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Initiating
a Divorce Action
Love can be everlasting or it can be
fleeting. Not every marriage stands the test of time. For those couples who
believe that they no longer can be married to one another, a divorce will
absolutely terminate the marriage relationship.
We will look at the divorce process.
First, we will look at grounds for divorce. Second, we will differentiate a divorce
from a legal separation, another common device used by couples. Finally, we
will look at the proper steps that spouses must follow to ensure a valid
divorce decree.
Justifications for
Divorce
Divorce laws in states across the country
have evolved greatly in the last 75 years. Depending on where the married
couple lives, the couple seeking a divorce may need to provide a justification
for the divorce.
In all 50 states, a version of a “no-fault” divorce system operates. In
a minority of states, a spouse can also justify a divorce by showing “fault.”
Fault-Based Divorce
Traditionally, a spouse could only
seek a divorce on fault-based grounds. Now, very few states require that a spouse
provide fault grounds to gain a divorce.[1]
In these states, the fault-based grounds
for divorce can be quite extensive. The most common fault-based grounds for
divorce are:
·
Adultery
·
Abandonment for a certain amount of time
·
Physical cruelty and spousal abuse
·
Mental cruelty
·
Voluntary drug or alcohol addiction[2]
Other less common fault-based grounds
for divorce can include impotence and a spouse infecting the other with a
sexually transmitted disease.
In the fault-based divorce system, a
spouse not wanting to divorce can assert any of four defenses to the various
fault-based grounds.[3] The first defense is connivance. This means that one spouse
willingly consented to the other spouse’s misconduct. Connivance is typically
asserted as a defense to divorces brought on grounds of adultery. The second
defense is collusion. Collusion is
defined as an agreement by the two spouses to falsely allege evidence of a
marital offense that was not actually committed.[4] The third and most
commonly-raised defense is condonation,
meaning that one spouse forgives the other spouse’s marital offenses fully
knowing that they took place.[5] The fourth, and least
commonly-raised defense to fault-based grounds, is recrimination, meaning that both spouses are guilty of marital
misconduct. Both spouses lack “clean hands” and if successfully raised, a court
will dismiss the divorce action.
No-Fault Divorce
A divorce can cause animosity, anger,
and emotional turmoil. The advent of no-fault divorces has decreased the
potential for hostility between the divorcing spouses. This is because neither
of the spouses needs to find a “cause” for the divorce. Under a no-fault
divorce system, the divorce process has become less combative and more collaborative.[6]
Thanks to the Uniform Marriage and
Divorce Act, no-fault divorce gained massive popularity across the United
States, starting in the 1970s.[7] Unlike the fault-based
divorce, which requires a party to clearly state why a divorce is needed, in
the no-fault system, a party does not need to justify a divorce by proving the
other party’s fault.
To obtain a divorce in a no-fault
divorce system, one party must show that the marriage is irretrievably broken
or that there are irreconcilable differences between the two spouses. In
addition to satisfying the irreconcilable differences element, some states require
spouses to demonstrate that they have lived separate and apart for a certain
period of time, such as six months or a year.[8]
Most states allow a spouse to seek
unilateral no-fault divorce. This means that the spouse seeking the divorce
does not need to acquire consent from the other spouse prior to filing the
complaint with the irretrievably broken justification for the divorce.
Distinguishing Legal
Separation From Divorce
Another option for couples who seek to
separate is a legal separation. Unlike a divorce, however, a legal separation DOES NOT terminate a marriage. A legal
separation is a court order specifically enumerating the rights of each spouse in
regard to property, spousal support, child support, and child custody. After a court grants a legal separation, the
two spouses are still legally married to one another and cannot remarry or
indicate that they are single.
A legal separation may be pursued
for a variety of reasons. The first reason is because of one spouse’s religious
tenets, which may not permit divorce. A second reason why a couple would pursue
a legal separation is because after a legal separation, the two spouses remain
entitled to the financial benefits of marriage, such as tax incentives and
Social Security benefits.
Steps for Obtaining a
Valid Divorce
A number of steps must be followed
in the process of seeking a valid divorce. Some states may have different
procedural requirements. The purpose of this section is to delineate the
essential process of divorce for both spouses, which consists of six steps: (1)
establishing residency, (2) filing the complaint, (3) serving the other spouse, (4) compiling financial disclosures, (5) going to settlement or trial, and (6) receiving a judgment of dissolution.
