Lawmakers: Should couples have to wait longer to get a divorce?
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SEATTLE -- It may be Valentine's Day, but some state lawmakers have divorce on their minds.
On Friday, legislators in Olympia will take up a bill that would extend the waiting period for married couples who want to get divorced.
Some states don't require a wait-time for getting a divorce, such as Minnesota and North Dakota. Arkansas, on the other hand, is on the higher end at 18 months.
Washington falls somewhere in the middle, but that could change if a new bill gains steam.
It's been a little more than three months since Washington made it legal for same sex couples to get married. But if one lawmaker has his way, it will soon take much longer for anyone to get a divorce.
"We want to give people more time," said Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver. "I think the state has a vested interest in trying to keep marriages together and I think this bill would help achieve that."
Benton wants to extend the divorce waiting period from 90 days to a full year. The bill, called the Family Second Chances Act, argues that divorce causes poverty and lower achievement. Benton believes reducing divorce rates would benefit families.
Women's rights advocates see it differently.
"Arkansas has an 18-month waiting period and its divorce rate is the second or third highest (in the nation), said Lisa Stone, the executive director of Legal Voice.
Stone said domestic violence victims could be especially at risk.
"So what this does is put the person in an abusive relationship who wants to get out, wants to move on, wants to get her children to safety at more risk and more delay," she said.
The bill's sponsors say domestic violence victims would be protected, but opponents argue that it's not enough.
"This is the legislature saying, we know it would be better for every couple to stay together longer and it's just an absurd premise, frankly," Stone said.
Benton said it's a matter of commitment.
"When you take vows you say marriage is forever," he said. "You ought to maybe think about those before you make those commitments."
Under the new proposal, the one year waiting period would be waived if the abuser had a felony conviction or protection order.
The bill could face an uphill battle because there's no companion bill in the House. A hearing on the matter will start Friday morning at 8 a.m.
On Friday, legislators in Olympia will take up a bill that would extend the waiting period for married couples who want to get divorced.
Some states don't require a wait-time for getting a divorce, such as Minnesota and North Dakota. Arkansas, on the other hand, is on the higher end at 18 months.
Washington falls somewhere in the middle, but that could change if a new bill gains steam.
It's been a little more than three months since Washington made it legal for same sex couples to get married. But if one lawmaker has his way, it will soon take much longer for anyone to get a divorce.
"We want to give people more time," said Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver. "I think the state has a vested interest in trying to keep marriages together and I think this bill would help achieve that."
Benton wants to extend the divorce waiting period from 90 days to a full year. The bill, called the Family Second Chances Act, argues that divorce causes poverty and lower achievement. Benton believes reducing divorce rates would benefit families.
Women's rights advocates see it differently.
"Arkansas has an 18-month waiting period and its divorce rate is the second or third highest (in the nation), said Lisa Stone, the executive director of Legal Voice.
Stone said domestic violence victims could be especially at risk.
"So what this does is put the person in an abusive relationship who wants to get out, wants to move on, wants to get her children to safety at more risk and more delay," she said.
The bill's sponsors say domestic violence victims would be protected, but opponents argue that it's not enough.
"This is the legislature saying, we know it would be better for every couple to stay together longer and it's just an absurd premise, frankly," Stone said.
Benton said it's a matter of commitment.
"When you take vows you say marriage is forever," he said. "You ought to maybe think about those before you make those commitments."
Under the new proposal, the one year waiting period would be waived if the abuser had a felony conviction or protection order.
The bill could face an uphill battle because there's no companion bill in the House. A hearing on the matter will start Friday morning at 8 a.m.
I got divorced because my Wife didn't approve of me drinking my own pee at the dinner table. Â I even filtered it with a Brita, but she didn't care. Â Since when was it illegal? Â
Currently, 90 days is only if both people agree to the divorce and there are no children. It took me 15 months to get my divorce because my son was 17 when I filed and my ex didn't want the divorce. The law is already fine the way it is. If this nonsense was enacted it will just encourage more couples not to marry. How would that benefit children or society?
Not a good idea.
Gads some idea huh
Waste of time and a real bad idea. This bill if passed would increase the domestic violence dramatically.
Don't think it;s a good idea.
Waste of time
Ya you do that....
It figures that they are worrying about this instead of trying to help fix the economy.
