If you thought we were beyond Victorian-era marriage laws in the United States, think again. According to Missouri law, a judge can delay a divorce finalization if one of the parties is pregnant. The details of the policy are extremely insidious, and gives judges the power to keep pregnant people locked into relationships regardless of the circumstances. The law claims that the rationale is because a custody agreement should be reached before a divorce happens, but custody agreements can't happen or be put in place until a child is born.
Even before the overturning of Roe v. Wade, this left people suffering from any kind of abuse in an extremely precarious position, legally bound to a relationship regardless of their wants, needs, and even safety. Now, in a post-Roe world, the implications are even more dire. If people can't access the abortion services or reproductive care they need, and are forced to stay pregnant against their will, they may also be forced to stay in marriages, too. Together, these two forces can literally trap a pregnant person into deeply abusive — and even fatal — circumstances.
Arizona, Arkansas, and Texas all have similar laws, which goes to show that leaving the concept of freedom and autonomy to the states to decide sets a dangerous precedent. This is why we must put pressure on Congress to take action. Sign now to demand Congress codify the right to a divorce at any time — pregnant or not!
