Governor signs bill requiring a class before divorces involving kids

Couples with minor children who seek a divorce in Oklahoma based on incompatibility will have to take a class before the divorce can be finalized.

Gov. Mary Fallin signed the bill into law Wednesday, which goes into effect Nov. 1.

The class will cover the impact of divorce on the children.

The parents can attend together or separately, and will have to pay a minumum of $15 and a maximum of $60 to cover the cost.

The idea, Rep. Jason Nelson of Oklahoma City told KRMG, is not necessarily to prevent divorces, though he'd see that as a possible benefit.

Rather, it's to educated the parents of the potentially adverse affects of the divorce on their children.

Judges will have the option to grant a waiver for cause.

The state will keep track of how many divorces are dismissed after the parties take the course, as well as how many people take the classes and how many actually complete the course.