What is a Covenant Marriage and How Does it Affect Divorce?
A covenant marriage is a marriage in which the parties agree, prior to marriage, that the marriage is for life, by making a written statement to this effect. Pre-marriage counseling is required for a covenant marriage, including information on the effect of covenant marriage and receipt of a brochure from the Arizona Supreme Court. An affidavit must be filed with the marriage license that the parties have received pre-marriage counseling, along with the signed statement of the parties to the marriage declaring the marriage to be a covenant marriage. A regular marriage can be converted into a covenant marriage by filing a declaration and a copy of their marriage certificate. A covenant marriage requires grounds to be met before the dissolution of the marriage (or legal separation) may be granted. The grounds include: adultery; commission of a felony with a sentence of imprisonment or death; abandonment for at least one year with a refusal to return; physical or sexual abuse of the spous
