“Covenant Marriage” Bill Headed to Senate

Legislation creating a new type of marriage license that has been successful in reducing divorce in other states was approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives today.

House Bill 1026, by state Rep. John Wright, would allow Oklahoma couples to voluntarily choose to enter into a “covenant marriage,” which legally requires a greater level of commitment and preparation than traditional marriage licenses.

“A covenant marriage encourages couples to treat marriage with the deliberate seriousness it deserves,” said Wright, R-Broken Arrow.

“Divorce has significant consequences for both society at large and state government, so anything that would reduce that epidemic is wise public policy.”

Under the bill, couples voluntarily entering into a covenant marriage would be required to receive premarital counseling at least 15 days before applying for a marriage license. The counseling would include a discussion of the seriousness of covenant marriage, communication of the fact that a covenant marriage is a commitment for life, a discussion of the obligation to seek marital counseling in times of marital difficulties, and a discussion of the exclusive grounds for legally terminating a covenant marriage by divorce.

Under the bill, causes for divorce would be limited to adultery, physical abuse, abandonment, fraud in entering the marriage, or if the couple has been separated for 18 months without successful reconciliation.

Other states – including Louisiana, Arkansas and Arizona – have enacted similar “covenant marriage” laws.

In 2004, research conducted by Jill A. Deines, Laura A. Sanchez (both of Bowling Green State University), Steven L. Nock (University of Virginia), and James D. Wright (Central Florida University) found that Louisiana’s covenant marriage law had a positive impact.

The research found the divorce rate among couples with a covenant marriage license was just 40 percent the rate experience by other couples with traditional marriage license.

“The early results in other states have been very encouraging,” Wright said. “By making the marriage process more deliberate, we may be able to help young couples avoid rash decisions that create emotional turmoil down the road.”

He also noted the state could potentially save millions if Oklahoma’s divorce rate were to decline.

In 2008, a report by the Institute for American Values, Georgia Family Council, Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, and Families Northwest found that divorce and births to single parents creates a cost of more than $400 million for Oklahoma taxpayers through increased welfare payments and lost revenue.

House Bill 1026 passed the House on a bipartisan 87-9 vote today. It now proceeds to the state Senate.