Missouri addresses pregnancy in dissolution and separation judgments

Missouri enacted legislation stating that pregnancy status shall not prevent a court from entering a judgment of dissolution of marriage or legal separation. House Bills 1908 and 2337 were approved April 7, 2026; the House bill record identifies August 28, 2026 as the effective date.

The act adds the sentence to section 452.305, which sets out conditions for dissolution and legal separation judgments. It also adds the same instruction to section 452.310's petition provision, which continues to ask whether the wife is pregnant. The two sections retain other requirements concerning the proceeding and the court's judgment.

The pregnancy provision addresses whether that status prevents entry of a judgment. The act does not eliminate the other statutory requirements for dissolution or legal separation, or decide the custody, support and other issues in an individual proceeding.