A covenant marriage is a modern concept of marriage considered to be a cultural and political response to no-fault divorce. Couples in a covenant marriage agree to obtain pre-marital counseling before marrying, and accept more limited grounds for divorce. For the record label, see Marriage Records. ... No-fault divorce is the dissolution of a marriage, upon petition to the court by either party, without the requirement that the petitioner show fault on the part of the other party. ...

Legal covenant marriages are currently available as an option in Arkansas, Arizona, and Louisiana, which became the first state to approve them in 1997. People who are already married in these states may change (or "convert") their marriage to a covenant marriage. Legislation was introduced but not passed in California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. It is more difficult for couples who have a legal covenant marriage to obtain a divorce; cause for divorce is typically limited to abuse, a felony with jail time, or adultery. To date, the number of couples choosing covenant marriage in the states that have adopted it have ranged between 1 and 3 percent of all marriages. Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,002 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... Official language(s) de jure: none de facto: English & French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans [1] Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq mi (134,382 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 16  - Latitude 29°N to 33°N  - Longitude 89°W... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... Abuser redirects here. ... For the record label, see Felony Records The term felony is a term used in common law systems for very serious crimes, whereas misdemeanors are considered to be less serious offenses. ... Adultery is voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a partner other than the lawful spouse. ...

Opponents of covenant marriages argue that they are too religious in nature, effectively legalizing a religious view of marriage. Some worry that women can become trapped in unhealthy marriages - even in cases of abuse, it can be difficult to prove allegations sufficiently for a judge to grant a divorce. However, it is currently still possible to file for divorce in a state that does not recognize covenant marriages.

External links

• Americans for Divorce Reform
• Covenantmarriage.com

References

Gary D. Chapman, Covenant Marriage: Building Communication & Intimacy, Broadman & Holman Publishers (September, 2003), ISBN 0-8054-2576-4.

Samuel Pyeatt Menefee, "The Sealed Knot: A Preliminary Bibliography of Covenant Marriage," Regent University Law Review, vol. 12, no. 1 (1999): pp. 145-282.