchased from the plaintiff's parents and was the plaintiff's home as a child. At one time it was anticipated that the defendant would remain at that residence with the minor children, but, at trial, she indicated a financial inability to remain at the home. The plaintiff seeks a fifty-fifty division of the real estate equity, but would request that he be awarded the family home. The defendant would like to be awarded the building lot and seeks eighty percent of the equity in the real property.
The defendant argues for a disproportionate share of the real estate equity on the basis of the plaintiff's higher income, greater earning potential and recent inheritance from his mother's estate of approximately $95,000. CT Page 10316 The plaintiff's mother expired in August of 1995 subsequent to the filing of this complaint.
In distributing the assets, the court considers the plaintiff's greater earning capacity and greater income and awards the residence at Dell Wood Avenue to the plaintiff, and awards the building lot to the defendant.
The plaintiff must assume and hold the defendant harmless on the mortgage and home equity loan which are existing on the property. He also must, within one year of the date of this judgment, remove the defendant's name and obligation with respect to such mortgage and home equity line. The failure to remove the defendant's name and obligation from the mortgage debt will require the sale of the property.
The court accepts the plaintiff's income which was determined by the jointly retained expert CPA. The court attributes to the defendant an income of $450 a week gross and $360 a week net income. The plaintiff, pursuant to child support guidelines, will pay weekly child support in a total amount of $225 for both children.
The parties agree and the defendant is ordered to maintain the children on her health insurance available through her employment. The parties will share unreimbursed dental, medical and orthodontic expenses equally.
LIFE INSURANCE
Each of the parties is ordered to obtain life insurance for the benefit of the minor children. Such insurance shall be retained until the youngest child either graduates from college or reaches the age of twenty-three, whichever event shall first occur. The parties shall provide written confirmation of existence of such insurance to each other on an annual basis. The amount of the life insurance shall be the maximum policy available for an expenditure of $500 per year by each party.
BUSINESSES
The defendant shall retain ownership of her interest in the business known as Environmental Dewatering Controls, LLC, and the plaintiff shall retain ownership of his interest in the business known as American Waste Recycling, LLC. The plaintiff shall be CT Page 10317 awarded the escrow balance resulting from the sale of a tow truck in the approximate amount of $6,400. The plaintiff is awarded the 1969 Camaro and the pickup truck that he operates at work and for personal use.
The defendant shall retain ownership of the Lexus automobile that she operates along with the pop-up camper.
The plaintiff shall retain ownership of his coin collection, professional sports cards collection, and model car collection.
DEBTS
Each party shall be responsible for the debts listed on their financial affidavits and shall hold the other party harmless with respect to such debts.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
The defendant is awarded the household possessions in the Dell Wood Avenue property with the following exceptions: a) big screen television; b) slot-machine; c) safes; d) bar lights; e) Bose sound system; f) tuner and DVD player; g) one Betty Boop statue; h) all prints provided to either party by the plaintiff's mother; i) fishtank; j) china set provided by the plaintiff's mother.
ALIMONY
In view of the plaintiff's greater earnings and earning capacity, he is ordered to pay to the defendant, alimony for a period of no more than two years from date of this judgment. The term and amount of this order is not modifiable other than by the death of either party or the remarriage of the defendant. The amount of the alimony shall be $100 a week commencing June 1, 2006.
The defendant shall retain ownership of her 401k/IRA accounts, bank accounts, legal claims, and any interest in her grandmother's estates The plaintiff shall retain his inheritance from his mother.
The court shall retain jurisdiction to enter appropriate educational support orders in accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-56c. CT Page 10318 Both parties are responsible for their own attorneys fees. CT Page 10319