We did, but our wedding took place before the Marriage Preparation and Preservation Act of 1998 went into effect. What is the Marriage Preparation and Preservation Act? Let the bill’s opening words answer that question for you:
“Just as the family is the foundation of society, the marital relationship is the foundation of a family. Consequently, strengthening marriages can only lead to stronger families and children and communities as well as a stronger economy.
An inability to cope with stress from both internal and external sources leads to significantly higher incidents of domestic violence, child abuse, absenteeism, medical costs, learning and social deficiencies and divorce.
Relationship skills can be learned.
Once learned, relationship skills can facilitate communication between parties to a marriage and assist couples in avoiding conflict. Once relationship skills are learned, they are generalized to parenting, the workplace, schools, neighborhoods and civic relationships.
By reducing conflict and increasing communication, stressors can be diminished and coping can be furthered. When effective coping exists, domestic violence, child abuse and divorce and its effect on children are diminished.
The state has a compelling interest in educating its citizens with regard to marriage and if contemplated the effects of divorce.”
This bill, when signed by the Governor, then put into effect the following steps:
- High school students must take a course in marriage and relationship skill-based education.
- Engaged couples are encouraged to take a premarital education course of at least 4 hours. The course should include instruction on conflict resolution, communication skills, parenting and data on problems married couples face as well as financial responsibilities and children. Couples who take the course get a reduced fee for their marriage license.
- Couples who apply for a marriage license will be given a handbook informing them of their rights and responsibilities under Florida law of marital partners to each other and to their children.
- Couples with children who file for divorce must take a Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course that cover the emotional and legal impact of divorce on children and adults.
All in all, these are state recommended and endorsed. Couples do not have to take the pre-marital course, but they do need to take the Parent Education and Family Stabilization course if they file for divorce when they have children.
In many ways, this law is pretty radical in the history of state influence over marriage – but because the majority of it is voluntary and designed to support the structure of marriage without dictating to couples – I like it. It’s a proactive measure designed to help couples improve their own opportunities.