New Bill On Missouri Women Can't Get Divorced While Pregnant

[RAMROD 116,991]

 

Jefferson City

Missouri prohibits pregnant women from finalizing a divorce, but the restriction is coming under renewed scrutiny after the state in 2022 imposed a near-total abortion ban.

A state law prevents judges from finalizing a divorce if a woman is pregnant, since a custody agreement must first be in place. And a custody agreement cannot be completed until the child is born. The law contains no exceptions for survivors of domestic violence.

Missouri lawmakers on Wednesday considered a bill from Rep. Ashley Aune, a Kansas City Democrat, that would undo what she describes as an “archaic loophole” in state law. The bill would clarify that pregnancy status does not prevent a judge from finalizing a divorce or legal separation.

“I was horrified and confused,” Aune said of learning about the state law. 

The current law, she said, is intended to guarantee child support for the mother and the child. But it has unintended consequences for people in domestic violences situations, she said. 

“Women in domestic violence situations can potentially be trapped in a marriage and be unable to sever that legal tie with somebody if they’re pregnant,” she said.

Aune said she learned about the state law from Synergy Services, a Kansas City nonprofit that provides services to domestic violence survivors. Sara Brammer, the organization’s vice president of domestic violence services, said her group has long noted issues with the restriction.

Brammer said the law “puts families in a bad position” by prolonging the separation process. It puts survivors of domestic violence in a bind, she said, and allows abusers greater control over their reproductive freedom. 

However, it’s not just a hurdle for women. Men and families are also affected by the legislation, she said. 

“This rule broadly impacts families,” she said. “It does impact women in domestic violence situations potentially disproportionately, but when families in general need to seek a divorce or a formal separation … I think we really struggle.”

The law, she said, is contrary to the idea that life begins at conception — an argument used by defenders of Missouri’s near-total ban on abortion, which went into effect in 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal right to an abortion. 

“It kind of flies against the idea that life begins at conception,” she said. “If we’re going to go with that, then we need to really support the idea that conception is when life begins. We can move on from the needing to establish paternity (after birth).”

Under the current state law, there are eight questions asked of people when they file for divorce in Missouri, including whether “the wife is pregnant.” If so, the divorce can continue if the attorney chooses but it cannot be finalized until the woman is no longer pregnant, according to previous reporting.

https://amp.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article285138177.html

[androiduser 7,438]

oh well, if one conservative homophobic woman gets hurt by this, it was worth it... I am unapologetic about wishing harm to homophobic breeders.

[GagaSine 7,464]

9 minutes ago, androiduser said:

oh well, if one conservative homophobic woman gets hurt by this, it was worth it... I am unapologetic about wishing harm to homophobic breeders.

Incredibly misogynistic and misguided. This will hurt innocent people.

[SpadesToStart 3,808]

They’ll never stop until they can control every aspect of people’s lives, particularly if you’re not white, male, and straight.

VOTE PLZ

[NUTELLA 26,362]

2 hours ago, RAMROD said:

“It kind of flies against the idea that life begins at conception,” she said. “If we’re going to go with that, then we need to really support the idea that conception is when life begins. We can move on from the needing to establish paternity (after birth).”

^

[gothicdream 39,654]

2 hours ago, androiduser said:

oh well, if one conservative homophobic woman gets hurt by this, it was worth it... I am unapologetic about wishing harm to homophobic breeders.

There will also be liberal and queer people who are hurt by this.

You don't have any sympathy for victims of domestic violence? Abusive partners will be able to trap their victims through pregnancy. And given that it's Missouri, I'm sure they won't have reasonable access to abortion either.

This is such a callous comment.

[androiduser 7,438]

3 hours ago, GagaSine said:

Incredibly misogynistic and misguided. This will hurt innocent people.

 

35 minutes ago, Healed My Heart said:

There will also be liberal and queer people who are hurt by this.

You don't have any sympathy for victims of domestic violence? Abusive partners will be able to trap their victims through pregnancy. And given that it's Missouri, I'm sure they won't have reasonable access to abortion either.

This is such a callous comment.

Innocent people will be hurt, and I feel sorry only for innocent people... heterosexual conservatives, who support conservative legislation when it's against LGBT people deserve to be hurt by other conservative legislation like this. If one homophobe is hurt by the law, it was worth it. Rest ASSURED that there are millions of women who support homophobia.

Homophobes deserve hell, and if they're trapped in abusive heterosexual relationships and their own laws don't protect them - it's because they brought it on themselves. 

[RenegAde 20,520]

This thread title is kinda misleading.

The new bill is intended to undo this loophole within the current legal framework not create it like the thread title seemingly suggests.