Capitol Ideas

By storm8

March 20, 2006 09:00 AM | Link to this

This is foolish. The State should stay clear of personal matters. As someone who has been through a divorce — by they time you make the decision - you have gone through 5 years of hell trying to right a sinking ship. Eventually the love was gone and in some cases the environment was unsafe - as an adult you “know when to fold ‘em”. Is the next step to have a mandatory courting period before you can get married?

By c.heston

March 20, 2006 09:11 AM | Link to this

Gee, NO waiting period to buy a gun in this state, but they want a THREE MONTH waiting period to get a divorce. Seems like buying a gun and then “using” it would be a way to get around this legislation.

By Dick

March 20, 2006 09:13 AM | Link to this

That is what is wrong with the world today, the government is too involved. waiting 750 days would not have stopped by divorce.

By john

March 20, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU SHOULD GO TO THE COURTHOUSE SIGN THE PAPERS AND BE DONE WITH IT, THE COUPLES HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH BY THIS TIME AND SOMETIMES IT IS NOT SAFE DEPENDING ON THE COUPLES STAYING TOGETHER LONGER BECAUSE OF SOME IDIOT WHO WROTE THIS LAW AND GOT IT PASSED. DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION, WHO IS GOING TO SAY YES YOU SHOULD HAVE TO WAIT.

By reality check

March 20, 2006 09:22 AM | Link to this

The legislators who are promoting this are complete and total idiots. As leader of a divorce support group I can tell you that most of the time getting through the legal process takes several years of surviving legal hell. They want to make it tougher? Who are the meddlesome morons behind this?.

By storm8

March 20, 2006 09:33 AM | Link to this

This is foolish. The State should stay clear of personal matters. As someone who has been through a divorce — by they time you make the decision - you have gone through 5 years of hell trying to right a sinking ship. Eventually the love was gone and in some cases the environment was unsafe - as an adult you “know when to fold ‘em”. Is the next step to have a mandatory courting period before you can get married?

By Chris

March 20, 2006 09:37 AM | Link to this

Just what we need - another rule telling us how to live our personal lives. Why not take all responsibilty away form us? Just create robots and be done with it!

By Lisa

March 20, 2006 09:44 AM | Link to this

I think this measure is foolish. Once people have made up their minds, for whatever reason, a waiting period is not going to change it. I do think people get divorced in many cases over things that can be worked out if they just try, but you can’t force people to try. People get married very casually and divorced very casually and only the individual can change this, not the state. So much for “less government” Republicans, though.

By Nikole

March 20, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

I would support a measure requiring premarriage counseling from professionals or clergy BEFORE marriage, so that people will think more before committing their life to someone. But forcing people to stay married when they WANT a divorce does not make much sense to me.

By Seven

March 20, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

This is just another means for the government to control our lives. They dictate how we can or cannot raise our children, now they’re dictating when we can get a divorce. How crazy is that? If the marriage is over, then it’s over. Waiting an extra 120 days will not resolve anything, just cause more frustration. I guess this is another eye opener for us all. When you marry someone, you’re also marrying the state. They must have their hands in everything.

By Robert

March 20, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this

Republicans are such hypocrites! They claim to stand for one thing and then do another. This is just another example.

Republicans are supposed to be for individual freedom, for smaller government, for less intrustion into our personal lives, right? At least this is what they claim whenever they want our votes.

Then they get elected and what happens? They extend the law into every aspect of our private lives. They want to go into our bedroom. They want to intrude into our relationships. Republicans are hypocrites.

By gindhottie

March 20, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this

I agree with NIKOLE. I would also support required premarital counseling. Although it will not prevent all divorcings, it might decrease the number. I am not married, but will be soon. We both agree that it will be a great idea to have premarital counseling before we marry. But to answer the question, I think government should stay OUT of this matter.

By Dad

March 20, 2006 10:33 AM | Link to this

As a Dad, if the State’s concern is over the children….then require all divorce and custody cases (new and modifications) to be resolved within 60 days of the filing date. “6 months of discovery”, “schedule conflicts”, and a vast array of other attorney “delay tactics” place far too much unnecessary pressure on minor children. Oh, by the way….digging for the “truth” instead of “trash” would also be a honorable way to spend attorney fees.

