HB482 Summary

• Requires married couples with minor children to complete a four-hour marriage dissolution education program within 120 days before filing a petition, counterpetition, or answer in divorce or separation actions.

• Programs may be delivered face-to-face or online and must cover constructive parenting (at least 75 percent of content), legal process information (at least 5 percent), and reconciliation options (at least 5 percent), based on evidence-based practices.

• Allows judges to waive the education requirement if a party demonstrates impossibility based on language barriers, lack of geographic access to courses, domestic violence safety concerns, emergencies, or other circumstances.

• Parties must pay program costs up to $100 for four hours of instruction, with fee waivers available for individuals below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines or eligible to proceed in forma pauperis.

• Becomes effective January 1, 2013, and applies only to proceedings where the initial pleading is served on or after the effective date.