Lesbian Couple Can't Cohabitate; Morality Clause Prevents Divorcee From Influencing Children
A woman and her partner will no longer be able to live together after a Texas judge ruled that the couple was violating a morality clause that was present in one of the women's divorce agreement.
The divorced woman and her partner will not be able to live together, given that the morality clause- commonly found in many divorce agreements- prevents a divorcee from cohabitating with a romantic partner while children are present.
Carolyn Compton and Joshua Compton were divorced after 11 years of marriage in 2011. Carolyn had been living with her partner, Page Price, and the Comptons' two daughters.
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Collin County Judge John Roach Jr. ruled on May 7 that Price would have 30 days to move out of their home, The Dallas Morning News reported.
"Judge Roach Jr. placed this 'Morality Clause' in their divorce papers with no end date at his will during their final divorce hearing stating that he did not like Carolyn's 'lifestyle,'" Price wrote in a Facebook post, accusing the judge of bias against same-sex couples.
Carolyn Compton and Price also called the common law a "burden" and "unreasonably [limiting]" for hindering their ability to expose children to an intimate relationship outside of marriage.
Judge Roach, however, denied any bias against same-sex couples, and added that the clause that was invoked was common and a general provision to protect children in cases where the two biological parents split up.
"It's a general provision for the benefit of the children," Roach wrote in his decision. "It's applied equally to everybody."
The Comptons' divorce was finalized in 2011, but Joshua Compton had his lawyer reopen the case in April to exercise the morality clause. In Collin County, the morality clause is a standing order for pending divorces, intended to limit children from exposure to an extramarital affair.
