Opinion ID: 1599573
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: cohabitation after suit filed

Text: In sustaining the motion to dismiss, the chancellor considered the fact that Rosie continued to live in the same house with Albert until just before trial. That a divorce plaintiff continues to live under the same roof with the defendant after filing the complaint most assuredly is a heavy factor to be weighed in considering whether he or she has a valid cause; it does not in and of itself compel a denial of divorce. York v. York, 280 S.W.2d 553 (Ky.App. 1955); Miss. Code Ann. § 93-5-4 (Supp. 1990). [2] It is conceivably possible for valid grounds for divorce to exist despite this. We do not conclude from the chancellor's ruling, however, that he has adopted a per se rule of denial of divorce to parties who continue to cohabit until shortly before trial. Just almost, which seems about right. Lawyers representing persons seeking a divorce have the obligation to advise and warn them about the undesirability of continuing to live in the same household following filing of suit. It is true that many times they are dealing with people below or very near the poverty level. They nevertheless have the obligation to seek and press for temporary hearings before the chancellor to secure alimony pendente lite and temporary support money. REVERSED AND REMANDED. ROY NOBLE LEE, C.J., DAN M. LEE, P.J., and PRATHER, ROBERTSON, SULLIVAN, ANDERSON, PITTMAN and BLASS, JJ., concur.