(1) Where any party to a marriage desires to present a petition for divorce within three years of such marriage, he or she shall obtain leave of the Court under Section 14 of the Act on ex parte application made to the Court in which the petition for divorce is intended to be filed.
(2) The application shall be accompanied by the petition intended to be filed bearing the proper Court fee under the law and in accordance with the rules. The application shall be supported by an affidavit made by the petitioner setting out the particulars of exceptional hardships to the petitioner or exceptional depravity on the part of the respondent on which leave is sought.
(3) The evidence in such application may, unless the Court otherwise directs, be given by affidavit.
(4) When the Court grants leave, the petition shall be deemed to have been duly filed on the date of the said order. Within a week of the date of the said order or, within such further time as may be fixed by the Court, the petitioner shall file sufficient number of copies of application for leave and order of the Court thereon and of the petition for divorce for service upon the respondent in the petition.