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Missouri law bars divorce during pregnancy – even in cases of violence (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 8 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world
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The statute, which can lead to reproductive coercion in a state that has banned abortion, has recently gained nationwide attention

At six months pregnant, H decided enough was enough. She had endured years of abuse from her husband and had recently discovered he was also physically violent towards her child. She contacted an attorney to help her get a divorce.

But she was stopped short. Her lawyer told her that she could not finalize a divorce in Missouri because she was pregnant. “I just absolutely felt defeated,” she said. H returned to the house she shared with her abuser, sleeping in her child’s room on the floor and continuing to face violence. On the night before she gave birth, she slept in the most secure room in the house: on the tile floor in the basement, with the family’s dogs.

Under a Missouri statute that has recently gained nationwide attention, every petitioner for divorce is required to disclose their pregnancy status. In practice, experts say, those who are pregnant are barred from legally dissolving their marriage. “The application [of the law] is an outright ban,” said Danielle Drake, attorney at Parks & Drake. When Drake learned her then husband was having an affair, her own divorce stalled because she was pregnant. Two other states have similar laws: Texas and Arkansas.

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[-] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 8 points 8 months ago

It’s because the majority of the people, which are people who do not like this stuff, are also complacent as fuck and will tolerate just about anything if it means they don’t actually have to get off the fucking couch.

[-] Mossheart@lemmy.ca 10 points 8 months ago

We've transitioned from 'off the couch' to 'grinding every waking moment to survive and are too tired to care about getting involved in local politics after you just got off shift at your second job '

this post was submitted on 15 Mar 2024
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