The law became effective on July 1, 2017. 608 of 12,918 total divorce cases in fiscal year 2018 were based on domestic abuse. This statistic was not possible before the law’s passage. Before the law, spouses couldn’t cite domestic abuse as an excuse. Senate Bill 2680 added “spousal domestic violence” to the grounds of “habitual cruelty and inhumane treatment,” making it one of twelve grounds Mississippians can use to file for a fault-based or contested divorce. The law allows the reliable testimony of one credible witness who can be the spouse being injured. Before the law was passed, a second witness was needed to confirm spousal abuse testimony. This law change is a win, as there are rarely additional witnesses in domestic abuse cases, particularly when it is verbal or emotional in nature. Wendy Mahoney is executive director of Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Mahoney stated that the main goal is for survivors to be able to leave a difficult or unhealthy relationship. “They have extra support in doing so by having this law.” Mahoney believes that the 608 domestic abuse cases that have been filed since the law’s passage are an indicator that attorneys and spouses are becoming more familiar with the law. Mahoney stated that the coalition is currently gathering data and putting together resources to monitor the effectiveness of the law. 9.125 of the 12,918 divorce cases were filed for irreconcilable disagreements, where both parties agree to a no fault divorce. Mississippi remains one of only two states that does not have a unilateral no fault divorce provision. South Dakota is the other. This means that 16 percent of the remaining 3,800 fault-based divorcements were filed under this domestic abuse ground. Deborah Bell, a family lawyer expert and professor at the University of Mississippi, stated that this is a significant number, considering the fact that the ground is new. She also noted that before the change in law, it was not uncommon for a plaintiff in a divorce case to be denied because she does not have witnesses to the violence she suffered. Thompson stated that her client was the only witness before the judge. She said that despite the changes in the law, the judge still wanted a corroborating witness. She read the new statute to him. “We were able do it because she had credibility as a witness. Thompson stated that this is the standard. Harry Yoste, director at the Northcutt Legal clinic at the Biloxi-based Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence says that about two-thirds are divorce cases. Yoste states that all his clients have been victims of domestic violence. If a client cannot agree to divorce on grounds of irreconcilable difference, the court will use habitual cruel or inhumane treatment. Yoste said that although these cases are “a bit easier” for Yoste, his clients, and because no corroborating witness can be required, it hasn’t affected his overall practice. However, this could be due to the particular circumstances of his clients. Yoste is a pro bono lawyer and his clients’ spouses aren’t always represented in court. Bell claims that one of the remaining obstacles to domestic abuse victims in Mississippi’s divorce laws, which she hopes will be eliminated, is a common law doctrine known as “condonation.” This allows abuse to be forgiven if an abused spouse returns home and leaves, negating any grounds for divorce. The Mississippi House Judiciary B Committee chair killed two bills that would have made domestic violence and bona fide separation grounds for divorce. This was during the 2017 legislative session. We need policies to strengthen marriage. Gipson stated that if someone is abusive, they must have a change of behavior and a change of heart. After the incident, members of both the Senate and House committees amended a bill which originally clarified legal placement options available for abused children to include domestic abuse provisions.