FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 6167

                           C 23 L 96

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Revising requirements for filing petitions for dissolution of marriage.

Sponsors:  Senators Smith, Johnson, Newhouse and Winsley.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

House Committee on Law & Justice

Background:  Superior courts only have jurisdiction to hear divorce cases for a person who is a resident of Washington or who is a member of the armed forces and stationed in this state.  Occasionally, a spouse who intends to obtain a divorce and who has been a resident of Washington finds it necessary to move to another state (i.e., to escape from an abusive spouse or to obtain work).

Washington statutes do not currently allow a person married to a Washington resident but living in another state to file for divorce in Washington, even though Washington may be the state which is most convenient or appropriate to decide all issues of the divorce, particularly child custody issues.

Summary:  Superior courts are given jurisdiction to hear divorce cases if the petitioner is a nonresident spouse who is married (1) to a resident of this state or (2) to a member of the armed forces who is stationed in this state.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    49 0

House     95 0

Effective:  June 6, 1996