13 weird US marriage laws that Americans themselves laugh at

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Surprisingly, not so long ago in the state of New York it was impossible to terminate a marriage just like that. In 2010, the state became the last state legislature to approve a so-called “no-fault divorce,” where neither spouse cheated on the other or harmed in any other way. But in many states of the United States today there are very strange laws, which Americans themselves often laugh at. True, at the same time, they can still become a reason for prosecution.

Proxy marriage

In California, Colorado, Texas or Montana, the absence of the bride or groom at the wedding ceremony is allowed, they may well delegate their powers to a trusted person. True, this applies only to those cases if the absent person is a soldier. And in Montana, at their own wedding, the newlyweds may not appear at all, all the necessary signatures for them will be put by those who are entrusted with this right.

Sleep only dressed

In Salem, Massachusetts, spouses cannot sleep naked unless it is their own home. The law obliges husband and wife to sleep in their clothes if they spend the night in a rented apartment or hotel. Americans think this is not a bad idea, given that the media is full of reports of germs on bedspreads.

Marriage as a joke is illegal

In Delaware, spouses may well point out that they started a family as a joke as a reason for invalidating a marriage. It is very convenient: when submitting an application, you do not need to look for any other reasons, you just need to write that they put their signatures in the civil registration book in order to play a prank on friends or relatives.

You cannot marry the same person four times

In Kentucky, it is illegal to marry the same woman four times. Americans joke about this: if you divorced a man three times, someone must put an end to this relationship. Why shouldn't the authorities take over this function?

The groom must be a bird killer

In Truro, Massachusetts, a prospective husband must prove his worth while hunting. As proof of masculinity, he must kill six blackbirds or three crows.

You can't promise and not marry

In South Carolina, no man has the right to jokingly tell a woman that he wants to marry her. The Law on Crimes against Morality and Decency states that a man cannot propose to a woman if he is not really going to marry her. Even residents of the state do not know for sure whether this means that a man who has expressed his intention to marry will be obliged to keep his word, or whether the law warns the representatives of the stronger sex from deception, if in fact the sentence is pronounced for the purpose of seduction.

Abuse of the mother of one of the spouses as grounds for divorce

In Wichita, Kansas, a bad relationship with a mother-in-law or mother-in-law is a serious reason for divorce. It seems that the spouses in this city are lucky: they can be sure that no one will offend their mother if they are afraid of losing a loved one.

Can't kiss on Sundays

In Hartford, the capital of Connecticut, kissing on Sundays on the street and in public places is prohibited. This applies not only to spouses, but also to all lovers. Therefore, it is better to be at home on Sunday so as not to break the law even with an innocent kiss on the cheek.

Kinship marriage is possible

In Utah, cousins and sisters can legally marry, but only in two cases: if the spouses are over 65 years old or over 55, but they can confirm the fact of infertility.

Permission for false teeth

In Vermont, no woman can just wear removable dentures. The law obliges her to first obtain written permission from her husband and only then enjoy her white-toothed artificial smile.

Attempt as a basis for divorce

One of the reasons for the dissolution of a marriage in Tennessee is a proven fact that a spouse attempted to kill a husband or wife using poison or other means of malicious intent.

Penalty for adultery

In New Mexico and Mississippi, the divorce law grants the victim of adultery the right to receive financial compensation for moral damage from the one who entered into an intimate relationship with a person knowingly about his unfree marital status. And this law really works!

Getting married only sober

In the states of Mississippi or Tennessee, the district clerk may well refuse to issue a marriage license if he suddenly suspects one of the spouses that he is drunk. Apparently, the authorities believe that it is necessary to start a family only with a sober head in order to be able to correctly assess the consequences of their actions.

In the ancient world, Rome was equated as an advanced civilization, and the empire was a symbol of dignity and virtue. The Romans themselves more than once tried to make "progressive changes" in philosophy and legislation, changing the world's foundations. Sometimes this led to the emergence of laws that shocked even not the most conservative rulers of the time.