§3492. Divorce under Civil Code Article 102; notice of rule to show cause

A. A notice of a rule to show cause in accordance with Civil Code Article 102 shall be signed by the clerk of the court or his deputy issuing it with an expression of his official capacity and under the seal of his office; shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the motion, order and rule to show cause; and shall contain all of the following:

(1) The date of issuance.

(2) The title of the cause.

(3) The name of the person to whom it is addressed.

(4) The title and location of the court issuing it.

(5) The return date, time, and place.

(6) Statements to the following effect:

(a) The person served is being directed to appear and show cause why a divorce should not be granted to his spouse.

(b) The necessity for the lapse of one hundred eighty days or three hundred sixty-five days, in accordance with Civil Code Article 103.1, from service of the petition of divorce upon the person or from the date the parties commenced living separate and apart, whichever is later.

(c) The person served is entitled to appear and oppose the divorce action and to file motions for incidental relief in the divorce proceeding, including motions for spousal support, child custody, and child support.

B. The statements required to appear in the notice shall provide substantially as applicable:

ATTENTION

YOU ARE BEING SUED FOR FINAL DIVORCE. A JUDGMENT OF DIVORCE MAY BE RENDERED AGAINST YOU ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ATTACHED RULE TO SHOW CAUSE UNLESS YOU APPEAR AND OPPOSE THE RULE.

ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS MUST HAVE PASSED SINCE YOU OR YOUR SPOUSE RECEIVED THE FIRST NOTICE OF THE DIVORCE ACTION OR ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS AFTER YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE PHYSICALLY SEPARATED, WHICHEVER OCCURRED LAST.

(or)

THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE DAYS MUST HAVE PASSED SINCE YOU OR YOUR SPOUSE RECEIVED THE FIRST NOTICE OF THE DIVORCE ACTION OR THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE DAYS AFTER YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE PHYSICALLY SEPARATED, WHICHEVER OCCURRED LAST.

(and)

YOU MAY SEEK CUSTODY OF CHILDREN, AND MONEY FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND YOUR SUPPORT, AS WELL AS OTHER RELIEF TO PROTECT YOU.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHAT TO DO, YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY TALK WITH AN ATTORNEY ABOUT IT.

Acts 1990, No. 1009, §8, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1995, No. 386, §3; Acts 2006, No. 743, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 2007.