Average Cost of Divorce of a Covenant Marriage

A covenant marriage is an alternative to an ordinary marriage that makes marriage more of a commitment than it sometimes is treated as these days. The troubling trend toward married couples getting divorces for any number of reasons without spending time trying to work out differences lead to the idea of a covenant marriage. There are some reasons that merit divorce but a covenant marriage that makes it harder for a person to change their mind after they pledge forever.

What Is A Covenant Marriage?

A covenant marriage is one wherein both parties agree to different criteria for divorce than those with ordinary marriages have. Couples in covenant marriages agree to seek out marital counseling if any problems arise in their relationship. Also, divorce is only possible in a covenant marriage in certain circumstances. If these circumstances are not met then there are no grounds for divorce.

Declarations Both Parties Entering Into A Covenant Marriage Make

There are certain declarations that people entering into a covenant marriage must make. Following are these declarations. They add into the cost of a divorce of a covenant marriage.

Both agree to live as husband and wife forever.
Both have put sufficient thought into the decision to marry and have shared everything that might affect the other person's decision to enter into the union.
They have entered into premarital counseling.
If they run into problems in the marriage then they must enter into marital counseling and do everything possible to save the marriage.

The Cost Of Divorce

The cost of divorce in a covenant marriage is more than monetary. Divorce is only permitted when certain criteria are met. This allows for the dissolution of marriages but makes it much more difficult than in an ordinary marriage. The following criteria are the true cost of divorce of a covenant marriage.

Adultery
Felony commission and sentencing to imprisonment
Abandonment by the other spouse for a period of at least one year
Abuse of a physical or sexual nature of the spouse or children
Spouses living separately for at least two years
Habitual intemperance such as substance abuse or cruel treatment

Contact An Attorney

Covenant marriages were created to make marriage last. The price you must pay for divorce is to prove that you did all you could to save a marriage or conditions were so bad that you have no choice but to divorce. To understand your options and to prove your grounds for divorce contact an attorney. If the marriage absolutely must end then an attorney will help you to make sure that you have grounds to do so.

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