Georgia: Divorce bill amended

Excerpts below, full article at AJC.com (which requires you to go through a RIDICULOUS registration process to see a current article)

Divorce bill amended Senate group gives a unanimous OK
By SONJI JACOBS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/18/05

A bill that would extend the waiting period for an uncontested divorce unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, but with a significant change intended to help protect victims of domestic violence.

Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) filed a measure that would extend the waiting period for an uncontested divorce from 30 days to 120 days for a childless couple and 180 days for a couple with children. The bill also would require all divorcing couples with children in Georgia to take educational classes on the impact of separation or divorce on kids.

The bill contains a provision waiving the waiting period for victims of domestic abuse if they have obtained a protective order or alleged abuse in a formal statement.

Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome), the committee chairman, amended the bill's language to allow domestic abuse victims to submit a confidential affidavit to the court alleging domestic violence in lieu of a public hearing.