This latest effort is part of an ongoing, often futile, effort to bring Mississippi’s outdated, misogynistic divorce law into the twenty-first (that’s right 20th) century. Brice Wiggins, Judiciary A Chairman, has authored Senate Bill 26,43. It passed the Senate by a vote 35-13. Four politically bold souls voted “present”. The bill was based on the recommendations of a task team of judges, lawyers, and other experts who reviewed the state’s domestic laws. Wiggins stated to colleagues that “the task force’s reasons for recommending the bill are compelling.” He said that it was the destruction of children and families due to Mississippi’s restrictive divorce law…being weaponized. This would be at the very least a step closer towards a unilateral no fault divorce like the majority of the rest. Mississippi and South Dakota are the only states that have a unilateral no fault divorce ground. The Mississippi divorce ground of “irreconcilable differing” requires the consent of both spouses. This makes it difficult and costly to get a Mississippi divorce. It also allows one spouse, sometimes for many years, to delay the process. It also means that spouses and their children are often trapped in abusive family relationships. A spouse who wants to end a marriage would need to file for — sometimes with a ridiculously high legal burden of proof — a divorce on any of the 12 grounds. Many of the grounds are outdated in their language. These are the grounds: Mississippi’s divorce laws are unchanged over 100 years and are ostensibly designed to protect marriage. They don’t accomplish that as Mississippi’s divorce rates are often the highest in the nation. This is likely because Mississippi’s laws make it easy to get married. These laws contribute to the high state’s domestic abuse rate, slow down the courts and cost families money in attorney bills that could be better spent elsewhere. Low-income individuals are particularly affected by these laws, especially homemakers who don’t have the resources to wage a long legal battle to end a marriage. READ MORE: Mississippi divorce is expensive and difficult. However, many legislators and members of the state’s religious lobby opposed any reform to divorce laws. However, lawmakers passed what was known as a “quickie divorce” law in 2012. This made it easier to get married here in the Magnolia State, by eliminating a 3-day waiting period, and other regulations. A few years back, the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence and a Coast Judge tried unsuccessfully for the state Supreme Court’s unconstitutional finding that the state did not have a no-fault divorce. Wiggins stated that the task force had recommended an unilateral no-fault ground. However, the “irrevocably broke” was apparently a reference to realpolitik. Now, the bill heads to the House. Divorce reform has been difficult. Senator Rod Hickman from Macon said before the Senate vote: “This law doesn’t make divorce an automatic thing. It’s only a half-step. My clients who were separated for 16 years couldn’t get divorced. This law is good and will help many people.