40-4-104. Dissolution of marriage -- legal separation. (1) The district court shall enter a decree of dissolution of marriage if:
(a) the court finds that one of the parties, at the time the action was commenced, was domiciled in this state, as provided in 25-2-118, or was stationed in this state while a member of the armed services and that the domicile or military presence has been maintained for 90 days preceding the filing of the action;
(b) the court finds that the marriage is irretrievably broken, which findings must be supported by evidence:
(i) that the parties have lived separate and apart for a period of more than 180 days preceding the commencement of this proceeding; or
(ii) that there is serious marital discord that adversely affects the attitude of one or both of the parties towards the marriage; and
(c) to the extent it has jurisdiction to do so, the court has considered, approved, or made provision for parenting, the support of any child entitled to support, the maintenance of either spouse, and the disposition of property.
(2) If a party requests a decree of legal separation rather than a decree of dissolution of marriage, the court shall grant the decree in that form unless the other party objects.
History: En. 48-316 by Sec. 16, Ch. 536, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 48-316; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 392, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 343, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 314, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 350, L. 2019.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Chapter 4. Termination of Marriage, Child Custody, Support
Part 1. Separation -- Dissolution of Marriage
40-4-102. Uniformity of application and construction
40-4-103. Application of Montana Rules of Civil Procedure
40-4-104. Dissolution of marriage -- legal separation
40-4-105. Procedure -- commencement -- pleadings -- abolition of existing defenses
40-4-107. Irretrievable breakdown
40-4-109. Independence of provisions of decree or temporary order
40-4-110. Costs -- professional fees
40-4-111. through 40-4-120 reserved
40-4-122. Forms -- distribution -- filing
40-4-123. Jurisdiction and venue
40-4-124. Review or removal -- district court
40-4-125. Registration of orders
40-4-126. Automatic economic restraining order
40-4-127. through 40-4-129 reserved
40-4-130. Summary dissolution -- conditions necessary at commencement of proceedings
40-4-131. Joint petition -- filing -- form -- contents
40-4-132. Revocation of joint petition -- termination of proceeding -- notice -- copy to other party
40-4-133. Hearing and final judgment -- entry -- effect
40-4-134. Final judgment as final adjudication of rights and obligations
40-4-135. Actions to set aside final judgment
40-4-136. Brochure to describe proceedings -- availability -- distribution -- contents and form