According to the McCook Daily Gazette, there were 12,315 marriages and 5,975 divorces in Nebraska in 2005.
In an effort to curb Nebraska divorce rates, freshman Senator Mark Christensen introduced legislation that would make it harder to get married in the state.
Nebraska bill LB696 would require a 30-day waiting period and a $100 fee for couples who have not attended at least eight hours of marriage education classes.
LB696 includes exceptions to the waiting period and the increased marriage fee. The terminally ill, members of the military who are set to be transferred to combat zones, and a few others with compelling circumstances, may have the $100 fee and the 30-day waiting period waived by the county clerk.
Nebraska has a divorce rate of 3.7% per 1,000 state residents.
