Legal Definitions - covenant marriage

A covenant marriage is a special type of marriage where the couple agrees to stay together for their entire lives, except in certain situations. These situations include:

• One spouse cheats on the other
• One spouse physically or sexually abuses the other or a child
• One spouse commits a serious crime
• One spouse uses illegal drugs
• Both spouses live apart for one or two years

Before getting married, the couple must go through counseling to prepare them for the commitment they are making. If they ever consider getting a divorce, they must also go through counseling to try to work out their problems before ending the marriage.

Covenant marriages are only recognized in three states: Arizona, Arkansas, and Louisiana. They are often chosen by couples for religious reasons.

For example, if a couple in a covenant marriage has been living apart for two years, they may be able to get a divorce. However, if one spouse cheated on the other, they would not be able to get a divorce unless they went through counseling first.