By E. Lewis

March 20, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this

Instead of making couples wait longer to get a divorce, perhaps the state should make couples wait longer to get married.

Why has Georgia decided that a 15 year can get married, but wants a 30 year old who decides to divorce to wait?

By Lisa

March 20, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this

Republicans only use “less government” and “fiscal responsibility” as their battle cries to get elected. Once elected they throw all that out, spend like madmen, run up huge debts and meddle in everyone’s lives! They are hypocrites!!

By Amber

March 20, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this

As someone who has gone through a divorce, this is just crazy. In my opinion, 99% of people who get a divorce WANT the divorce. When they make they choice they know what they want. Yeah, SOMETIMES people get back together but, that is extremely rare. Why make it harder on people who are already probably having a hard enough time as it is????

By Susie

March 20, 2006 11:03 AM | Link to this

If there’s going to be a mandatory waiting period for anything, it should be for getting married, not for getting divorced. You have to take parenting classes to get a divorce…why not “marriage” classes before the wedding?

I know that when we went to our “parenting” classes before our divorce, we BOTH learned all kinds of stuff that might have been helpful to know before we ever got married. A lot of it was stuff you’d think would be common sense, but it was taught in a way that really made us think.

By Susie

March 20, 2006 11:05 AM | Link to this

As usual, the only people who will really benefit from this are the attorneys, who people will be required to keep on retainer for three times longer than they used to.

By Robert

March 20, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this

How about this law to get the religious right upset….

A waiting period before you have children. And, require a parenting class before you have children. If you break the law (have children without this) then you MUST give up your child for adoption or abort.

By Jennifer

March 20, 2006 11:36 AM | Link to this

Absolutely not. What business is it of the State’s when people get divorced. It seems to me if they have concluded divorce is the only way to resolve things they have most likely exhausted all other options.

This is just another way for the government to interfere in people’s personal lives. So much for that small government I’ve heard so much about.

By kpa

March 20, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this

No, No and No

By June Deeb

March 20, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this

The most painless cut is the fastest cut. Let’s keep divorce as painless as possible. God knows there’s already enough inherent pain!

By Becca

March 20, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this

No way. I think you should be able to get a divorce within 10 working days. LOL

By Sherry

March 20, 2006 12:10 PM | Link to this

I think they should keep their nose out of where it doesn’t belong. When people divorce it’s not an overnight decision, it’s a decision that was made after some very long and painful months/years and the couple feels it’s best for them and the children. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors and they shouldn’t be allowed there to make decisions for the couple. I just received a divorce after 18 years and it was hard in itself, I didn’t need the courts stepping in and trying to delay things or act on what’s best for my kids, I did that!! I went through the parenting class, which is a Ga Law, I went through mediation and all else that the courts made me do but the decision was mine and my husbands and that is the only two who should have been involved, it should be respected by the courts. Too many people trying to throw around too much power that they don’t deserve to have, this is a family….these are adults… What they feel is right, is good enough!

By phil

March 20, 2006 12:26 PM | Link to this

No for the waiting time! The state has no business in mandating a separation time. Once a person has decided a divorce is the only solution, then so be it.

By Dick

March 20, 2006 12:45 PM | Link to this

Or elected officials are not too bright, are they? Wouldn’t two single adults pay more in taxes than a married couple. Seems to be the officials would want to rush thru divorce so they could get more tax money to what———throw away.

By Brison

March 20, 2006 12:57 PM | Link to this

Please - no, waiting period for divorce. However, we welcome legislation capping legal fees and duress for what should be Simple Divorces and measures to reign in the unscrupulous practices of some of Atlanta’s family law attorneys (and judges). We cringed when a particular divorce attorney was recently recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle since he has been known to side-step laws and Bar Association regulations. This same lawyer sent a letter threatening me and my attorney if we turned him in. I wonder if there is a statute of limitations for that?

By Tom

March 20, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this

of course not! it’s all about a parents’ ability to be happy as quickly as possible, not about the children or what’s best for them. Get with it, it’s the new millenium!

