Impact of the Covenant Marriage Law on Families

这是路易斯安那州新的“契约婚姻”法影响的多波调查研究的第一波。 1997年8月15日，路易斯安那州对国内关系法进行了历史性的修改。 希望结婚的夫妇现在必须在两种制度之间做出选择：传统的婚姻形式，不受限制地获得无过错离婚，以及契约婚姻。契约婚姻要求一对夫妇首先接受婚前咨询，了解终身承诺的严重性，出现问题时寻求婚姻咨询的法律的义务，以及离婚或法律的分居的限制性理由。从契约婚姻离婚需要接受婚姻咨询的证明。解除契约婚姻的理由是传统的过错理由：通奸，对另一方配偶或一方或双方的孩子的身体或性虐待，以及因重罪而被判苦役监禁，加上长期分居。对于不太严重的问题，可以永久隔离。 这项法律的目的是通过要求婚前和婚姻咨询以及使离婚更加困难，使婚姻成为一种更持久的承诺。该法还旨在通过关注婚姻的严肃性和持久性，促进公众对婚姻制度的讨论，最终，这种公众对话有望促进对婚姻中的承诺和义务的更清醒和更深思熟虑的理解。本研究将通过对路易斯安那州居民的横断面调查来评估这两个目标。通过这样做，它将回答离婚社会学理论中的核心问题。

This is the first wave of a multi-wave survey study of the impact of the new "covenant marriage" law in Louisiana. On August 15, 1997, Louisiana made an historical change in its domestic relations laws. Couples wishing to marry must now choose between two systems; the traditional form of marriage governed by unrestricted access to no-fault divorce, and covenant marriage. A covenant marriage requires that a couple first receive premarital counseling about the seriousness of the lifetime commitment, the legal obligation to seek marital counseling if problems arise, and the restrictive grounds for divorce or legal separation. Divorce from a covenant marriage requires proof of receiving marital counseling. The grounds for dissolving the covenant marriage are the traditional fault grounds: adultery, physical or sexual cruelty to the other spouse or the child of either or both, and imprisonment at hard labor for a felony, plus separation for a lengthy period. For less serious problems, permanent separation is available. The intent of this law is to make marriage a more enduring commitment by requiring premarital and marital counseling and by making divorce more difficult. The law is also intended to foster public discourse about the institution of marriage by focusing attention on the seriousness and enduring nature of it. In time, such public dialogue is expected to promote a more sober and considered understanding of the commitments and obligations in marriage. This research will evaluate both goals through a cross-section survey of Louisiana residents. In so doing, it will answer central questions in sociological theories of divorce.