Marriage Law

There have been many changes is laws and regulations, concepts and legal doctrines regarding marriage and its laws. Further regulations can be found on the usmarriagelaws.com site. Each state has its own marriage laws. Particularly due to that fact that marriage is not addressed in the United States Constitution, so as specified in the constitution it is not the place for the congress to address the issue because this right is reserved to the states.


Under the Clinton administration the Defense of Marriage Act was passed, which for the purpose of defining marriage it did so as a union between one man and one woman. Find more on each states marriage laws here marriage laws. This was to further define the historic institution as being between those of opposite sex. This is much like under the English form of common law where marriage of a legal contract, which could only be entered into under strict and voluntary agreement between a man and a woman to become husband and wife.


The Supreme Court has continually upheld the fact the marriage is defined by the states and is not a federal matter. More reading can be done on the cornell law site here table marriage. Upon entering marriage the legal status of both the man and the woman changes and they both enter into new obligations.