By Kim

March 20, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

NO!!!!! Children or not, the government should not be involved in personal matters. Sometimes staying together is actually worse on the children. My daughter hated her father and I being married. There should be no wait time on divorce. My current husband and I were expecting our own child and his ex-wife kept dragging out their divorce. He was FINALLY divorce in early May; we wed one week later..baby born in June. There marriage was over well before our we got together. Each situation is different and the government should leave well enough alone!!!!!

By dela

March 20, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this

No, it’s not the business of the state what goes on between a married couple.

By Sugar

March 20, 2006 02:36 PM | Link to this

Well, at least you managed to get married before the baby was born.

By Kim

March 20, 2006 03:14 PM | Link to this

Yes, thank goodness!!! But I can’t even imagine having to wait any longer than it took. He lived with his mom and dad until we could get married, so I was alone until then. It was really hard. Even if our situation hadn’t happened, I think it is wrong to make someone wait 120 days in misery!!!!

By jack

March 20, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this

Mitch Seabaugh and all the other nit wits who dreamed up an supported this assinine legislation should be voted out of office. I live in Seabaugh’s district and can assure him that he has lost any chance of getting my vote. Government and self righteous, know it alls like Seabaugh are a danger to everyones privacy.

By Shooz

March 20, 2006 03:38 PM | Link to this

You know what they really need to do? Make it more difficult to get married! They have classes for everything else e.g driving, to practice law, to become a teacher or doctor… but there is NOTHING that explains to people what they should expect after the “I Do’s”. There should be some manditory classes that everyone has to take on the realities of marriage. They need to make sure that everyone has the right realistic expectations. People get married as though their is no life after the big ceremony. But you know what ? That’s when the real work begins! People REALLY need to understand what they are getting into. Marriage is not something to be done on a whim or to be taken lightly.

By everett

March 20, 2006 03:42 PM | Link to this

leave the period of time it takes to get a divorce along, how about regulating now many times these idoits can run for office?

By E. Lewis

March 20, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this

Just out of curiosity, how many times can someone marry and divorce, marry and divroce, marry and divorce, etc., etc. in the state of Georgia?

Is there a limit to the number or times someone can get married or divorced?

By Paulette

March 20, 2006 03:55 PM | Link to this

There should be one law made for a mandatory waiting period, and that is for the re-election of our legislators. A thirty year waiting period sounds about right.

By Shannon

March 20, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this

I am so upset because I have started the whole marriage counseling and now you have to take a class. It is like a child would rather come from a home that is broken then from a home where there is constant fighting. Everyone is right to make someone wait 180 is crazy!! You have to take time off from work. God forbid someone gets hurt in the process you know. It is very sad and unsettling to me. I am very hurt because I feel like I have to continue in this marriage until I find someone else to go.

By sjr

March 20, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this

shannon…are you drunk???

By arlene

March 20, 2006 05:07 PM | Link to this

The state needs to stay out of our personal lives.If two people have decided to divorce, counselling will not change their minds. And if children are involved, why prolong their misery in living with two parents who no longer want to live together?

By Melllllll1

March 21, 2006 08:14 AM | Link to this

Another example of our legislatures wasting valuable time on issues that are none of the state’s business. We have an education crisis in this state. We have a meth crisis in this state. We have domestic abuse and child abuse crises in this state. Are the legislatures aware of these other issues?

By Chipper

March 21, 2006 09:01 AM | Link to this

sjr, I went back and read Shannon’s comments too. I didn’t understand anything she said.

By Lindsey

March 23, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

The legislators who support the bill refuse to acknowledge the impact this will have on victims of domestic violence. Imposing a manadatory waiting period puts women in further danger if their husband is abusive. Way to go, GA legislature!

By Tammy

March 23, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this

There are some things the State should stay out of, this is one of them.

By kathryne lee

March 28, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this

Just another example of Mitch Seabaugh trying to get into other people’s lives. This bill is absurd and anyone who doesn’t see that is blind. How it even got out of committee is a wonder.

By kathryne lee

March 28, 2006 01:26 PM | Link to this

After reading all the other comments, why doesn’t someone run against Mitch Seabaugh? Just like every other politician he has forgotten what it is to be a republican like most of them. They no sooner get in power and they start acting like the democrats did when the ruled the roost. It is just so predictable.