New or Renew

Every few years I go through this same dilemma. Do I renew my Marriage Contract, or let it lapse and find someone new? I know this partner well and we have settled into a comfortable life together, but sometimes … well, sometimes I wonder who else might be out there for me. Someone more attractive or perhaps with more assets. Is it worth it to start over, discovering whether the new person squeezes the toothpaste tube in the middle or at the end?

It was simpler 25 years ago, before the marriage laws were changed. Marriage was for life then, not measured in renewable terms. There are a lot of advantages to Marriage for Term, as the new laws are called. All of the expense and anguish of divorce are now gone. One simply sends a postcard to the local Registrar and renews one’s contract. You can even choose the length of the new term, but make sure your partner puts a checkmark in the same box or the Registrar will automatically choose the shortest term. The first term of a new marriage is always for one year, the Trial Year. After that you can choose to renew for 1 year, 5 years, or 10 years at the end of each Term. If both partners don’t renew, the contract automatically expires.

The old conflicts about who gets what possessions, how jointly held property is divided, and other financial issues have been taken care of in the Marriage for Term laws. No arguments. This is how it works and if you don’t like it, don’t get married in the first place.

If children are involved, a whole new subset of laws comes into effect and covers each child to the age of 18. No more arguments about custody or visitation rights or who pays the child’s expenses. Education costs are divided exactly in half, but things like clothing, lessons, toys and trips are less cut and dried. If the parents can’t settle things amicably, the Domestic Court steps in and decides for them. No lawyers. No appeals. If you don’t think you’ll like how the Judge will decide, come to an agreement before it gets that far.

The only way a Marriage Contract can be ended before the Term is up, is if there is domestic abuse. No one is expected to stick it out under those conditions, but it has to be proven in a Domestic Court, not just alleged.

Yes, Marriage for Term laws have made life simpler, but there is still the personal issue of whether or not to renew that has to be examined at the end of each Term. Maybe I’ll wait until Christmas and see what is in my stocking this year, then I’ll decide.