Texas House Bill HB547

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

• Filed: 12/18/14

Caption

Relating to the creation and dissolution of a covenant marriage.

Impact

The implementation of HB547 will stringent marriage dissolution by adhering to specific criteria that couples must meet to file for divorce. These grounds include adultery, felony convictions, abandonment, and a requirement that spouses engage in premarital and post-marital counseling. The bill intends to encourage couples to work through issues and reinforces the notion of marriage as a covenant rather than a contract that can be easily dissolved. This escalation in requirements could lead to a decrease in divorce rates, but may also create a potential increase in financial and emotional burdens on couples in troubled marriages.

Summary

House Bill 547 introduces provisions for creating and dissolving covenant marriages in Texas, establishing a framework that emphasizes the sacred and lifelong commitment of marriage. The bill allows couples in specified counties to enter into a covenant marriage by submitting a notarized affidavit alongside their marriage license application. The affidavit includes a declaration of intent, affirming the couple's understanding of the nature and responsibilities of a covenant marriage, which they acknowledge is intended to be permanent and requires seeking counseling during difficulties.

Contention

Notable points of contention may arise regarding the counseling requirements mandated by the bill. Critics might argue that requiring counseling before divorce could infringe on personal autonomy and might not account for situations involving domestic abuse. Additionally, the bill restricts the ability to dissolve a marriage that does not conform to the covenant marriage criteria, potentially leading to critics highlighting concerns over equity and personal freedom in choosing to end a marital relationship. These differing perspectives are likely to fuel ongoing debates surrounding marriage laws and individual rights.