Results: Missouri law prevents divorce during pregnancy – even in cases of violence

Under a Missouri statute that has recently gained nationwide attention, every petitioner for divorce is required to disclose their pregnancy status. In practice, experts say, those who are pregnant are barred from legally dissolving their marriage. Do you think every petitioner for divorce should be required to disclose their pregnancy status?

The original intent of the statute in Missouri, which originated in 1973, was "noble", Ashley Aune, a Democratic representative, said, as it tried to ensure that a mother and her child were provided for by settling custody arrangements and child support after the child's birth.But in practice, it has created barriers for pregnant people seeking divorce. Aune recently introduced House bill 2402, which would give a family court judge more discretion to grant an expedited divorce in cases of pregnancy. In Missouri, homicide was the third leading cause of deaths in connection with pregnancy between 2018–2022. Do you agree with the statute that divorce should have to wait until after the baby is born?