Wouldn't it be great if marriages were like leases?

[Crazy Dave]

I think it would be great especially for 1st time marriages. After two or four years you have the option to renew for another two to ten years or just walk away and whoever breaks up the marriage during the contract pays the majority of the divorce penalty.

Of course things would have to be done if there are kids and community property issues that may arise during the contract but I'm sure it would be about the same as a regular divorce.

[hobbit709]

1. Or as someone once said.

"If divorces cost $10 and marriage licenses cost $1000."

[old mark]

2. They call that "Hookers"....nt

[Crazy Dave]

3. As Charlie Sheen once said...

"I don't pay them (hookers) for sex, I pay them to leave"

[old mark]

5. Now THAT sounds like my first wife!!!!...nt

[MorningGlow]

4. Celtic tradition--a year and a day

In the Celtic tradition, marriages were considered in a "trial period" for a year and a day. On that first anniversary, the husband and wife assessed their union. If they wanted to stay together, fine. If they wanted to divorce, that was fine too. They parted with no hard feelings and each took back with them what they brought to the marriage. (I assume they fairly divvied up anything that they obtained during the marriage.) As it was a matriarchal society, any children went back with the mother to her tribe.

I think it was a pretty neat system.

[Crazy Dave]

8. Very interesting and thanks for the info

I had no idea it was ever traditional anywhere or ever before.

Maybe in a past life I had two or three marriages ;-)

[PassingFair]

6. This is totally nonsensical.

Live together, but don't get married. OR
Get married, then get divorced. OR
Get married, but don't get divorced.


Personally, I see no reason for marriage
if I'm not going to have kids.

I lived with my husband until we decided
that we got along well enough to survive
the long haul.

Two kids, married 21 years.

[Crazy Dave]

9. Sometimes for legal purposes

Which is one reason why I'm such a strong supporter of gay rights to marriage. With things like medical emergencies or end of life decisions a girlfriend or boyfriend may not be allowed to enter or be in the emergency room or make end of life or life support decisions on behalf their loved one where a spouse legally can make those decisions or it would be left to family members to decide and push you aside to have their will be done.

There are many more issues like that which are protected with a marriage contract.

[PassingFair]

10. Then why the question about a "lease"?

Get married or not.
Divorce or not.

I didn't get married until I was 29,
when I split with boyfriends, they took
their stuff, and I took mine.

When children enter the picture, someone's
career is going to take a back seat, and
it's usually the woman's, so some legal
protection is in order.(Joint ownership, etc.)

I am also a strong proponent for same-sex
marriage.

[BarenakedLady]

7. Yes.

I may, however, be biased.