No Fault Divorce Harms Women and Children

Michelle Barreto / July 06, 2010

Late Thursday night, the New York State Assembly passed no-fault divorce legislation in a 113–19 vote after the Senate voted 32–29 to approve the bill two weeks ago. Governor David Paterson is expected to sign the bill into law. The bill allows a spouse to file for divorce unilaterally after swearing under oath that the marriage has broken down irreconcilably for six months. The other spouse gets no say in the matter.

Movement of the legislation in New York is significant because the Empire State is the only one in the union that retains a fault standard in divorce law. (more…)