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and wife in the presence of a person authorized by state law to solemnizemarriages, no particular form must be followed. Some courts haveheld that a marriage that is properly solemnized is valid even when amarriage license was not obtained before the ceremony.Covenant MarriageThe covenant marriage, adopted in Arkansas, Arizona, and Louisiana,is an attempt to reduce divorce and protect children. The parties to acovenant marriage must undergo counseling before the wedding andduring the marriage to solve conflicts. In most cases, the couple candivorce only after a specified period of separation, or if one spouse isguilty of adultery, spousal or child abuse, abandonment, or a felony.Marriage LicenseIt is generally necessary to get a license to be joined in a ceremonialmarriage. A marriage license is a certificate issued by a governmentoffice that gives permission to two people to marry. Once issued,the license becomes effective after any waiting period required by statelaw. The license will expire if the couple doesn’t marry during theprescribed time period.Waiting PeriodUnder common law, notice of a forthcoming marriage had to bepublished and posted to give people who might oppose the marriage theLove orLegal Status?During March 2001,marriages in New YorkCity were up 125 percentover the previousyear. Under a new lawcalled the Legal Immigrationand FamilyEquity Act (LIFE Act),certain immigrants haduntil April 30 to legalizetheir status as Americancitizens. Marriage to aU.S. citizen was oftenseen as the best andsimplest route to gaincitizenship. Althoughthe penalty for a fraudulentmarriage is up tofive years in prison or afine of up to $250,000,or both, a fraudulentmarriage is difficult toprove. Do you think itis ethical to marry togain citizenship? Whyor why not?PLANNING A MARRIAGETo get married, a couple willhave to follow certain steps.What steps are usuallyincluded in this process?Chapter 31: Marriage 685