A History of Matrimonial Institutions, Vol. 3 of 3Howard, George Elliott
History
A History of Matrimonial Institutions, Vol. 3 of 3
Howard, George Elliott
Families; Marriage -- History
In 1849, the year following the attainment of statehood, was
adopted a new statute by which the foundation of the present
system was laid. By it, as under the present law, a marriage is
declared absolutely dissolved without any decree of divorce or
legal process whenever either spouse is sentenced to imprisonment
for life; and a pardon is not to effect a restoration of conjugal
rights. The circuit courts are granted jurisdiction. Both full
and partial divorce are provided for. Absolute divorce is allowed
for (1) adultery; (2) impotence; (3) sentence of either spouse to
imprisonment for a period of three years or more, no pardon working
a restoration of conjugal rights; (4) wilful desertion for one
year next preceding the commencement of the action; (5) when the
treatment of the wife by the husband has been "cruel and inhuman,
whether practiced by using personal violence, or by any other
means," or "when the wife shall be guilty of like cruelty to her
husband or shall be given to intoxication;" (6) when the husband
or wife shall have been a habitual drunkard for the space of one
year immediately preceding the filing of the bill. To these grounds
was added as a cause in 1866: (7) voluntarily living entirely
separate for the five years next preceding the commencement of the
action.[442] So the law of absolute divorce remains at the present
time, all attempts to make insanity a permanent ground having thus
far failed.[443]
[442] Act of March 31, _Gen. Laws_ (1866), 40.
[443] In 1856 the court in its discretion was authorized to
decree a divorce when either spouse shall become incurably
insane and "shall have so remained for the term of seven years
continuously," the husband being required to give bond with
security for the maintenance of the wife during her life: Act
of March 31, _Gen. Acts_ (1856), 96. After two years this act
was repealed: _Gen. Laws_ (1858), 82. A second attempt was made
in 1881. A full divorce was then authorized when either husband
or wife shall have been insane for the space of five years
immediately preceding the commencement of the action, and the
court shall be satisfied that the insanity is incurable: Act of
April 2, _Laws_ (1881), 376-78. This statute was repealed the
next year: _Laws_ (1882), 798.
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