Should marriage licenses expire like driver's licenses?

Question

I think this is a good idea because then we would not clog up the courts with so many divorces. Let both parties decide upon expiration if they care to renew the license. If so, then renew, if not then the parties should be free to do as they please and would be considered divorced without the expense and hassle.

Answer 1

I think you should suggest this to your government. I think it's an excellent idea. People would be sceptical at first but I can see it working very well. It would be an idea to be sent a reminder or an opt out policy for renewal so the registry office would send a letter & if you sign & return it, your marriage licence doesn't get renewed but if you ignore the letter, your licence automatically continues.

I would feel sorry for all those poor divorce lawyers though.

Answer 2

When you get a drivers license, you are allowed to keep it as long you contiue to deserve it. Circumstances can change within the four-year renewal period that affect whether you deserve it, or whether its restrictions change. For example, if your eyesight gets worse and you don't get glasses, that changes things.

But when you get married, it's forever. Says so right in the vows "til death do you part", "as long as you both shall live" etc. Drivers license has no such language). That's what makes it marriage and not just long-term shacking (not that I am judging, if that's what feels right to you, do your thing). What sense would it make for every married couple out there to have to go to some government office every few years and say, "Yep, I still mean forever." Now we have some clogged-up bureaucratic office. Then the couples who don't renew go clog up the courts dividing their property and assets and arguing custody, visitation and support. Looks like you just made the problem even worse.

Answer 3

It's an interesting proposal. I congratulate you on being very creative ...



However, if you've ever spent any amount of time dealing with divorces as a lawyer or legal professional, you would know that the problem with divorces isn't the sheer number of how many couples get them, but the length of time and attention to detail that goes into each divorce.



In other words, if your proposal was put into effect, it would still clog up the courts, because all of those couples who decided to not renew their licenses would still have to decide who got the kids and the dogs and the house and the cars. Not to mention the fact that it would cause serious issues for the poor schmos who forgot to renew their licenses on time.



But kudos to you. You need to pay more attention to detail, but we need more people who provide creative solutions to the issues we are facing today. :)

Answer 4

I wonder why it came to be called a license. In my place it is called a certificate of marriage. In any case, what you are asking for is a contract for cohabitation lasting 5 years. That to me is not a commitment to a marriage for life as I believe in. You are sounding so practical when you say one would save a lot of time in the divorce court. What about any children born of the union. Suppose one of the children was a special child, would the man and woman abandon the child because such an eventuality was not mentioned in the contract. I may be old fashioned when I say this but to me Marriage is a lifetime commitment to your spouse to love, honour and mutually support and respect each other through all the ups and downs of life. If you however want a short term relationship say of five years, why do you want social acceptance by calling it a "marriage". Call it a contract of cohabitation. When the term "Significant Other" has found wide acceptance, I see no reason why "Contract of Cohabitation" will not be accepted. For me marriage is for life

Answer 5

Interesting. The fact that it's a license implies that they were "allowed" to marry by the state. I don't think the state should be involved at all. I would like to see official recognition from marriage shifted from a license to a contract. In fact I believe that it should be a contract and not some supposedly holy union. I'm not saying it's never holy but with roughly half going down the crapper.... I think it should be a contract with a built in lifespan for the contract and all the details worked out, including the division of property, custody, etc.., before signing. It would be better for many that way. Also, it would allow the prosecution of adultry, not as a crime in and of itself but as a breech of contract.

Answer 6

Think you mean marriages - not marriage licences.



Nonsense, anyhoo! Unnecessary expense, including the bureaucracy you'd have to create to enforce. What about children of the expired marriage? Are they suddenly null and void? But about rights of survivorship and ON and ON.



Not a good idea. Return to proverbial drawing board.

Answer 7

Divorce cases are all about dividing property and custody rights. If you decide not to renew, that doesn't solve these problems.

Answer 8

They usually expire within 30-60 days.

Answer 9

It's interesting but it's almost like a pre-nup to me. It's almost like people don't think about marriage being for the long haul and it almost becomes something that people do for the fun of it or spur of the moment.

Answer 10

We already have trial marriages - it's called living common-law. If you would support an idea like this, then you shouldn't consider marriage at all.



Marriage is for life. It's sad that more people today don't see that.

Answer 11

Only if you get to throw the kids away if you have an expired marriage license.

Answer 12

So what would happen to their assets? Their children? This is not a well-thought out plan imho.



Dana (M.S. Marriage and Family Therapy/attorney)

Answer 13

If it is the goal of marriage to procreate (as we are told) then if the couple doesn't have children in a certain number of years, then absolutely!

Answer 14

thats actually a really good idea, however i dont think it says much for he love and sanctity of marriage

Answer 15

i think that driver license should not expire

Answer 16

god, what a great concept,its brilliant