HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

80

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ANNULMENT, DIVORCE, AND SEPARATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that it reduces family court congestion to have automatic orders in place similar to those in California and Massachusetts upon the filing of a divorce to prevent parties from dissipating or hiding assets and to create a level field for nonrepresented parties.  Currently, unless one is knowledgeable about filing a motion for temporary orders, a nonrepresented party is caught unaware about the party's rights and obligations to maintain the status quo until a court hearing.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 580, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§580-    Automatic restraining order.  (a)  Both parties to a complaint for annulment, divorce, or separation shall be subject to a restraining order that shall be effective with regard to the plaintiff upon the filing of the complaint and with regard to the defendant upon service of the summons and complaint or any other acceptance of service by the defendant.  The restraining order shall specify that:

     (1)  Neither party shall sell, transfer, encumber, conceal, assign, remove, or in any way dispose of any property, real or personal, belonging to or acquired by, either party, except as:

         (A)  Required for reasonable expenses of living;

         (B)  Done in the ordinary and usual course of business;

         (C)  Required for payment of reasonable attorney's fees and costs in connection with the action;

         (D)  Done pursuant to a written agreement of both parties; or

         (E)  Required by order of the court;

     (2)  Neither party shall incur any further debts, except reasonable amounts necessary for living and business expenses, including the children's educational expenses, and reasonable litigation fees and costs for the pending action, that would burden the credit of the other party, including but not limited to further borrowing against any credit line secured by the marital residence or unreasonably using credit cards or cash advances against credit or bank cards;

     (3)  Neither party shall directly or indirectly change the beneficiary of any life insurance policy, pension or retirement plan, or pension or retirement investment account, except with the written consent of the other party or by order of the court;

     (4)  Neither party shall directly or indirectly cause the other party or the minor children to be removed from coverage under an existing insurance policy, including medical, dental, life, automobile, and disability insurance.  The parties shall maintain all insurance coverage in full force and effect; and

     (5)  Neither party shall remove the parties' minor children from the island of that child's current residence nor remove the parties' minor children from the school that child is currently attending.

     (b)  After service of the complaint for annulment, divorce, or separation, the defendant may file a motion to set aside or modify the restraining order and may choose to file the motion without submitting to the jurisdiction of the court.  The court shall proceed to hear and determine the motion as expeditiously as possible.

     (c)  The restraining order shall remain in effect during the pendency of the action, unless it is modified by agreement of the parties or by further order of the court.

     (d)  The provisions of the restraining order shall be issued by the family court and a copy thereof shall be served with every complaint to which it applies.  If service is by publication, the public notice shall include a statement that a restraining order has been issued by the court.  The provisions of the restraining order need not be reprinted in the public notice.

     (e)  The restraining order shall be vacated upon the entry of an annulment, divorce, or separation decree."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.



 

Report Title:

Automatic Restraining Order; Annulment; Divorce; Separation

 

Description:

Imposes a restraining order that preserves the financial assets of the parties and their dependents upon the commencement of annulment, divorce, or separation court action.  (HB80 HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.