Should marriage be kept shorter?

[pillj123]

Quote from a newspaper..
Terence Blacker: Marriage rarely lasts for life – so how about vows fixed to 10 years?
Any thoughts?

[pillj123]

The contract should be brought into line with current usage. "A system providing a marital licence for a fixed period—to be renewed, or not, every 10 years, say—would bring a healthy element of jeopardy to this jaded institution" ....he says.......

[ummmm]

Yes, silly idea.

Who wants the hassle of splitting their assets every 10 years. Just don't get married.

[sasskins]

'kept' ?

[EDDIE51]

No point getting married then! what sort of stability does that bring to a relationship? I assume he was speaking 'tongue in cheek' ?

[pillj123]

I see we all have similar thoughts on this one!

[sasskins]

I have been married 3 times - all ended in divorce. Each time I married, I meant it.
First husband - as soon as I got pregnant, he ran (and NEVER paid a penny of maintenance).
Second husband - met a younger version of me through work - ran.
Third husband - unbeknownst to me. had a gambling problem and bankrupted our business (he forged my signature on cheques).
I would have hated being tied to any of them for 10 yrs.

[rowanwitch]

Handfasting : a year and a day for the first stage then for a term agreed by the couple sometimes 'while love lasts' sometimes for say 5 years or just renewing every year and a day

[NOX]

yeah handfasting is a great thing- age old, tried and tested- give your loved one a test run before you get saddled with 'em for good-rules out all the complcency so who can argue with that idea really?

[sasskins]

Not me NOX.

[oneinam]

In some societies, fixed term marriages are legal.

[Brinjal]

Its the years of the thirty odd marriage that are mind destroying boring and uou realize that you don't even like your partner anymore

[parkie]

I don't believe what I'm reading. My wife and I have ben married 44 years this August and I wouldn't be married to anyone else. My wife (appears) to think the same.
The whole of the marriage wording would be completely useless and have to be changed. Any children from the marriages would grow up confused and upset.
You can count me out of any such scheme, (assuming I live for another 10 years that is).

[jomifl]

If only for (current) legal reasons, it is a good idea to get married to your partner. Not having to pay tax on your inheritence if your (unmarried) partner dies. Being able to visit him her in hosital and make choices about treatment were enough reason for me. If when I was unmarried I had died, my partner would have had to sell the house to pay the inheritace tax and wouldn't have got a widows pension from my ex employer.

[Hopkirk]

If you get sent down on a life sentence, you can usually get out early for good behaviour

[jomifl]

Of course marriages never last for life, we can't get married at birth and one partner usually dies first.

[pa___ul3]

'til the end of the contract do us part' hasn't got the same ring to it does it?

[ummmm]

My grand parents have been married for about 65 years. Nan has dementia and appears to have forgotten that she doesn't like him.

I never thought I'd ever say 'Nan, stop snogging grandad, it's gross!!'