In the late 1990’s people were becoming concerned about the
soaring divorce rate in the U.S. One of
the proposed solutions was the concept of covenant marriage. Covenant marriage is a voluntarily
alternative to normal state marriage and divorce laws. As a sign of commitment to long-term marriage
the spouses agree to counseling and stringent requirements for divorce. Three states offer covenant marriages-
Louisiana, Arkansas, and Arizona. The Louisiana
law requires obtaining pre-marital counseling, a statement of intent, and an
acknowledgement that the parties fully understand the extended requirements if a
divorce is sought. Divorce, except for
emergency situations like abuse, requires attending counseling and a long
waiting period.
Only a
small percentage of couples choose a covenant marriage. No other states have passed covenant marriage
legislation, despite many attempts.
Controversies have emerged from a variety of sources. However, the concept of counseling both for
premarital and pre-divorce couples is popular.
Since the
Clinton administration relationship literacy education has been offered under a
variety of programs. Many education programs
are paid for with funds from TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) and
benefit those populations where marriage is most at risk. There are relationship classes for every
stage of marriage from teens just beginning to date to couples looking to maintain
their marriages long-term. The results
from many relationship literacy education programs are promising. One thing that can be done to improve these
programs is to encourage more local control and innovation. Expanding these programs to more audiences
could help create a culture of strong marriages for everyone.
Your state
probably does not offer a covenant marriage, but you can still make your
marriage a covenant marriage. You can
choose to be committed to staying married.
You can choose to educate yourself about strengthening
relationships. You can choose persevere
together though difficulties.
Written by Beckie
Useful Websites
References
Hawkins, A. & VanDenBerghe, B. (2014). Facilitating
forever: A feasible public policy
agenda to help couples form
and sustain healthy relationships and enduring marriages. Retrieved from http://nationalmarriageproject.org/wp- content/uploads/2014/03/FacilitatingForeverFINAL_Web031114.pdf
Hawkins, A., Nock, S., Wilson, J., Sanchez, L., &
Wright, J. (n.d.). Attitudes about covenant marriage
and divorce: Policy implications from a three-state comparison*. Family Relations, 166-175. Retrieved
March 28, 2015, from http://www.jstor.org.byui.idm.oclc.org/stable/3700202
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