I am about to file. 9 year long...spent the last 4 1/2 trying...for the kids....and even harder this last year. It is time. NOW some brain child want to impose crap like this. Many people try for a year or better before pulling the plug. So we should now file before we try...so if it fails, we are set by that time?
This is a bad idea. I had alrrady been seperated for over a year and I was not happy they made me wait the 90 days.
We are not in the bible belt. This is what states like North Carolina require. Just prolongs the inevitable.
no no no
Please stay the hell out of others peoples VERY personal lives. Is this REALLY what you are spending my tax dollars on debating? I think I have heard it all. If someone wants a divorce who are you to tell them to wait? You tie up their money, their ability to move, it's confusing to kids. If it will work after 90-days them that is up to them. They can drag it out themselves for a year WITHOUT goverment interference because if you go to trial that's how long it takes anyway to get a court date unless it's uncontested. Get that word 'UNCONTESTED" aka...both want out. Stuff like this makes my blood boil.
No.... especially in the cases of battered and or abused wives and children. I heard the purpose was to give the marriage a chance through counseling etc. Doesn't work with narcistic and mysogynistic men.
there should be an exception for documented abuse
This guy is an elitist idiot.....I wonder how the State has "a vested interest in my marriage"? That woul dmean they make more money off me by my being married?? Not sure I see how....
WA needs to stop being a nanny state and get out of people's lives. Ron Paul said it best when he said the government shouldn't be involved with marriage at all.
@NW-Economist Completely agree!!  Hopefully all the kids he inspired on his campaign will help change our government.  Wish we had a candidate or two for our state government that would try to reduce government like Dr. Paul suggests.Â
Waste of time!
The dissolution of marriage is between two parties. Neither one of those two parties should be the government. Take your personal views and go away, Benton. Seriously, with all the crap doing down out there in the world this is what you hone in on??? Really? You were elected to represent your district. It seems highly doubtful that this is a burning issue in Vancouver. Do your job buddy and forget trying to inflict your moral compass on others. Besides, marriage is a dying institution as well it should be.
Hell no!!
I actually think marriage should be abolished altogether!
@whenudieitsdone It's outdated. There's really no purpose to it anymore unless divorce laws change. When it ends, it generally F's someone. This is typically men. Yet there's NEVER a push to change some of the laws thanks to the vast amount of federally funded women's groups. Men are just ATM's when it comes to marriage and divorces.
 I'll put money down ... in the next 15-20 years as women become more of the majority in the work world and therefore become more of the victims of these unfavorable divorce laws, all of the sudden it will be an outrage and divorce reform will need to take place.Â
Im happily married, however, should it ever come time to end things with divorce I sure as hell dont want some lawmaker in Olympia telling me I need to wait as long as a year.   Thats just pure BS!  Dont these elected officials have something better to do with my time & tax money?
Ya know that's a hard one. In some cases a woman or even a man need out of a relationship right away due to abuse .... so waiting a year could prove to be harmful don't ya think?
When its over its over. Only increasing the risk of domestic abuse. Know who you marry.
It should not be up to the law makers to make a decision like that. They don't know the situation(s) that someone or a couple may be going through.
hell no r these people idiots or what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Not a good idea
that's a can of worms you don't want to mess with!
Maybe there should be a waiting period BEFORE you can get married.
Frankly, I find the concept of marriage to be archaic and detrimental to all involved. Especially in states like WA and CA, it is detrimental to the male to ever get married, much less have children, as obviously statistic bear out that most marriages end in divorce. As a male, when that inevitability comes, you will be the one left holding the bag and the one to pay through the nose. I would encourage all males to seriously think twice before saying "I do", as it is essentially signing away at least 50% of your net worth, if not more, plus child support if there are kids involved, which the state makes billions off of, as well as alimony if the woman is smart enough to file for it. There is just really no positive aspect to getting married for a man these days and a long list of reasons why NOT to. Until at-fault divorces return, equal treatment under the law is the norm again, and child support stops being a money making enterprise for the state, I would never against consider marriage.
