Proposed Tennessee Divorce Law Would Mandate Waiting Periods and Mediation after Filing for Divorce
Earlier this week, a proposed Tennessee divorce law requiring a waiting period and mediation during divorce proceedings in the Volunteer State was approved by the House Children and Family Affairs Committee. A Kingsport Times News story detailed House Bill 1981, which calls for a 60-day divorce waiting period for married Tennessee couples without children and a 90-day waiting period for couples with children under 18 years of age. Specifically, the waiting period would take effect once a couple filed for divorce in Tennessee on any grounds. State Representative Brian Kelsey co-sponsored this Tennessee divorce bill and said in the story that the whole idea behind it was to require couples to sit down and come to agreements prior to the divorce process beginning.
Kelsey added his opinions in the story that mediation would make Tennessee divorces more amicable. At the request of the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA), an amendment has gotten rid of an original part of this divorce bill that would have given a judge the power to deny a divorce involving children if either parent failed to attend a mediation session. TBA representative Steve Cobb added in the story that this revamped Tennessee divorce bill could save couples money that would have most likely come out of their pockets during drawn-out divorces.
A few Representatives expressed their concerns about this proposed Tennessee divorce law. Representative Johnny Shaw specifically asked Kelsey if he is trying to deter people from getting divorces in the state with this proposed law. State Representative Mike Turner wondered whether this proposed Tennessee divorce law would actually hinder those people who needed to get divorced quickly.
The Kingsport Times News story detailed that this proposed Tennessee divorce law will soon be voted on the House floor. Its Senate companion will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee early next week. We’ll keep you updated on the latest developments with this proposed Tennessee divorce law.
