25-4-34.   Waiting period before trial of divorce and separate maintenance actions--Temporary orders and preliminary proceedings during waiting period--Validity of proceedings commenced before 1964. An action for divorce or separate maintenance shall not be heard, tried, or determined by the court until at least sixty days have elapsed from the completed service of the plaintiff's summons and complaint therein. During said waiting period the court may issue all orders required to effectuate the purposes expressed in §§ 25-4-38 and 25-4-45 or to protect any of the parties to the action during the pendency thereof.

     This section shall not be construed to prohibit the taking of depositions, examination of parties before trial, the granting of orders respecting discovery, or proceedings to perpetuate testimony, prior to the hearing or trial of said action by the court.

     Nothing in this section shall operate to nullify any action or proceeding for divorce commenced prior to July 1, 1964, notwithstanding the fact that the final judgment or decree in such action or proceeding is entered therein after said date.

Source: SL 1959, ch 232, §§ 1 to 3; SDC Supp 1960, § 14.0729; SL 1964, ch 35, §§ 1, 2.

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