PART VII.  COVENANT MARRIAGE

§272.  Covenant marriage; intent; conditions to create

A.  A covenant marriage is a marriage entered into by one male and one female who understand and agree that the marriage between them is a lifelong relationship.  Parties to a covenant marriage have received counseling emphasizing the nature and purposes of marriage and the responsibilities thereto.  Only when there has been a complete and total breach of the marital covenant commitment may the non-breaching party seek a declaration that the marriage is no longer legally recognized.

B.  A man and woman may contract a covenant marriage by declaring their intent to do so on their application for a marriage license, as provided in R.S. 9:224(C), and executing a declaration of intent to contract a covenant marriage, as provided in R.S. 9:273.  The application for a marriage license and the declaration of intent shall be filed with the official who issues the marriage license.

C.  A covenant marriage terminates only for one of the causes enumerated in Civil Code Article 101.  A covenant marriage may be terminated by divorce only upon one of the exclusive grounds enumerated in R.S. 9:307.  A covenant marriage agreement may not be dissolved, rescinded, or otherwise terminated by the mutual consent of the spouses.

Acts 1997, No. 1380, §3; Acts 2006, No. 249, §1.