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An Act To Relax Divorce Requirements for Victims of Domestic Violence
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 19-A MRSA §901, sub-§1, ¶¶C and D, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 and affected by Pt. E, §2, are amended to read:
 
C. The plaintiff is a resident of this State and the parties resided in this State when the cause of divorce accrued; or
 
D. The defendant is a resident of this State.; or
Sec. 2.  19-A MRSA §901, sub-§1, ¶E  is enacted to read:
 
E.  The plaintiff is a resident of this State and has resided in this State for any period of time prior to the commencement of the action and produces an operating protection from abuse order under chapter 101 or its equivalent from another jurisdiction and the plaintiff's spouse is the defendant subject to the order.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows a person to file for divorce without meeting the 6-month residency requirement if the person resides in the State and produces an operating protection from abuse order or its equivalent from another jurisdiction and the person's spouse is the defendant subject to the order.