What Are Secret Marriages?

As you may know, I’ve been working on a series covering marriage laws throughout the 50 United States. Interestingly enough, as I was looking up laws in Michigan, I found out they have had a law on the books since 1897 governing secret marriages. So what is a secret marriage? So glad you asked, because I was curious and went to do some digging. Secret Marriages Secret marriages are just that – a marriage that occurs in secret. They are civil ceremonies that allow a couple to get married without there being an open record of the marriage. Prince Albert … Continue reading

Ask a Marriage Blogger: Isn’t Advocating for Gay Marriage Out of Line?

Your recent blog regarding gay marriage made it very clear that you advocate for gay marriage and that anyone who disagrees with that is prejudiced or a bigot. You write about how to take care and protect and strengthen your marriage and then you endorse a lifestyle that attacks marriage and wants to destroy it. Why? Isn’t this a site that promotes traditional family values? How is gay marriage promoting traditional values? Should you be ashamed of giving so much coverage to this issue? These are just two of the notes that I have received in the last week since … Continue reading

Marriage in the News: The Good & The Bad

When it comes down to news articles about marriage of late, you can hardly scan a new search without seeing dozens of articles focusing on the issue of gay marriage and the legal battles that continue to draw their lines in the sand from coast to coast, including the current challenges to the law in the only state that recognizes gay marriage. While this issue continues to vex and frustrate supporters on both sides of the issue. It doesn’t help the cause when gay couples, which have apparently fought long and hard for the right to be recognized as married, … Continue reading

Marriage Debates: Here We Go Again

As many of you may be aware, we’ve been following the marriage debate that has been hotly contested throughout the country as same-sex couples and more have sought recognition for their rights to be married. A majority of states have incorporated bans for gay marriage or a definition of marriage being between a man and a woman . California In California the newly elected state Legislature is reintroducing legislation that would allow gay couples to be married in the state of California alongside another piece of legislation that would allow unmarried, heterosexual couples to be registered as domestic partners. It … Continue reading

Marriage Debates: Today is Election Day

Today is one of those days that will go down in the history books. Forget about the candidates who are running for office. Forget about the fact that there is a great deal riding on whether the House and the Senate will be controlled by the Democrats or the Republicans. But this mid-term election is about more than Governor, Senate and House races, but about the multitude of hot-button topics and measures that will be voted on from illegal immigration to affirmative action to abortion to gay marriage. There are a total of 205 measures being voted on 37 different … Continue reading

Marriage In The News – Ripple Effect

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruling is already seeing a ripple effect across the country whether it’s mobilizing legislative efforts, political efforts or just the common man as message boards lit up with debates and discussion. One message board I visited yesterday saw 40 responses to a post about the ruling in fewer than 5 minutes. Whether you view marriage as a holy pact between a man and a woman, a religious arrangement or a nuisance that you’d just rather not have to discuss – the country is being galvanized from all quarters. The Ripple Effect In Virginia, backers of … Continue reading

Marriage in the News: New Jersey Supreme Court Recognizes Same-Sex Unions

Sherry dropped me a note this morning and wanted to know if this slipped past my radar – and it almost did. I hadn’t gone through my news clips to read the decision reached by the New Jersey Supreme Court. As many who read my blogs may know, I fully support the right of every individual to make a marriage whether they are same-sex or not. This is an issue that’s been of ripe debate throughout the country and everyone has an opinion. Well today, so does the New Jersey Supreme Court. “Although we cannot find that a fundamental right … Continue reading

Marriage in the News: Virginia Voting

I used to live in Leesburg, Virginia so when the news bite from the Leesburg 2day online paper appeared in my email, I found myself studying it. You see, like many other states of late, there is an upcoming vote in Virginia with regard to gay marriage. It’s important to note that the there is already a law in Virginia banning marriage to same-sex couples. So what is the upcoming vote in regard to? This time it’s not just a state law they are voting on, but an amendment to the state constitution altering the Bill of Rights in order … Continue reading

Legality & Marriage: Post-Nuptial Agreements

Okay, this is a new one – you’ve likely heard of a pre-nuptial agreement, but have you ever heard of a post-nuptial one? As I have discussed here previously, marriage is a legal, religious and emotional contract. If you don’t sign a pre-nuptial agreement prior to entering into a recognized civil and legal union – the marriage laws of the state you live in govern your marriage contract (in the legal sense). These laws govern the distribution of property and responsibility with regard to divorce or death. A post-nuptial agreement is a legal contract that a married couple enters into … Continue reading

Religious Marriage versus Civil Marriage

Good afternoon, I’m switching gears again here late in the day as I begin to wax philosophic on several key points related to the marriage debate that has been clawing up the headlines the last couple of months. I have to say, if the politics of the situation were distract people from the troubling issues of today – this has been a successful campaign. However, that being said, I like to throw in my two cents. In all likelihood, Sherry may respond to this blog and I’ll look forward to her thoughts on the matter. What I want to discuss … Continue reading