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Divorce and Remarriage

Contested Divorce

If an agreement cannot be reached on
every issue,then the divorce is referred to as a
contested divorce,and the couple has to take
its issues before a judge.Contested divorces
increase the costs involved and generally
create more turmoil for the family.

Simplified Divorce

Available in some states, asimplified
divorcespeeds up the divorce process and
usually keeps it out of the court.
Simplified divorces are uncontested, no-
fault divorces with no disagreements on
the settlement. State laws differ on
simplified divorce. Some states require the
couple to fill out forms and have a judge
approve the settlement agreement. In
other states, couples can seek a simplified
divorce if no financial debts and no
dependent children (under the age of 18)
are involved. Simplified divorces generally
are granted very quickly and are usually
less expensive and less stressful for the
parties involved.

The Covenant Marriage Option

While no-fault divorce and simplified
divorce have made the process of divorce
easier, is easier always better?
Georgia State Representative Brian Joyce,
while introducing a bill to end no-fault

divorce, made this observation:“All around

us, every day, we see the bitter fruit of the

breakdown of the family... I believe the

breakdown of the family is a direct result of

our‘no-fault’laws.. .Why should a couple

invest in a marriage when it can be dissolved

for no reason at all?”(Joyce, 2001).

In response to the rising divorce rate and

the ease with which marriages are ended, a

few states have added covenant marriage as

a response to no-fault divorce. In acovenant

marriage, couples agree to counseling

before marriage and to accept more limited

grounds for divorce. These grounds

typically are limited to abuse, a felony with

jail time, or adultery. By making it more

difficult to divorce, covenant marriage

provides both spouses the security and

motivation to work on their marriage,

knowing the partners share an equal

commitment to the covenant.

Three states have currently passed

covenant marriage laws: Louisiana enacted

In response to the rising divorce rate and the ease with which

marriages are ended, a few states have added the option of

covenant marriage which makes divorce more difficult.

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