- Divorce laws vary in every state.
- In some states, like Utah, separating from your spouse can be a quick affair. In others, like California, divorce can be drawn out for months.
- In Texas, many courts in the state won't finalize a divorce while a wife is pregnant.
Divorce is a painful and costly process with some divorces costing well into the hundreds of millions, so it's important to know your state's laws to make it as quick and easy as possible.
Some states are more accommodating than others. Utah's waiting period can be as short as 30 days (or can be waved altogether in some circumstances), whereas California has a six-month minimum. States like Wisconsin prohibit divorced spouses to remarry anywhere in the world for at least six months.
Keep scrolling to see some of America's most surprising divorce laws.
ALABAMA: The divorced wife may be legally prohibited from using the name of the divorced husband.
According to HG.org, if a woman requests it during divorce proceedings, she may resume the use of her maiden name. The divorced wife may also be legally prohibited from using the name of the divorced husband.
ARKANSAS: Arkansas has strict covenant marriages.
There are two kinds of marriages in Arkansas, covenant and non-covenant. A covenant marriage is much stricter. According to law encyclopedia Black's Law, in a covenant marriage, "a divorce will be granted only after the couple has undergone marital counseling and has been separated for a specific period."
Obtaining a divorce for a non-covenant marriage is easier. You only have to a prove 60-day residence before filing for a non-covenant divorce, whereas for a covenant divorce, you must prove you live in the state permanently.
CALIFORNIA: California divorces can take months — or even years.
According to HG.org, California's divorce laws are notoriously complex. The state even offers a streamlined process called summary dissolution to avoid the normal, involved protocol. There are very specific qualifications for summary dissolution, however.
All in all, it takes at least six months for the divorce to finalize, according to DivorceNet.com, as this is the state's mandatory waiting period.
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