Step 1: Establishing Residency
First, the party seeking the divorce must
establish residency in the state where the divorce is sought. States have
different durational residency requirements, but they can be as long as one
year or as short as ninety days.[9] Once a spouse satisfies
this residency requirement, he or she can move on to the next step.
Step 2: Filing the
Complaint
Second, the spouse seeking the divorce
must file a “Complaint for Dissolution of Marriage.” This complaint provides
the justifications for the divorce. As mentioned above, the justifications can
be based on irreconcilable differences or fault. At the same time that the
complaint is filed in the proper court, the spouse seeking the divorce must pay
the proper filing fees.
Step 3: Serving the Other
Spouse
Third, the divorce papers must be served
to the other spouse. The divorce papers include a copy of the complaint, a
notice of the proceedings, and a form of acknowledgement of service. The
service of process procedure differs depending on the state where a divorce is
sought and a spouse must consult with an attorney to ensure that the proper steps
are followed. Divorce papers can be delivered by mail if formal service of
process is waived. If formal service of process isn’t waived, a process server
or attorney can also serve the divorce papers.
Step 4: Compiling Financial
Disclosures To Determine Property Division and Spousal Support
In this fourth step, each party will
retain legal counsel to help prepare their financial disclosures. These
financial disclosures are necessary to determine the division of property and
spousal support award. In this step, the two spouses will consult with their
attorneys and disclose their income and expenses, as well as their assets and
debts. If the spouses entered into a prenuptial agreement prior to the
commencement of the marriage, this step will largely be guided by the
principles of that agreement. In the case that no agreement exists, the court
will distribute the property depending on the approach adopted by the state.
To determine a spousal support award,
the court will determine the amount using an amalgamation of factors including,
but not limited to, duration of marriage, age and physical condition of the
parties, and the financial resources of each party.
Step 5: Settlement OR
Trial
If both spouses are able to resolve
their issues amicably, a judge will encourage both parties to settle instead of
going to trial. By reviewing and discussing their financial disclosures through
settlement, the parties can resolve their own conflicts in a more confidential
manner. If the parties are able to reach solutions via settlement, they can
also save time and legal fees.
Should the parties not be able to
resolve their issues amicably, the parties will go to trial. Divorce trials are
typically held with a judge as the final decision-maker on how to divide the
property and determine spousal support. The judge’s decision is based on the
evidence presented at trial.
Step 6: Dissolution
The final step in the divorce
process is the judgment of dissolution. Unless any of the parties file an
appeal, the judgment of dissolution becomes final and enforceable 30 days after
the judge signs the judgment.
An aggrieved spouse may contest a
divorce decree by filing an appeal to a higher court.
A divorce can be mentally, emotionally,
and financially draining and can have a prominent effect on one’s personal
life. Although there is this potential for upheaval, the process for marriage
termination in the United States has emerged to ensure clarity and structure.
[1]
Homer H. Clark, Jr. & Ann Laquer Estin, Cases and Problems on Domestic
Relations 656-59 (7th ed. 2005).
[2]
Elizabeth Horowitz, The “Holey” Bonds of Matrimony: A Constitutional Challenge
to Burdensome Divorce Laws, 8 U. Pa. J. Const. L. 877. (2006).
[3]
John Gregory, Understanding Family Law, (2012).
[4]
Peter Swisher, Family Law: Cases, Materials, and Problems, (2010).
[5]
Herma Hill Kay, Equality and Difference: A Perspective on No-Fault Divorce and
Its Aftermath, 56 U. Cin. L. Rev. 1, (1987).
[6]
Pamela Laufer-Ukeles, Reconstructing Fault: The Case for Spousal Torts, 79 U.
Cin. L. Rev. 207, (2010).
[7]
Unif. Marriage & Divorce Act, 9 U.L.A. 91 (1979).
[8]
South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 20-3-10, “Grounds for Divorce.”
[9]
Rhonda Wasserman, Divorce and Domicile: Time To Sever The Knot, 39 Wm. &
Mary L. Rev. 1, (1997).