History of Divorce

The history of divorce is as old as time itself. In the Old Testament of the Bible, only men were able to terminate marriages (Deut. 24:1-4). Appearing again in the New Testament, women also were seemingly authorized to dissolve marriages. (Mark 10:12; 1 Cor. 7:13). Through English traditions during medieval times, English courts used an ecclesiastical standard for dissolution until 1857. The concept of divorce, based on a civil standard adopted from England, has been incorporated within state laws of the United States since the inception of our nation.

Note when filing:

The availability of the dissolution of marriage, property distributions, and child support requirements are unique to each state because of variations in divorce decisions rendered by courts. As new cases are decided, new precedents establish variations in application. For this reason, everyone considering filing should consult local legal counsel. Best results are obtained through careful planning with legal counsel before committing to any course of action. Also be aware that filing creates a permanent public record. These records are rarely withdrawn, expunged or deleted absent extraordinary circumstances. Public records are available to anyone who inquires for a nominal fee.

A primary consideration driving the development of new laws revolves around children of the marriage. Children are typically not represented by attorneys in proceedings, yet are considered, as a matter of judicial and public policy, to have an overriding interest in the outcome. The needs of children financially, socially, parentally and educationally are considered the joint responsibility of parents. Courts are charged with responsibility to protect all interests of children in family court despite agreed requests of parents which may be inconsistent.