Court Opinion

ID: 9620749
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 05:47:03.301668+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:04:54.008679
License: Public Domain

On Motion for Rehearing.
Appellant insists in a vigorous motion for rehearing that we have overlooked the provisions of Code Ann. § 30-109, and Williford v. Williford, 230 Ga. 543 (198 SE2d 181) (1973) which, if applied, would require a different judgment in this case. In Williford, the husband sought a divorce on the grounds of desertion and cruel treatment by the wife. The wife did not ask for a divorce and sought to have a divorce denied to the husband because of his alleged adultery and cruel treatment.
The majority of this court is of the opinion that the Code section and decision noted above have no application in this no-fault divorce case. The rule urged by appellant and recognized by this court in fault ground divorce cases is that the court (or jury) is authorized to refuse a divorce to the party seeking the divorce when the evidence shows such party is guilty of adultery. Code Ann. § 30-109 allows the opposite party to show "the conduct of the party suing” for divorce and Williford holds that such evidence authorizes, but does not require, the court (or jury) to refuse a divorce in these circumstances.
These authorities have no application to no-fault divorce cases which this court has held involve only whether "either or both parties are unable or refuse to cohabit and there are no prospects for a reconciliation.” Harwell v. Harwell, 233 Ga. 89, 91 (209 SE2d 625) (1974). In summary, a majority of this court thinks that the *748traditional rules which have been applied in fault ground divorce cases should not be applied when the divorce is granted on the no-fault ground.

Motion for rehearing denied.