MARRIAGE - Requirements of Getting Married

Q. Legally, what is marriage?

A. Most states define marriage as a civil contract between a man and woman to become husband and wife. The moment a man and woman marry, their relationship acquires a legal status. Married

couples have financial and personal duties during marriage and after separation or divorce. State laws determine the extent of these duties. As the United States Supreme Court said about

marriage in 1888: "The relation once formed, the law steps in and holds the parties to various obligations and liabilities."

Of course, marriage is a private bond between two people, but it is also an important social institution.

Today, society also recognizes marriage as:

• a way to express commitment, strengthen intimate bonds, and provide mutual emotional support;

• a (comparatively) stable structure within which to raise children;

• a financial partnership in which spouses may choose from a variety of roles. Both spouses may work to support the family, the husband may support the wife, or the wife may support

the husband.

As our society becomes more complex, there is no longer a short answer to the question "What is marriage?" Definitions and opinions of the proper functions of marriage continue to

change. The women's rights movement and gay rights movement have changed some people's ideas of marriage and created new forms of relationships, including:

Α - domestic partnerships ≅ and Α civil unions ≅ for same-sex couples. Marriage will remain, but it will also continue to evolve.

http://www.americanbar.org/aba.html

The Basic Rights of Grandparents:

There are two basic rights with respect to grandparents and their grandchild(ren), custody and visitation. Custody would be the legal rights and obligations consistent with that of the taking on the full-time parenting and rearing of the child(ren). This decision requires a major commitment on behalf of the grandparents and, if the parents are not willing to voluntarily surrender custody, the blessing of the court.
Visitation would be where the court sets a specific schedule of time that grandchild(ren) are to spend with their grandparents. Again, the actual applicable laws vary from state to state, so it is very important to understand exactly which of these laws do and do not apply to your own particular situation. It is wise to seek the advice of a lawyer, or, perhaps more cost effectively, conduct a little independent legal research.
While it is a fact that the rights of parents are guaranteed under the Constitution, this does not mean parents are completely free to do as they please with respect to the rearing of their child(ren). A state can, as "parens patrie", step in and make decisions with regards to parental control of the child(ren) in cases where there is found to be "reasonable relation to any end within the competency of the state." Quite simply put, if the court feels there is enough evidence to substantiate the fact that the parents are not acting in the best interests of the child(ren), then the court will step in and act accordingly.

http://www.divorcesource.com/…/grandparent-s-basic-rights-w…

8 Reasons Why You Should Get A Prenuptial Agreement 1- 4

A prenuptial agreement is an agreement between two people that deals with the financial consequences of their marriage ending.
All marrying couples have a “prenuptial agreement” – it is known as “divorce law.” However, a lot of people are unhappy with the way divorce law works, and prefer to take control of their lives, rather than leave it in the hands of the government. In these cases, it makes a lot of sense to get a customized prenup.

Getting a prenuptial agreement is particularly important in these 8 cases:
1. You are much wealthier than your partner. A prenuptial agreement can ensure that your partner is marrying you for who you are, and not for your money.
2. You earn much more than your partner. A prenuptial agreement can be used in many states to limit the amount of alimony that is payable.
3. You are remarrying. When you remarry, your legal and financial concerns are often very different than in your first marriage. You may have children from a previous marriage, support obligations, and own a home or other significant assets. A prenuptial agreement can ensure that when you pass away, your assets are distributed according to your wishes, and that neither your first family, nor your new family are cut off.
4. Your partner has a high debt load. If you are marrying someone with a significant debt load, and don’t want to be responsible for these debts if your marriage ends, then a prenuptial agreement can help ensure that this does not happen.
http://www.prenuptialagreements.org/why-get-prenup/