Covenant marriage is a more binding alternative to traditional marriage that requires counseling before the ceremony. It can only be dissolved under specific circumstances, and some states in the US have laws permitting it.
A covenant marriage is a marriage that can only be dissolved under some very specific circumstances. Such weddings are offered as an alternative to traditional marriage for people who wish to enter into a more binding covenant with their partner. Although many people associate covenant marriage with religious beliefs, especially conservative Christianity, a couple need not be religious to enter into such an agreement.
The concept of covenant marriage first began to be discussed around the mid-20th century. Some people felt that many societies were moving towards a freer attitude towards marriage, allowing people to marry and divorce easily. This was believed to undermine the institution of marriage and weaken family and social ties. Proponents of covenant marriage have argued that marriage is much more than a contract and that people who desire it should be given the option of having a covenant marriage to indicate the depth of their commitment to each other.
Before a couple can receive a covenant marriage, they must have counseling, which must be documented in an affidavit. Counseling may be provided by a religious officiant or a secular counselor. The counselor talks with the couple about marriage, helps them explore whether or not they are right for each other, and asks the couple to think honestly about whether or not they are willing to commit to each other for life. After counseling, the couple signs an oath indicating that they are entering into a marriage covenant after much thought, a marriage license is granted, and the marriage ceremony can be performed.
People in a covenant marriage are expected to pursue every means possible to make the marriage work before filing for divorce. This may include counseling, temporary separations and other measures. The court cannot grant a no-fault divorce to people in a covenant marriage. If there is abandonment, the couple has been living separately for more than two years, one partner is abusive, one partner is using drugs, or one partner is convicted of a felony, the court may grant a divorce. Likewise, if both partners indicate that they want the marriage to end, the court may grant dissolution.
In the United States, several states have books laws that permit covenant marriages. This type of marriage should not be taken lightly, as it is difficult to dissolve. Counseling provides opportunities for both partners to understand the nature of the commitment and to decline if they feel it is not right for them. However, some critics of covenant marriage believe that an element of coercion may be involved in some cases, and that partners may feel forced into such a marriage in some situations.
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