| Marriage
Marriage is a contract. For
instance, John and Mary promise to fulfill the duties of a
married couple as imposed by law. These include support, inheritance,
and consortium. Consortium is the legal right of one spouse
to the company and affection of the other.
John and Mary marry after fulfilling the state's requirements
(including age and mental competence), obtaining a license,
passing blood tests, and having a ceremony with witnesses.
Their marriage is a "special" contract because John
and Mary cannot dissolve (end) it. Only a court can.
Prenuptial agreement
Also called premarital or antenuptial
agreement: A contract that two people may write and agree
upon. It details their rights and duties, especially with
respect to property and debts. The goal of a prenuptial agreement
is to minimize future disputes in case of divorce or when
one spouse dies.
Living together
From a general legal standpoint,
this arrangement is not a marriage. John and Mary live together.
Period. Recently, however, some states have held that express
or implied agreements between John and Mary during their life
together are enforceable after they break up.
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| | | Parenting/Child
Custody
Marriage
Splitting
Up
Divorce,
Dissolusion and Annulment
Issues
in Divorce / Dissolusion Action
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