Legislation for Divorce Waiting Period - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Legislation for Divorce Waiting Period

Proposed legislation would put an end to "quickie" divorces.

House Bill 1423 would create a six month waiting period for couples seeking divorces when children are involved.

Within that time, the adults separately or together are to participate in five one hour counseling sessions.

The sessions are to focus on post marital financial planing and the emotional and mental effects of divorce on children.

Currently in North Dakota 1900 couples get divorced each year, about half of them involve kids.

Senator Tim Mathern says the focus of the bill is to address the children's needs after their parents split.

"What this bill is trying to do is recognize that, not take any judgement about why that marital relationship ended, but to say let us make sure that issues that affect the children get some attention in the divorce process," says Mathern.

North Dakota has the ninth lowest divorce rate in the nation.

19 states have waiting periods for couples seek ing divorce.