The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-07
TO CHANGE THE
DIVORCE LAW
Bill TO be Presented at Next LegsIa-
tive Session.
IT MAKES RADICAL CHANGES
Commissioners from Various States, on
Uniformity Of Legislation. Agree
Upon the Nieasure-Ihe isep
rcscntatives from Virginia.
IT MAKES RADICAL CHANGES

AT the next s. ssion of the Legislature,
a bin will be offered changing the law
in relation to divorces. 1t Will be pre-
snntcd nv three commissioners from VIZ
rinia on Uniformity Of State Laws Inc
act is designed TO prevent migratory dl-
vorces. c,.
Hon. j. Aston Capell, of Richmond;
Hon: T. w, Saunders. of ROCKY MOUNT
and Hon. W. 2. McEae, of petersburg, are
the commissioners from this state WI.
,Cahell is the chairman of the Virginia
ocnmission These gentlemen meet with
renresentatiyes from all other States and
discuss the matter of uniform state laws.
Already much has been accomplished IN
the matter of laws in relation 10 hesotla-
BILE Instruments.
After the commissioners from various
states agree upon a bill, 1t generaiiy re
caives the approval of the American Bar ga
Association and then is presented 20 Tug
several State Legi: latures ,-,..
TEXT or THE ACT,
The bill in relation to divorces, which
will promptly be adopted by every state,
is as follows:
Section /. No divorce shall De granteu
for any cause arising prior TO the resi-
dence of the COMPLAINANT OF 0ei fni,t for n
ms State watch was not a stouilts ~
divorce in the State where the cause
arose.
Section .. No person shall be entitled to
a divorce for any cause arising IN TINS
State VINO has not had actual residence
in this State for at least one year next
before bringing suit for divorce, with a
bona tide intention of making TINS STATE
his or her permanent home
Section s. No person shall be entitled TO
a divorce for any cause arising out OF TINS
state unless the complainant or defend
ant shall have resided within this State
for at least Two Years next before bring
ing suit for divorce with a bona tide in
tention of making this State his or her
permanent home.
Section l. No person Shall be entitled
to a divorce unless the defendant shall
have been personally served with process,
if within this State, o. il without tins
State, shah have had personal notice
duly proved AMI appearing OF record, or
shall have entered an appearance in the
case, hut if it Shall appear TO the satlsfac-
ton of the court that the complainant
does not know the address nor the resi-
dence of the defendant and has not been
able to ascertain either, after reasonable
ana due inquiry and search, continued Tor
SIX months after suit brought, the court
or Judge in vacation may authorize notice
by publication of the tendency OF the
suit for divorce, to be given in manner
| provided by law.
Section . no divorce shall be granted
solely upon default nor solely upon adInls-
sions by the pleadings, nor except upon
hearing before the court in open session.
Section i. After divorce either party
may marry again, but in cases where no
tee has been given by publication only
and the defendant has not appeared, no
decree or judgment for divorce shall be-
come final or operative until six months
after hearing and decision.
Section l. Wherever the word divorce
occurs in this act. it shall be deemed to
mean divorce from the bond OF marriage.
| Section s. All acts and parts Of acts
! inconsistent herewith are hereby repeal
ed,
THE REASONS GIVEN.
| In its report the Committee on Uniform
! State Laws says:
! 1T may not be out of place in this
| connection, four your committee to say a
! word as to the purpose, wisdom and prae-
! ticability and effect of this short simple
| and most moo erate act which is the out
! come of much elaboration and discussion
J extending over three years sessions OF
| the conference. The act proposed attacks
| directly and we believe effectively three
of the greatest evils, considered from q
! Legal standpoint, of the present condi-
| ton of our various and conflicting divorce
! laws. First. it does away largely with
! the scandal of migratory divorces. Second,
| it prevents the wrong of speedy DEGREES
against absent defendants who may be
ignorant of any suit pending Third it
=! does away with the interstate confusion
arising from some few States forbiddiny
! roRldrrIage while 2 great ma ior ~ of