Equal Parental Rights: Michigan Divorce Under Review

Monday, March 29, 2010

Michigan Divorce Under Review

News For 3/28/2010

Posted by: "Dan" dandiebolt@yahoo.com dandiebolt

Sun Mar 28, 2010 7:32 pm (PDT)

[Attachment(s) from Dan included below]

Attached to this email is a powerpoint presentation prepared by the Family Rights Coalition on Title IV-D

Forty Years On, No-Fault Divorce Faces Scrutiny

No-fault divorce became popular in the last 40 years, but is under increased scrutiny in some states, because some feel it may make divorce too easy to obtain.

March 28, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Forty Years On, No-Fault Divorce Faces Scrutiny

Although few people noted it, January 1, 2010 was an important milestone for American law. It marked the 40th anniversary of the no-fault divorce, first introduced in California in 1970. California's law (signed by then-Governor Ronald Reagan, himself a divorcee) was followed by similar laws in many states in the 1970s and early '80s Today, all states except New York offer some form of no-fault divorce.

Before no-fault divorce became common, one spouse would have to allege a particular reason for the divorce (even if both spouses wanted the divorce), such as adultery or cruelty. This led to couples fabricating grounds for their divorce. Such fabrication is itself perjury, so lawmakers nationwide saw no-fault divorce as a more honest approach to divorce proceedings.

January 1 was also the 34th anniversary of no-fault divorce in Massachusetts, which our laws define as an "irretrievable breakdown of the marriage." However, many people don't realize that "fault" divorce is still an option under Massachusetts law. In fact, irretrievable breakdown of the marriage appears in the law next to the traditional grounds for fault divorce, such as adultery, desertion, or cruel and abusive treatment.

Although it is now commonplace, no-fault divorce is not without its critics. A bill now before the Michigan Senate attempts to remove no-fault divorce from the options available for couples with children, or those couples in which one spouse does not consent to the divorce.

http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/forty-years-on-nofault-divorce-faces-scrutiny-143830.php
Convenat Marriage Bills:

HB 5949
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2010-HB-5949

HB 5950
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2010-HB-5950

HB 5951
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2010-HB-5951

Covenant Marriage Bill Introduced by State Rep. Tom McMillin

MCMILLIN OFFERS COVENANT MARRIAGE AS AN OPTION
March 12, 2010

Yesterday state Rep. Tom McMillin introduced House Bills 5949, 5950 and 5951, which would allow couples applying for a marriage certificate and current married couples to enter into a covenant marriage under Michigan law.

"This bill package would basically allow couples getting married in Michigan a choice. They could enter into a marriage that would or would not require fault for divorce. This would also allow currently married couples to convert their marriage to a covenant marriage. It would be their choice," said McMillin, R-Rochester Hills.

Three states, Arizona, Arkansas and Louisiana, currently have a covenant marriage law and twenty one other states have introduced similar legislation. In 2004, then Arkansas Governor Huckabee and his wife converted their marriage into a covenant marriage.

###

http://mi9thgop.blogspot.com/2010/03/covenant-marriage-bill-introduced-by.html