Perhaps its just the type of women you go for. Don't be upset with all women because of your poor choices. My parents got divorced after my father cheated on my mom. She never went after him for alimony and he stopped paying child support and she didn't go after him for that either, the state did. he still didn't pay. He owes $30,000 in child support. Of course now it would go to the state. We lived on food stamps and welfare. Because of that experience I could say all guys are horrible, but that is not true. I married an awesome guy :)
@justme Because of my experience I could say that all women are horrible cheating, lying thieves who manipulate and destroy good men....some men do say that....I doubt that many of them believe it but are speaking from pain and loss. I will say that there are many good women, and good men....the opposite is also true. But it is factual that if you, as a male, have the misfortune to get involved with a "bad apple", you are at a disadvantage legally and socially. The woman can make any claim she wishes and the state, as well as society, will believe her at face value. Many men will take a woman's side out of a mistaken ideal of chivalry and white knighthood, despite all evidence that the woman is lying through her teeth....it's the instinctual drive to protect females. False claims of abuse or rape are common in divorce proceedings; lawyers will encourage false claims because they will not be verified but taken at face value, and will work against the male in court. This is all wrong....equal treatment under the law is one of the basic rights we are supposed to enjoy, but it doesn't happen that way. Until that gets fixed, I would continue with my recommendation that men forgo marriage, for their own sake....not because all women are evil but because the state doesn't care about those that are.
@dg54321 You're 100% Correct. There's absolutely 0 reasons for a young man to get married. One of the worst things you can do to a man -- besides force him to pay vast sums of money to a spiteful ex-wife -- is strip his kids away. It's so sick how women's groups have placed "DV/ Rape Hysteria" into the minds of everyone while painting husbands as deadbeats. Even in this article, is there any mention about a mans side to the law? Of course not. It's once again women's groups (which receive federal funding) trying to place fear into everyone that women will be VICTIMS of violence if they are forced to be married over 90 days.Â
@dg54321Â With an attitude like yours, I'm sure you are doing some lucky girl a big favor by not marrying her.
@justmyopinion He's 100% Accurate. The vast majority of society agrees with what he just said.Â
@choliscott @justmyopinion @dg54321 @Lisa Free cookies.
@justmyopinion @dg54321 @Lisa Besides the payroll & end of year taxes & having a companion, what other benefits are there to getting married?
@dg54321 @Lisa @justmyopinion To each his own, I just hope you have both thought through the drawbacks of not marrying. I'm not saying they are right or wrong, but there are quite a few legal benefits to a marriage that single people don't enjoy.
@Lisa @justmyopinion I dunno if I'd say the vast majority agree, but many men and a lot of women are waking up to the unfair treatment that is considered the norm in family courts and indeed in society these days. Radical feminism took over the moderate movement in the 60s of women asking for equal rights, and converted it into a "we hate men" movement over the last 30 years. VAWA and other laws regarding family matters are the result.
The girlfriend and I love each other very much but we both agreed that marriage is just something that is unnecessary and creates a ton of risk for both of us. We both want to live together for the rest of our lives, but people change.....things happen and you cannot predict the future. Neither of us want to be at the mercy of a state determining our future arrangements if we should ever divorce. Better to live together if we want but not involve the state in our love life, as much as possible.
This is a case of someone trying to force their religious beliefs on to other people. That is Not acceptable. Your religious beliefs and values are for the government of you yourself, they can not be imposed on anyone else and it is morally wrong, not to mention offensive, to try to do so.Â
Bad move.   Government should stay out of it but if they really feel the need to meddle this idiot is meddling at the wrong end. Waiting period for divorce shouldn't be made longer, make it shorter.  Want to meddle, put in a waiting period and counseling in order to get a marriage license.   That's where a difference might be made.  Â
Seriously? I think adults are more than capable of deciding whether or not they want to be divorced for crying out loud! The government needs to step back and actually deal with issues that they should be dealing with (i.e. education, budget, corruption, transportation, etc.)
You know, if the state has such a vested interest, they could offer free marriage counseling or classes, instead of sticking its nose in people's personal lives. Somehow I doubt that will happen though.
Total waste of time.
Why would you make a law that already hurts people? 90 days is to long to wait to get divorced. And that's the shortest time there is. Why do you think people go to other states or countries to get a divorce. You don't get involved with making us have a license to have children ( yup I do think that needs to be done) why do you have to be involved if we want a divorce?
Ridiculous. Why is government making it their business on whether a couple should stay married longer than they want to? Once again, they are sticking their noses where they don't belong.
besides i have been waiting for 5 plus years cause my ex is a moron and cant ever filll anything right even after i filed she still screwed them up