Opinion ID: 1952770
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Filing for Absolute Divorce in Missouri

Text: The defendant's assertion that she is prevented from seeking an absolute divorce in Missouri while plaintiff's complaint for a divorce from bed and board is pending in Rhode Island, is likewise wrong. [T]he pendency of a divorce petition in Rhode Island does not preclude one of the parties from instituting another divorce action in a foreign state. Boyls v. Boyls, 463 A.2d 1307, 1309 (R.I.1983). In fact, a valid foreign ex parte divorce divests the Family Court of jurisdiction over a Rhode Island divorce petition pending at the time the foreign divorce is entered. Id. Therefore, there is no legal authority in Rhode Island preventing defendant from filing for an absolute divorce in Missouri. Furthermore, defendant has, in fact, filed for an absolute divorce in Missouri and that action is now pending.