|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the waiting period for issuing a decree in a suit for |
|
divorce. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Section 6.702, Family Code, is amended by |
|
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
|
follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the [The] court |
|
may not grant a divorce before the 270th [60th] day after the date |
|
the suit was filed. A decree rendered in violation of this section |
|
[subsection] is not subject to collateral attack. |
|
(c) The court may not grant a divorce before the 60th day |
|
after the date the suit was filed if: |
|
(1) the divorce is sought on the grounds of: |
|
(A) adultery; or |
|
(B) conviction of a felony; or |
|
(2) the petitioner alleges that the respondent: |
|
(A) is an alcoholic or abuses drugs; or |
|
(B) has committed family violence. |
|
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
|
to a suit for dissolution of a marriage filed on or after the |
|
effective date of this Act. A suit for dissolution of a marriage |
|
filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
|
in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the former law is |
|
continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |