Mississippi Divorce Law Update

Today an article came to our attention, and we thought you mind find it interesting, too.  Jack Elliot Jr. of the AP wrote “Analysis: House declines to expand divorce laws,” an article discussing recent activity in the Mississippi House of Representatives regarding proposed divorce legislation.  The article tells us that thirty years ago Mississippi enacted “no-fault,” or uncontested, divorces.  More recently, State Rep. Mark DuVall (D-Mantachie) sought to add compulsive gambling as a 13th ground for divorce last week.  The bill ultimately failed with 40 votes for and 74 against.  Other bills dealing with child custody issues and premarital agreements have been filed this year, and a few others have proposed adding irreconcilable differences (a frequently-used ground for divorce in uncontested divorces in Tennessee) as a 13th ground, but the irreconcilable differences failed as well.  Opposition to these bills has expressed the desire to keep the state from making divorce any easier.  What do you think – do additional grounds for divorce make getting a divorce easier?  Do you think compulsive gambling or irreconcilable differences are reasonable grounds for divorce?