§580-1 Jurisdiction; hearing. Exclusive original jurisdiction in matters of annulment, divorce, and separation, subject to section 603-37 as to change of venue, and subject also to appeal according to law, is conferred upon the family court of the circuit in which the applicant has been domiciled or has been physically present for a continuous period of at least three months next preceding the application therefor. No absolute divorce from the bond of matrimony shall be granted for any cause unless either party to the marriage has been domiciled or has been physically present in the State for a continuous period of at least six months next preceding the application therefor. A person who may be residing on any military or federal base, installation, or reservation within the State or who may be present in the State under military orders shall not thereby be prohibited from meeting the requirements of this section. [L 1870, c 16, §2; am L 1878, c 26, §1; am L 1903, c 22, §4 and c 33, §1; am L 1919, c 172, §1; RL 1925, §2966; am L 1927, c 126, §1; RL 1935, §4461; am L 1935, c 94, §1; RL 1945, §12211; am L 1949, c 53, §29; RL 1955, §324-21; am L 1957, c 72, §3; am L 1961, c 58, §1; am L 1965, c 76, §1; am L 1967, c 76, §2; HRS §580-1; am L 1973, c 211, §5(a); am L 1977, c 173, §1]