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Simple English definitions for legal terms
covenant marriage
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A quick definition of covenant marriage:
A covenant marriage is when two people get married and promise to stay together for the rest of their lives. They can only get a divorce in certain situations, like if one person cheats or hurts the other person. Before they get married, they have to talk to someone who can help them understand what marriage is like. If they want to get a divorce, they have to talk to someone who can help them try to fix their problems first. Only three states in the United States allow covenant marriages: Arizona, Arkansas, and Louisiana. People usually choose covenant marriages because of their religion.
A more thorough explanation:
A covenant marriage is a special type of marriage where the couple agrees to stay together for their entire lives, except in certain situations. These situations include:
- One spouse cheats on the other
- One spouse physically or sexually abuses the other or a child
- One spouse commits a serious crime
- One spouse uses illegal drugs
- Both spouses live apart for one or two years
Before getting married, the couple must go through counseling to prepare them for the commitment they are making. If they ever consider getting a divorce, they must also go through counseling to try to work out their problems before ending the marriage.
Covenant marriages are only recognized in three states: Arizona, Arkansas, and Louisiana. They are often chosen by couples for religious reasons.
For example, if a couple in a covenant marriage has been living apart for two years, they may be able to get a divorce. However, if one spouse cheated on the other, they would not be able to get a divorce unless they went through counseling first.