What is a covenant marriage?
The state legislature has created a type of marriage in Arizona called a covenant marriage. It does not replace the kind of marriage already available. Instead, it offers an additional option for couples who wish to marry. The covenant marriage differs both in the steps necessary to get married and the reasons why a legal separation or divorce may be granted by the court. A covenant marriage is a special marital relationship which is only created when the spouses meet strict statutory requirements to create a covenant marriage prior to or after their marriage. The existence of a covenant marriage limits the court’s authority to grant a divorce in only certain limited situations, such as when a spouse has committed adultery, when a spouse has been abandoned by the other spouse, or when a spouse has been physically abusive or has a substance abuse problem. To enter into a covenant marriage, the couple must first participate in premarital counseling from a member of the clergy or a marria
