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Contractual Aspects of Marriage and Divorce Business Law Ch 12 Slide 2 Premarital Relationships and the Law Marriage Legal union of a man and a woman Slide 3 Age and Premarital Relationships No law specifies a minimum age for dating Nearly all states have laws setting minimum age for marriage with or without parental consent Minimum age without parental consent is 18 No law restricts the choice of marital partners except for Close relatives may not marry Slide 4 Age and Premarital Relationships Parents that tell their minor child not to date or not to see a specific person, they can enforce that order only with the reasonable force that they may use If that fails, the parents may have their child labeled as incorrigible (not manageable, out of control) Parent uses excessive force may result in child abuse charges Slide 5 Premarital Pregnancy and Child Birth If pregnancy results and the male responsible is identified, he will be required to pay his share of the females medical bills and to contribute to the childs support until the child reaches adulthood even if the father is a minor Slide 6 Cohabitation Man and women live together outside of marriage Considered illegal until the late 1970s Slide 7 Marital Contract If one party in a heterosexual relationship proposes marriage and the other accepts, a binding contract results If both mutually agree to end their engagement, the contract is annulled (law considers their agreement void and never to have existed) Slide 8 Breach-of-Promise Lawsuit If only one party wants out of the contract and refuses to perform, a breach-of-promise suit may be brought by the other party Some states allow such suit only where the women is pregnant and her ex-fiance is the father Many states have banned such suits altogether Slide 9 Breach-of-Promise Lawsuit If a third party interferes with the engagement, a few states allow damage suits against the intruders. Cannot be brought against parents If a ring is given in expectation of marriage, the courts generally order it to be returned. Slide 10 Legalizing the Marital Contract State Statutory Requirements Must apply for and pay a fee for a marriage license Most states allow minors as young as 16 to marry with parental consent Some states require a blood test to show that the applicants are free from various communicable diseases Slide 11 Legalizing the Marital Contract State Statutory Requirements Once licenses has been issued any authorized religious or civil official can perform ceremony Court clerks, Mayors, Judges, Rabbis, Ministers, Priests, and even Ship Captains Slide 12 Legalizing the Marital Contract Common-Law Marriages Single man and Single woman live together, share common property, and held themselves out as husband and wife over a prolonged period of time (10 year) Slide 13 Legalizing the Marital Contract Civil Unions Offers many of the rights, duties, and benefits as marriage to those who elect to form it. Known as same-sex marriage First legalized in 2000 by Vermont Federal government of the US has chosen not to recognize Civil Union Slide 14 Marital Rights and Duties Marital Consortium The law recognizes purpose for marriage is to procreate, raising children, and filling sexual, economic and companionship needs and these duties are mutual of the husband and wife If either spouse suffers an injury that prevents fulfillment of there marital duties, the other can sue the party who caused the harm for damages for loss of consortium Slide 15 Marital Rights and Duties Marital Consortium The most important duty of both spouses is to provide for the support, nurture, welfare, and education of their children. Slide 16 Marital Rights and Duties Parenthood Rights and Duties Parents are obligated by state law to support their children until they reach adulthood. Exception to this is Emancipated Financial support of the children is a joint obligation Adoption Parents have the same rights and duties Slide 17 Marital Rights and Duties Property Rights and Duties Some times a spouse brings property into marriage that they want to keep They dont want their spouse to have claim over it Prenuptial Agreement Before we marry, agree to keep your personal property coming in Agree on a settlement if you divorce Slide 18 Nullifying the Marriage Contract Ways to end a Marriage Death of Spouse Annulment Divorce Variety of Illegalities Slide 19 Nullifying the Marriage Contract Annulment Legal procedure for declaring that a voidable marriage is null and void Voidable Marriage Results from a problem that existed from the beginning of the supposed union Examples Refusal to having children or fraudulent grounds for the marriage contract Slide 20 Nullifying the Marriage Contract Fraudulent Grounds Spouse lying to the other Wealth Condition of pregnancy Freedom from disease Willingness to have a child Past marriage Age Slide 21 Nullifying the Marriage Contract Void Marriage Creates no rights or duties for either party and is considered invalid from the beginning Declaration of Nullity Not an annulment Must be sought from an appropriate court to confirm that status Such marriage occurs whenever laws are violated by the matrimonial union Slide 22 Nullifying the Marriage Contract Declaration of Nullity Examples If one partner is already married when the second marriage occurs (Bigamist) oIs a crime Stem from an incestuous relationship oMarriage between close relatives Mental Incompetence Slide 23 Terminating the Marriage Contract Divorce or Dissolution Court actions that end the marriage and divides the property and remaining responsibilities between the parties No-Fault Divorce Requesting spouse does not have a list a grievence No-Fault Marriage Dissolution Granted after testimony that there is no chance of repairing the marriage relationship (Irreconcilable Differences) Slide 24 Terminating the Marriage Contract Divorce Procedure Separation Spouse maintain separate living quarters, but their marital rights and obligations remain intact To alter those rights, must negotiate a legal separation agreement Must contain: oChild Custody oChild Support oAlimony oProperty Division Slide 25 Terminating the Marriage Contract Divorce Procedure Counseling Attend marriage counseling Resolution of Issues Division of Property Property brought into a marriage by a spouse will remain with that spouse Remaining property is equally divided between spouses Slide 26 Terminating the Marriage Contract Divorce Procedure Resolution of Issues Child Custody The welfare of the child is the most important consideration in determining who will have custody oParent wishes oChilds wishes oChilds relationships oChild adjustments oPhysical and mental health of all persons concerned Joint Custody responsibility is shared Slide 27 Terminating the Marriage Contract Divorce Procedure Resolution of Issues Child Support Money payments by a parent to provide a dependent child with economic maintenance oHelp pay for the needs and wants of the child Alimony Support paid by the wage earner of the family to the other spouse Set by the court