Something horrible happens to many marriages just after the vows are said: the marriage starts falling apart. Amazingly, the very act of legalizing a relationship can start its downfall.
Too many people believe that once they have made the legal bond of marriage, they don’t have to work on their relationship anymore. There is no reason to keep up the charade of doing what the other person enjoys, no reason to keep up their appearance, no reason to remain the same person they were before the “I dos.”
They’re married and their spouse isn’t going anywhere so why keep up the pretense, why work so hard to keep them? With this type of attitude or mindset why should a husband or wife be surprised when their marriage ends in divorce?
With divorce so commonplace and less of a stigma than in decades past, a spouse doesn’t have to settle for a second rate marriage. Why should they?
I have thought a lot about this over the years having witnessed the strange phenomena I call “Gotcha!” that can begin as early as the end of the marriage ceremony even before the wedding cake is cut. I think I have come up with a workable solution, something to keep the “Gotcha!” spouse on their toes and keep the marriage on course for the long term: The 10 Year Renewable Marriage.
Here’s how I see it working. Before the marriage preparations get started, the couple sits down with an attorney and draws up their renewable marital contract which contains the following clauses:
The date and time at which the marriage will end if the contract is not renewed by either spouse.
Neither spouse is required to give a reason for not wanting to continue the marriage.
The following provisions would apply should the marriage end for any reason:
Child support and custody details.
Alimony and spousal support provisions.
Property division.
Once the contract is accepted and signed, then the wedding preparations can begin. This is not a new or unique idea as there are articles elsewhere on the Web that discuss similar concepts.
Can you see the possibilities? Some couples wouldn’t get past the contract stage just as some couples don’t survive when prenuptial agreements become an issue. Marriage would no longer be a lifetime “Gotcha!” for either spouse. If divorce or “non-renewal” did happen, regardless of the reason, all details have already been worked out.