HB 5951 - Covenant Marriage Act Summary

• Establishes "covenant marriage" as an optional alternative marriage type in Michigan for one male and one female who acknowledge marriage as a lifelong relationship.

• Requires couples entering covenant marriage to execute a declaration of intent with specific statutory language acknowledging they understand the commitment and have disclosed all information that could affect their decision.

• Limits grounds for divorce in covenant marriages to adultery, felony conviction, physical or sexual abuse, or living separate and apart for at least 2 years (or 2.5 years with minor children, or 1 year if child abuse grounds).

• Allows separate maintenance only on grounds including adultery, felony with imprisonment, physical or sexual abuse, 2 years separation, habitual drunkenness for 1 year, cruel treatment endangering life, or indignities rendering condition intolerable.

• Restricts civil actions between covenant marriage spouses unless judgment of separate maintenance is entered or action involves contracts, separate property, divorce/separation, annulment, or spousal/child support; requires open court hearings with proofs for all divorce judgments.

• Requires state court administrative office to create informational pamphlet explaining covenant marriage requirements and consequences.