Divorce Code Amendments: But Not What We Expected

For some time now, the General Assembly has been working towards amendment of the Divorce Code to reduce the waiting period for an unconsented no-fault divorce from two years to one. That legislation (House Bill 380) has passed committee and is awaiting final action.

Meanwhile another amendment to the Divorce Code quietly slipped through the legislature and was signed into law by the Governor on April 21, effective June 21, 2016. It is an odd piece of legislation; a kind of fault based no fault divorce ground.

Under House Bill 12 of 2015 (printer's No. 2404) if one spouse has been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony involving

Criminal homicide

Assault

Kidnapping

Human Trafficking