Legal Definitions - handfasting

Definition: Handfasting is a type of marriage that has different meanings depending on the context. It can refer to:

1. A historical form of marriage where a couple joined hands to make a marriage contract, often without the involvement of clergy.
2. A historical form of betrothal where a couple agreed to be married and had conjugal rights, but did not have a formal marriage ceremony until later.
3. A modern form of trial marriage where a couple agrees to live together and behave as spouses for a set period, usually one year, after which they can decide to separate or have a permanent ceremony.
4. A binding form of marriage practiced by some modern pagan religions.

Examples:

• In historical Scotland, handfasting was a common form of marriage where a couple would join hands and make a marriage contract in front of witnesses. This was often done without