The bill proposes to repeal the existing section 452.300 of Missouri law and replace it with a new section that outlines the procedures for petitions related to the dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or declaration of invalidity of marriage. The new section establishes that all proceedings will be governed by the rules of the supreme court and other applicable court rules, and it specifies the terminology to be used in these proceedings, such as "petitioner" for the party filing the initial pleading and "respondent" for the party filing a responsive pleading. Additionally, it details the jurisdiction for filing these proceedings based on the residency of the parties involved. A significant addition in the new section is the provision allowing any minor who was legally married prior to August 28, 2025, to file a petition for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or declaration of invalidity of marriage without needing the consent of their custodial parent or guardian. This change aims to provide minors with greater autonomy in legal matters concerning their marriages.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (4658H.01): 452.300