ND HB1423

Courts shall order parties in divorce actions involving parental rights and responsibilities to participate in an education program about the impact of divorce on children, unless the case involves substantiated allegations of domestic abuse or other good cause.

Education programs may be offered online or in-classroom format, with the court preparing a list of appropriate providers and adopting rules to define program standards.

Parties are responsible for program fees and costs, though courts may assess fees equitably between the parties.

Final divorce decrees cannot be granted until each party submits certification of program completion; courts may impose sanctions for non-compliance.

Legislative management shall study North Dakota's marriage and divorce laws during the 2013-14 interim, including review of premarital education, marriage counseling, divorce-effects education, waiting periods, and the efficacy of divorce education programs, with findings and recommendations to be reported to the sixty-fourth legislative assembly.