Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15
Mexican Mail Order Divorces

to the notice in the oflcial gazette. the
court u forbidden TO render judgment
for the plaintiff by default. The trial
opens, and TO protect the absent de-
PENDANTS rights, the Judge declares that
the case has been automatically denied
by the DEFENDANTS non-appearance.
Thus the Judge looks after the interests
Of defendant he has never so much as
seen and who probably has never heard
of Cuefnavaca or the divorce case now
being tried there.
Burden Of Proof on Plaintiff.
All the burden Of proof is placed
squarely upon the plaintiff. First he
must prove his legal residence in the
state. and the certificate his attorney
produces for this purpose must be In
order, including the mayors signature
and the notation that the proper fee
for registration has been collected.
Second, the plaintiff must prove he
Is married. Cuernavaca judges refuse
to listen to unmarried tr1nerS seeking
divorces from wives they don't possess.
This requirement Is FULFILLED by presen-
tation Of the marriage certificate or Q
copy thereof, certified by the Mexican
consul nearest the city Of issuance.
Lastly, the plaintiff must state his
reasons for seeking q divorce The
theory Of the Morelos law appears to
NC SkA0O UDudlAy UIlCIG AIC % ulaIlY IE6O
sons TO choose from that it Is reasonable
for the court to hear at least one The
one given most frequently Is incompati-
bility-a reason regarded in Morelos as
very grave and quite sufficient for dis
solving any inconvenient marriage.
Defendant Given Opportunity.
Although the court may be perfectly
satisfied that the absent plaintiff has
been the victim of malicious incom-
patibility, the absent defendant "a
given still another opportunity to con-
test the suit. This Is done by posting
on the door OF the Cuernevaca Court
House notice Of the proceedings and
request that the defendant appear
TO testify. If the defendant-a resi-
dent Of London. New York or Saigon
happens not to visit Cuernavaca at that
| time or be informed Of the notice by
any friend who might read 1t on the
court house door, the court orders o
second notice to be posted. This tina
the notice ends with q warning de-
signed to convince the defendant Of
II this notice and warning also ara
ignored, the defendant Is held PRO
confeSso" TO have admitted all. ThN
divorce ts granted forthwith.
After three days, which are allowed
for notice that the defendant will ap-
peal, the court, in the absence Of any
such notice, issues q final decree Of
Judge and clerk of the court, the
Governor Of the state and the secretary
Of the interior Of the federal govern
ment at Mexico City.
The procedure from this point Is O
question OF individual technique or
personal preference. There appears to
be q wide variety Of methods for
/ ma hing the ~ re-
One satisfied client wrote his Cuer.
navaca lawyer that he got the greatest
kick from announcing casually at
breakfast, "Ah, by the way, my dear,
Tuesday"
One Double Wedding Recorded.
Some husbands and wives after
casting on the shackles have discov-
cred they hadn't the heart to inform
their ex-spouseS of the divorce A few
have broken the news by sending an
nouncements Of their next marriages, O
method which frequently involves O
minimum Of delay.
There are other cases, however,
where both parties to the divorce con-
slider themselves entitled to congratula.
tons. In q few instances, husbands
and wives have journeyed amicably to-
gether to Cuernavaca, where they en-
Joyed the local sights while awaiting
the action Of the court. Oftener, how
ever, the htigant who actually comes
to the state Is accompanied by the
\ heir apparent to his or her marital
/ affection. Honeymoons in such cases
begin ofncially on the day the final
decree is granted.
There IS only one recorded case
where both litigants In a Cuernavaca
divorce suit were accompanied to
Mexico by their intended partners in
new matrimonial ventures. This folly
party celebrated the day Of the hnal
decree by holding q double wedding,
after which they departed en- masse
on q Joint honeymoon.