Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-25
A UNIFORM 9lvoRcE LAW.
Has Outlined II statute for
All the states,

Cleveland, o.. Aug. 2i.-At the meeting
OF the Uniform Law Commission to-day,
John c. Richberk. Esq, of Chicago. as
chairman of a special committee, appointed
for the purpose. reported "a draft OF di-
vcrcc bill for adoption in all the states, TO
be submitted to the National Bar Associa-
tion. If the association approves IL, the
members will urge its adoption by their
different state legislatures The bill is mod
eed after the divorce law in force in the
District of Columbia, which was drawn by
committees of congress, which represents
the entire country.
The bill provides, in brief, that no per-
son shall be entitled to divorce who has
not resided in the state two years before
bringing suit. nor unless the defendant
shall have been personally served WITHIN
the state shall have voluntarily ap-
psared In such action No S;,drs disoree &c sna sa
marriage, except where 1t shall be de-
clared void because of prior marriage.
The proceedings shall be had in the coun-
ty where the complainant resides, but pro-
cess may be directed to any county in the
state.
If it shall appear to the court that the
defendant is non-resident al the time of
application for divorce, and that the cause
of action arose while the defendant was
domiciled In the state, and the defendant
has been absent from the state for a year
after the return of one summons not found
the court may authorize notice OF the SUIT
by publication. The court must near tIe
case by examination in open court. and di-
vOrce shall not be granted in default un-
less the judge shall he satisfied that proper
means have been taken to notify the de-
fendant and the cause of the divorce has
been fully proved.
Marriages in a foreign state or country
may be proved by the acknowledgment of
the parties. their cohabitation and other
circumstantial testimony. The court shall
prohibit the husband from Interfering with
the personal liberty of the wife during the
tendency of the suit. The court may make
such order as to the custody of the chill
dren as may be deemed eXpedient. The
court shall make an allowance TO any
woman suing for divorce who is poor and
unable to pay the expenses of the suit.
The court may require the husband to pay
the pendency of a suit and to maintain or
defend her suit. and may also enforce the
payment of alimony.
The court may allow a divorced woman
to resume her maiden name or that of any
former husband. The court may compel
the conveyance of property after di-
vorce by either party when 1t appears that
such property belongs to the other. When
a marriage is dissolved either party will
have the right to marry again.
The concluding section of the bill pro-
vides a fine of not less than 500 nor more
| than 81 900 and Imprisonment of not more
than one year nor less than three months,
or both, for anybody who publishes in any
way notice of any kind with intent to
| procure or aid in procuring any divorce.
The belief is generally expressed by
| will be approved by the National Bar AS
| sociation, in which event systematic efforts
will be made to have 1t adopted in all the
states.