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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Marriage
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A quick definition of Marriage:
Marriage is when two people decide to become husband and wife. They have to be allowed to get married, agree to it, and sign a legal contract. In the past, the husband had to take care of the family and the wife had to take care of the home and children. But now, things are different. Each state has its own rules about who can get married and how they can end the marriage. Everyone has the right to get married, but they can only be married to one person at a time. Some marriages may not be allowed if the people are too closely related or too young. In the past, some people were not allowed to marry because of their skin color or who they loved. But now, everyone has the right to marry the person they love, no matter what they look like or who they are.
A more thorough explanation:
Marriage is when two people become legally united as spouses. To get married, the couple must be legally allowed to marry each other, both parties must agree to the marriage, and they must sign a marriage contract as required by law.
In the past, marriage was seen as a contract between a man and a woman to become husband and wife. The husband had to provide a safe home, pay for necessities like food and clothing, and live in the house. The wife's responsibilities were to maintain the home, live in the house, have sexual relations with her husband, and raise their children. Today, the legal obligations of marriage have changed due to changes in society.
Marriage is regulated by the states, which means that each state has its own laws about who can get married and how the marriage can be dissolved. Once a couple is married, they have new rights and obligations. For example, they can file taxes jointly and make medical decisions for each other.
Some limitations on marriage include age and close relationship. For example, a person cannot marry their sibling or parent. In 2015, the Supreme Court declared that denying same-sex couples the freedom to marry violates the U.S. Constitution, which means that same-sex couples can now legally get married in all states.
Overall, marriage is a legal union between two people that gives them new rights and obligations.