A Marriage Proposal

[The_Q]

Marriage has become "corrupt." Many people enter into holy sacrimony wanting only money from the divorce. This is wrong in many people's eyes and a very annoying risk for men to take when they go into marriage (it is more often the lower income person who files divorce which is commonly the woman. When it isn't, a pre-nup is often signed. Example: Theresa Heinz-Kerry).

Here's my proposal, which is rather modest. Our current marriage contract expires at death or divorce. I say we get rid of this and have the system be temporary. The marriage contract goes into effect when signed and after the first year of marriage, the couple must renew the contract. After the first renewal, renewals occur after every 5 years (5 years is the default. If someone wishes a shorter contract they can both agree and write it in. No longer contracts are permitted). When the contract expires the benefits married couples gain are nulled. Divorce cannot be filed and the expiration of the contract will be the only termination unless one of the spouses dies. When one spouse leaves another, no property changes hands unless it is willingly given as a gift or in a trade. Spouses don't benefit from another's death unless the deceased spouses gives the living their property in their Last Will and Testament.

This plan should significantly decrease the incentive for leaving a spouse for money reasons if not eliminate it completely.

Ok, boys, have at it!

Q