A. A proceeding for dissolution of marriage, an annulment of a marriage, or a legal separation shall be titled "In re the Marriage of _______ and ______".
B. The initial pleading in all proceedings under this title shall be denominated a petition. The person filing the petition shall be called the petitioner. A responsive pleading shall be denominated a response. The person filing the responsive pleading shall be called the respondent. Other pleadings shall be denominated as provided in the Rules of Civil Procedure, except as otherwise provided in this section.
C. The petition must be verified as true, by the affidavit of the petitioner.
D. A summons may issue thereon, and shall be served, or publication made, as in other civil cases.
E. Wherever it occurs in this title or in any other title of the Oklahoma Statutes or in any forms or court documents prepared pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Statutes, the term “divorce” shall mean and be deemed to refer to a “dissolution of marriage” unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires.
R.L. 1910, § 4964. Amended by Laws 1973, c. 262, § 6, operative July 1, 1973. Renumbered from § 1273 of Title 12 by Laws 1989, c. 333, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1989. Amended by Laws 2002, c. 400, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2002; Laws 2003, c. 302, § 1, emerg. eff. May 28, 2003.