Marriage Counseling Bill Set For Continued Hearing In The House

Couples in Wyoming may be required to undergo marriage counseling prior to getting married, or divorced.

A continued hearing is underway in the House for a bill that would require couples to take marriage counseling if they are planning to get married or divorced. Hearing on the bill was started by the House Labor, Health and Social Service Committee on Wednesday. Amendments will be considered by the committee on Monday.

Sponsoring the bill is Torrington Republican and Speaker of The House Ed Buchanan. He believes there is a strong interest in maintaining strong marriages throughout the state. Maintaining strong marriages just might reduce the number of Wyoming children living in poverty in single parent households. Currently 11.6% of Wyoming Children live under the poverty level.

Couples looking to get married will have to wait one year or undergo marriage counseling as required by the bill. It would obligate couples looking at divorce to wait a year if they have not received counseling on the matter