Relating to marriage, including the grounds for dissolution of marriage

This bill relates to marriage, including the grounds for dissolution of marriage. The bill provides that parties applying for a marriage license may also submit a waiver to waive dissolution of marriage based solely on a breakdown of the marriage relationship. The waiver, as prescribed by the judicial branch, must be signed voluntarily by both parties and filed with the county registrar at the time the application for a marriage license is filed. The bill creates grounds for dissolution of marriage for parties who filed a waiver with their marriage license. To dissolve the marriage, a party must provide proof that the other party committed adultery, committed a felony and was sentenced to imprisonment, has abandoned the marriage home for more than a year and refuses to return, has physically or sexually abused the party or a child of one of the parties, or that the parties have been living separately for at least two years. If the parties file a waiver, the waiver is presumed valid unless a party establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the waiver is not executed voluntarily or by fraud, duress, or coercion. The bill makes conforming changes in Code chapter 598 (dissolution of marriage and domestic relations) to reflect the difference in applicable grounds contingent upon whether or not the parties filed a waiver.