Relating to: an optional final hearing by affidavit for the dissolution of a marriage.

SB 189 creates an option for Wisconsin couples to obtain a divorce without a court hearing by submitting a detailed affidavit instead. To qualify, both parties must have legal representation or use a registered mediator, file a written agreement, and submit an affidavit confirming residency, financial disclosures, domestic abuse history, and understanding of divorce terms. The affidavit must also waive the right to a hearing and include specific legal acknowledgments required by law. This option is available only after a 6-month waiting period from the divorce grant date, during which remarriage remains prohibited under existing law.