Item from the Smart
Marriages Archive, reproduced in the Divorce Statistics
Collection
January 5, 1999
Learn about divorce, then say, `I do'
Florida law aims to cut rate with booklet and 3-day wait
Pat Moore - Cox News Service
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. _ Florida couples must consider the consequences of
divorce before they can get married under a new law that court clerks predict
will create more turmoil than romance.
``It's going to be a fiasco,'' said deputy court clerk Kelly Lamb, supervisor
of the St. Lucie County's family services division, of the law that becomes
effective today.
``We're going to have people very unhappy and afraid,'' she said. ``It's
not
going to be simple for someone to come in here and get a marriage license
anymore.''
Before court clerks will issue a marriage licenses, the prospective brides
and
grooms must read a 16-page booklet telling them how a court would divide
their
assets and how child support payments could be ordered if they ever split.
Then, the couple must wait three days after receiving the license to get
married, according to the law designed to reduce the divorce rate statewide.
Marriage licenses will be available for $56 instead of the normal $88.50
fee
for couples who attend four-hour courses designed to improve communication,
financial and parenting skills before marriage.
But Treasure Coast couples won't be able to cash in on the savings -- at
least
not yet.
Court clerks in Martin and St. Lucie counties say the only agencies offering
the ``premarital preparation course'' are from St. Augustine, Pembroke Pines
and Pensacola. The clerks say they will not sign up people for the class,
but
will refer couples to the agencies to make arrangements.
The Pembroke Pines agency, Pairs International Inc., notified clerks they
are
offering the course at $40 per person.
``That means couples would have to pay $80 to attend a course to get a $32.50
discount on a marriage license,'' said Martin County deputy clerk Lisa
DeLoach, supervisor of the family services division. ``I don't think they'll
be lining up at the door for that.''
DeLoach said a Martin County minister made inquiries about beginning a class,
but nothing will be in place when the law takes effect.
The law, sponsored by state Sen. Tom Rossin, D-West Palm Beach, does allow
court clerks to waive the three-day waiting period for ``hardship'' cases,
but
it does not specify what constitutes a hardship, she said.
While Florida residents wait three days to get married, out-of-state couples
may still obtain instant courthouse ceremonies. But they will be required
to
read the booklet warning them of ramifications of divorcing.
Angry reaction the law began last week, DeLoach said.
``I got a call from one man saying he wasn't paying $500 to fly here from
New
York and read some stupid book before he gets married.''
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