> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://code-after-sex.gitbook.io/script-documentation/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://code-after-sex.gitbook.io/script-documentation/cas-wedding/divorce.md).

# Divorce

Divorce in the RedM Wedding & Marriage System: filing a sworn petition, the hearing, the judge's decree, the clerk's stamp, withdrawing, and the waiting period before marrying again.

A marriage is dissolved by the circuit court. One spouse, the **petitioner**, files a sworn petition at a county clerk. The court hears it a day later. The judge signs the decree, the clerk stamps it, and the petitioner makes it final. The other spouse, the **respondent**, is served when the petition is filed and told when it is withdrawn or final. They do not have to do anything.

## The five steps

The divorce window shows the decree as it takes shape, with the court, the case number, both names, the date of marriage and the grounds.

### 1. Petition

At a county clerk, open the marriage records (hold **R**) and choose **File for divorce**. The petitioner picks the grounds:

* Irreconcilable differences
* Desertion of the household
* Mutual consent of both parties
* Cruel and inhuman treatment
* Habitual drunkenness
* Other grounds, stated below

and may add a written statement of up to 300 characters.

### 2. Sign

The petitioner swears the petition is true and signs it with the mouse. **Submit Petition** charges the **$45** filing fee (`Config.Divorce.Fee`). The case gets its number, such as `DV-1899-0003`.

The respondent is served. If they are online they get a notification straight away, and their marriage records show the case and the hearing date.

### 3. Filed

The court hears the petition **24 hours** after filing (`Config.Divorce.HearingHours`). The time is shown in each player's own time zone.

### 4. Judgment

Once the hearing time has passed, the petitioner returns to a county clerk and chooses **Hear the Case**. The judge, *Hon. Beauregard T. Lacroix*, signs the decree. **File with the Clerk** then puts the clerk's stamp on it.

### 5. Finalized

**Finalize Divorce** dissolves the marriage. This cannot be undone.

* Both spouses become single.
* The marriage certificate is marked **Dissolved by decree of the court**.
* Neither of them can marry again for **7 days** (`Config.Divorce.RemarryCooldownDays`). Their marriage records count the days down.

## Withdrawing

Until the divorce is final, the petitioner can choose **Withdraw petition**. The case is struck from the docket and the marriage continues. The filing fee is not returned.

A marriage can have one open case at a time.

## Who does what

|                                             | Petitioner             | Respondent |
| ------------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------- |
| Files, signs and pays                       | Yes                    | No         |
| Is served and notified                      |                        | Yes        |
| Hears the case, files the decree, finalizes | Yes, at a county clerk | No         |
| Can withdraw                                | Yes                    | No         |
| Sees the case in the marriage records       | Yes                    | Yes        |

An engaged couple does not divorce. They break off the engagement from the marriage records.

## Settings

```lua
Config.Divorce = {
    Fee = 45,
    HearingHours = 24,
    RemarryCooldownDays = 7,
    Reasons = { "irreconcilable", "desertion", "mutual", "cruelty", "drunkenness", "other" },
}
```

| Setting               | Effect                                                                                                                            |
| --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Fee`                 | The filing fee, in cash                                                                                                           |
| `HearingHours`        | Hours between filing and the hearing. `0` lets the case be heard straight away                                                    |
| `RemarryCooldownDays` | Days after a divorce before either spouse can be proposed to or propose again                                                     |
| `Reasons`             | The grounds offered. An id is shown from the language file (`cfg_divorce_reason_<id>`). Anything else is shown exactly as written |

The court's name, its division, the judge and the clerk of court come from the language file (`cfg_divorce_court`, `cfg_divorce_division`, `cfg_divorce_judge`, `cfg_divorce_clerk`). To write them in the config instead, add `Court`, `Division`, `Judge` or `Clerk` to `Config.Divorce`:

```lua
Config.Divorce.Judge = "Hon. Josephine Harlow"
```