An attempt by Del. Robert Marshall, R-Manassas, to commission a legislative study of the divorce laws in Virginia fell short this week.
Marshall introduced a resolution asking the House Courts of Justice Committee to examine the commonwealth’s no-fault divorce law and its impact on divorce rates. The results could have become the basis for future legislation.
According to the Virginia State Bar’s Family Law Section, neither the husband nor the wife are held legally responsible for the marriage failing in a no-fault divorce. To qualify, both spouses have to be living apart for at least six months.
Marshall said he decided to push for the study after hearing the General Assembly debate last year over the constitutional amendment he proposed that limits marriage to one man and one woman.
“Everyone said we should be worried about saving marriages and reducing divorce,” he said.
The House killed the study proposal Tuesday night, however.
“It is more important that we study domestic violence and other issues,” said Del. Adam Ebbin, R-Arlington.
Ebbin, the General Assembly’s only openly gay member, also doubted whether a study would yield any useful results because the Courts of Justice Committee is the House’s busiest panel.
The study proposal was the second measure this year Marshall backed related to the state’s divorce law.
The Courts of Justice this month killed a Marshall bill that would have made it difficult for couples to obtain no-fault divorces.
